Oct 11, 2024  
Reynolds Community College Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Reynolds Community College Catalog 2024-2025

American Sign Language - English Interpretation AAS (640)


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PURPOSE: The degree in American Sign Language (ASL)-English Interpretation is designed to prepare individuals for a career in sign language interpretation.

OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: A majority of full-time ASL-English Interpretation positions in the Commonwealth are found in the K-12 public school setting. The minimum requirement to work as an ASL-English Interpreter in the K-12 setting in Virginia is a VQAS Level III, an EIPA of 3.5 or higher, or National Interpreting Certificate (NIC) certification. Interpreters may also consider freelance and contract interpreting opportunities, including the expanding fields of video relay service (VRS) and video remote interpreting (VRI), which both utilize interactive video technology via the Internet.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission

PROGRAM NOTES: ASL-English Interpretation is a two-year, full-time course of study that enrolls new students annually to begin coursework during the summer semester with programmatic content provided year-round until completion. Candidates for admission to the program must provide evidence of fluency in both English and ASL. Fluency in English is demonstrated by placement into ENG 111. Fluency in ASL is demonstrated by completion of ASL 202 - Intermediate American Sign Language II  with a “B” or higher. Fluency in ASL may also be demonstrated through a diagnostic interview with the American Sign Language and Interpreter Education (ASL&IE) faculty.

Successful completion of the 2-step NIC process results in national certification as an ASL-English Interpreter, which may be maintained through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) via continuing education. As of July 1, 2012, individuals are required to have a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, as determined by the National Council on Interpreting (NCI), in order to sit for the NIC evaluation. For more information, please contact the ASL&IE coordinator regarding alternative pathways to certification (i.e., without a bachelor’s degree). For more information on the NIC, please visit www.casli.org.

As part of the ASL-English Interpretation AAS curriculum, the student must receive a passing score on the VQAS written assessment and “B” or higher in INT 130 prior to initiating INT 280 , Interpreter Assessment Preparation. It is typical for students to sit for the VQAS or EIPA performance exam during the fall semester of year 2. Initiation of INT 290 , ASL-English Interpretation Internship, during the spring of year 2 is typical. The Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) is a state screening, valid for three years, by which time the interpreter must be screened again or the credential is no longer valid. For more information on the VQAS, please visit http://www.vddhh.org or contact the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) at1-800-552-7917 [V]. The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) is administered by Boys Town National Research Hospital. For more information on the EIPA, please visit www.classroominterpreting.org.

CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM: To continue in the program, students must achieve a minimum course grade of “B” (80) in each INT course.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Books and Supplies $400 first semester; $200 for all other semesters
Certification/Testing Fees Contact CASLI for NIC fees; contact VDDHH for VQAS fees; contact Boys’ Town for EIPA fees

COMPUTER COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT: Students in this program will meet the college’s computer competency requirement by successfully completing INT 233 INT 250 , and INT 290 , including research and presentations.

Curriculum:


This Program Map is for students who plan to earn an Associate of Applied Science in American Sign Language - English Interpretation degree at Reynolds Community College.  The Program Map is intended to serve as a guide, and students should always meet with their Student Success Advisor to develop a personalized Educational Plan. 

Are you interested in learning more about the careers this program will prepare you for?  If so, check out Career Coach.  Career Coach provides information about job openings, wages, education requirements, and required skills. It will also help you find careers that match your interests.  To learn more about careers that this program will prepare you for, please visit Career Coach and Career Services.

Additional information regarding transfer requirements for in-state colleges is available at www.transfervirginia.org.


Courses should be taken in the order listed.

Total: 67-68 Credit Hours


1 INT 133 -INT 134  and INT 233 -INT 234  are course sequences that are designed to be taken concurrently.

2 Successful completion of INT 130  with “B” or higher and successful completion of the VQAS written test typically as part of INT 130 are required prior to enrolling in INT 280 - Interpreter Assessment Preparation .

3 In order to be placed in an internship (INT 290 ), the student must sit for and be awarded an interpreting credential (e.g., VQAS level, EIPA award, or NIC certification) or demonstrate acceptable proficiency on a mock ASL-English Interpreter assessment approved by the ASL&IE program head.

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