The Bachelor of Science program in American Sign Language/English Interpreting program is a continuation of the Associate of Arts degree in American Sign Language offered by Vincennes University, but is also open to students who demonstrate equivalent competence in ASL, Deaf culture and linguistics.

This program is a crucial step toward providing quality interpreting services to the Deaf community. Along with the innovative bilingual/bicultural approach to education at the Indiana School for the Deaf and the unique Vincennes University American Sign Language Studies Program (located at ISD), it helps to make Indianapolis an important center for the Deaf community both locally and nationally.

For students who already possess a bachelor's degree, a certificate program is offered. The certificate program consists of the ASL, Deaf culture, and linguistics requirements along with the core courses of the Interpreting major. All students are expected to participate in a practicum experience.

Content

The curriculum sequence is designed to teach the basic principles of language and communication and to establish basic translation skills before proceeding to consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. The core program consists of courses in contrastive analysis, discourse analysis, basic translation skills, interpreting techniques, consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting. The combination of this core with a broad liberal arts education prepares students to enter the profession of interpreting which serves diverse populations and encompasses a wide range of subjects and settings.

In addition to classroom instruction, the interpreting program offers a state-of-the-art interactive language classroom so that students can practice interpreting skills with recorded or live material. The program provides students with quality instruction so that they can become consistently good interpreters.

Expected Student Outcomes

Upon completion of the B.S. program in Interpreting, students will be ready to begin professional work as interpreters. The program goal is to prepare graduates to work as community interpreters in educational, medical, legal and social service settings.