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College of Arts and Sciences - Curriculum Guide

American Sign Language - English Interpreting

Dennis R. Cokely, PhD, Associate Professor and Director

Lecturers
Alma L. Bournazian, MS
Cathy Cogen, MA
Robert Lee, MA
James Lipsky, BS
George Phelgrim, MA
Brenda Schertz, BA

American Sign Language (ASL) is a language used by large numbers of people in the United States and Canada. By mastering ASL, students gain both access to the culture of Deaf America and insights into features of spoken language that are often taken for granted. Learning a modally different language gives students a new sense of the power of language and an appreciation of how it shapes their world. In this way, the mastery of ASL sharpens critical-thinking skills.

The program provides a firm foundation in language, linguistics, culture, and interpreting, plus a broad-based liberal arts education. American Sign Language courses are integral to degrees in human services with a specialization in deaf studies and in linguistics with a focus on ASL.

Opportunities for ASL­English interpreters are increasing, due to federal and state legislation. Graduates work as interpreters in such areas as higher education, advanced technology, and theatre.

The ASL Interpreter Education Project seeks to enhance the skills of interpreters currently working in the field and to increase the supply of competent interpreters in New England.

See course descriptions for more information

Bachelor of Science Curriculum

ASL 1101, ASL 1102, American Sign Language 1 and 2; ASL 1201, ASL 1202 Intermediate American Sign Language 1 and 2; ASL 1211, Deaf Culture; ASL 1220, Deaf People in Society; ASL 1250, Linguistics of ASL; ASL 1301, ASL 1302, Advanced American Sign Language Proficiency 1 and 2; ASL 1500, Introduction to Interpreting; ASL 1505, ASL 1506, ASL 1507, ASL 1508, ASL-English Interpreting 1, 2, 3, and 4; ASL 1520, Interpreter Role and Ethics; ASL 1521, Contrastive Analysis; ASL 1810, Special Topics in Interpreting; ASL 1820, ASL 1821, Interpreting Practicum 1 and 2; ENG 1118, Introduction to Language and Linguistics; PSY 1110, Perspectives in Psychology 1; PSY 1112, Foundations of Psychology 2; SOC 1100, Introduction to Sociology; and THE 1155, Voice for the Theatre.

One course from the following: ENG 1402, Grammars of English; ENG 1407, Introduction to Semantics; ENG 1408, Topics in Linguistics; ENG 1690, Junior/Senior Seminar; LNL 1235, Applied Linguistics 1; LNL 1240, Bilingualism; PSY 1262, Psychology of Language.

One course from the following: PHL 1165, Moral Problems in Medicine; PSY 1271, Social Psychology; SOC 1102, Social Inequality and Communication; SOC 1135, Social Psychology; SOC 1140, Sociology of Prejudice; SOC 1310, Class, Power, and Social Change.

One course from the following: THE 1160, Movement 1; PSY 1263, Nonverbal Communication; CMN 1111, Oral Interpretation of Literature; CMN 1115, Foundations of Communication; CMN 1330, Interpersonal Communication 1.

In addition, complete the arts and sciences core curriculum and the experiential education requirement.

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