Kim Brown Kurz, Chairperson
(585) 475-6255 (V/TTY), kbknss@rit.edu
On-the-job responsibilities
The BS degree program in ASL-English interpretation prepares sign language interpreters for work in settings where deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing people interact and communicate. This degree allows students to develop foundation skills for general interpreting, with opportunities to explore specialized fields such as those in educational and medical settings, and/or community interpreting.
Places of employment
Graduates will find work in a variety of settings, including elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educational institutions; community service organizations; hospitals or clinics; vocational rehabilitation agencies; business/industry; and government agencies.
Special entrance requirements
In addition to RIT’s general admissions procedures, the ASL-English interpretation program requires applicants to complete admission materials from the NTID Admissions Office.
Academic preparation
Applicants are required to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. High school preparation should include a college preparatory program with a minimum of four years of English (with a minimum of a B average), three years of science and mathematics, and two years of a foreign language.
The middle 50 percent of accepted NTID applicants possess SAT scores of 1530-1940. Equivalent ACT composite scores are 22-29. Both SAT and ACT tests may be submitted.
For those applicants who have had college experience, college transcripts should document a GPA of 3.0 or better, with evidence of very good performance in English courses. A writing sample will be judged on vocabulary, grammar, structure, style, and creativity.
To succeed in this program, students must be able to understand a speaker who is behind them; understand a speaker who is far away; focus on what a speaker is saying in a noisy room; and understand recorded voices through headphones. To see a list of the major skills and abilities needed to study sign language interpreting, please visit the section “Is Interpreting the Career for Me?” on our website.
ASL-English interpretation, BS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0875-201, 202, 203 | American Sign Language I, II, III | 12 |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment I, II | 2 |
| Mathematics/Science† | 12 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 20 | |
| General Education Elective | 4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 0875-301, 302, 303 | American Sign Language IV, V, VI | 12 |
| 0875-213 | Introduction to the Field of Interpreting | 4 |
| Mathematics/Science† | 8 | |
| General Education Electives | 12 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 4 | |
| 0875-311 | Processing Skills Development | 4 |
| 0875-212 | Deaf Culture and Community | 4 |
| Wellness Education‡ | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 0875-315, 325 | English to ASL Interpreting I, II | 8 |
| 0875-316, 326 | ASL to English Interpreting I, II | 8 |
| Liberal Arts Concentration | 12 | |
| 0875-320 | Practical and Ethical Applications | 4 |
| 0875-400 | Interactive Interpreting | 4 |
| General Education Electives | 4 | |
| Interpreting Electives | 8 | |
| Wellness Education‡ | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 0875-501 | English to ASL Interpreting III | 4 |
| 0875-502 | ASL to English Interpreting III | 4 |
| Free Electives | 12 | |
| 0875-350, 510 | Practicum and Seminar I, II | 8 |
| 0875-520 | Issues in Interpreting | 4 |
| General Education Electives | 6 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 184 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see the Mathematics and Science General Education Curriculum for more information.
‡ Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
ASL-English interpretation, BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| INTP-125 | ASL II | 4 |
| First-Year Seminar | 3 | |
| LAS-P1 | 3 | |
| LAS-P2 | 3 | |
| LAS-P7a | 3 | |
| INTP-126 | ASL III | 4 |
| First-Year Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| LAS-P3 | 3 | |
| LAS-P4 | 3 | |
| LAS-P7b | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| INTP-210 | Introduction to the Field of Interpreting | 3 |
| INTP-225 | ASL IV | 3 |
| Deaf Cultural Studies Elective | 3 | |
| LAS-elective | 3 | |
| LAS-P5* | 3 | |
| INTP-215 | Processing Skills Development | 3 |
| INTP-220 | Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| INTP-226 | ASL V | 3 |
| Deaf Cultural Studies Elective | 3 | |
| LAS-P6 | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| INTP-325 | ASL VI | 3 |
| INTP-310 | Interpreting I | 3 |
| INTP-315 | Practical and Ethical Applications | 3 |
| LAS-elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| INTP-326 | ASL VII | 3 |
| INTP-335 | Interpreting II: English to ASL | 3 |
| INTP-336 | Interpreting II: ASL to English | 3 |
| INTP-xxx | Professional Elective | 3 |
| LAS-I1 | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| INTP-435 | Interpreting III: English to ASL | 3 |
| INTP-436 | Interpreting III: ASL to English | 3 |
| INTP-350 | Practicum and Seminar I | 3 |
| INTP-xxx | Professional Elective | 3 |
| LAS-I2 | ||
| INTP-440 | Transliteration | 3 |
| INTP-450 | Practicum and Seminar II | 3 |
| INTP-460 | Issues in Interpreting (WI) | 3 |
| LAS-I3 | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 122 | |
* Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, the student must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement.