Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language/English Interpreting

Kent State University

The Bachelor of Science degree in American Sign Language/English Interpreting prepares students to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in both educational and community settings, including schools and universities, businesses, medical and mental health agencies and social service offices, among others. The coursework and nationally certified instructors guide students in developing interpreting expertise, sign language fluency and professional ethics. Coursework encompasses interpreting process models and their application analytical approaches to professional and ethical decision-making and interpreting comparative analyses of English and American Sign Language through the study of linguistics, discourse structures and features, pragmatics and sociolinguistics. Students learn self-assessment strategies for lifelong learning and gain roughly 400 clinical or practical hours. They also experience working with interpreter mentors. They also have preparation toward the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) and the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA). The American Sign Language/English Interpreting major includes the following optional concentration: The Community Setting Interpreting optional concentration is for students who are not seeking licensure to interpret in Ohio schools. Students in the concentration complete 400 hours at a community agency.

College of Education, Health and Human Services