Sign Language Interpreting

The Sign Language certificate program is designed to provide students with the core knowledge of American Sign Language, Deaf culture, ASL interpreting theory, skills, and ethics. The program addresses key concepts in sign language interpreting, including the history and cultural diversity of the Deaf community, ASL/English interpretation, and ethical decision-making. Students also will complete a supervised field practicum with experienced interpreters serving as mentors and models.  The program would provide the students with a network of interpreters to serve as their mentors.

To enter the program, students will need to have completed levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 of American Sign Language.  This coursework ensures they are prepared for level 5 in their first semester of the certificate program.  

A certificate of achievement will be awarded upon successful completion of all required coursework with a C grade or better.

Approximately, 440 students are projected to enroll annually in the Sign Language Interpreting program.  50 students are projected to complete the program annually.

Based on labor market research, there are 350 job openings projected annually through 2029.  This is slightly more than the three-year average of 256 awards awarded annually in the Los Angeles region for this subject.  However, this data includes all interpreters and translators, so the number might be overstated.  Still, in the last 12 months, there were 158 online job postings just for sign language interpreting.

This program will provide students with foundational knowledge in sign language interpreting.  With this foundational knowledge, students will be prepared for transfer to a four-year ASL interpreting program and with a bachelor’s degree, perform entry-level interpreting assignments, and work to earn certification by examination.  Completing the certificate in sign language interpreting does not make one an interpreter, and employment opportunities exist for pre-certified individuals.  Students who earn the certificate are encouraged to transfer to a four-year ASL interpreting program and take the exam.

Employment opportunities are ample.  Sign Language Interpreters can gain employment in  video relay services.  They also can provide interpreting for schools, colleges, government agencies, hospitals, courts, foster care system, social services, private companies, and non-profit organizations.

This program has 9 required courses, totaling 31 units.  The courses included level five American Sign Language, Introduction to Deaf Culture, Introduction to Interpreting, ASL to English Translation, Ethical and Professional Standards of Interpreting, ASL Interpreting I, II, III, and IV.  The last level of ASL Interpreting is a two-unit practicum course.

The nine required courses are as follows:

• ASL 5: An advanced American Sign Language discourse course for students with

advanced ASL fluency at the ASL 4 level, focusing on ASL registers, linguistic

evolution, and sociolinguistics.

• Introduction to American Deaf Culture: Explores Deaf culture with a historical

focus, covers American Sign Language, and delves into the diverse cultural

identities within the American Deaf community.

• Introduction to Interpreting: Provides an overview of ASL/English interpretation,

emphasizing theoretical interpretation models, text analysis through intralingual

translation exercises, and the historical evolution of the ASL/English interpretation

profession.

• ASL and English Translation: Focuses on translating between American Sign

Language (ASL) and English, including written text and manual narratives.

• Ethical and Professional Standards of Interpreting: Enhances ethical decisionmaking

skills using the Demand/Control Schema (DC-S) and explores the Registry

of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct.

• ASL Interpreting I: Focuses on honing ASL interpretation skills, emphasizing voiceto-

sign (English-to-ASL) interpretation proficiency.

• ASL Interpreting II: Develops essential skills for ASL interpretation, with a focus on

Sign-to-Voice (ASL to English) interpreting abilities.

• ASL Interpreting III: In this course, students will enhance their simultaneous and

consecutive interpreting skills through practical experience, including critiqued

interpretation, interactive exercises, and discussions about their experiences.

• ASL Interpreting IV Practicum: A supervised field practicum for aspiring sign

language interpreters in entry-level scenarios, with experienced interpreters serving

as mentors and models.

This proposed Certificate of Achievement is in response to input from Pasadena City College students and faculty, as well as the ASL Advisory Committee.  The number of students earning the current Certificate of Achievement in ASL has more than tripled since 2021-2022, and the ASL program continues to grow in popularity, including in the area of dual enrollment.  More students have expressed interest in becoming sign language interpreters as their career/professional goals.

The Sign Language Interpreting Certificate of Achievement builds upon our Associates of Arts and Certificate of Achievement in American Sign Language.  This program stacks with these current degree and certificate.  One course found in all three pathways is ASL 015 or Introduction to Deaf Culture.  Therefore, most students will enter the Sign Language Interpreting Certificate of Achievement program already having completed ASL 015.  Students in the program will apply their fluency in American Sign Language and foundational knowledge of Deaf culture to the interpreting field.

This program will fulfill a need identified by our advisory to focus more on time on task and developing fluency in order to build students' foundational knowledge.  Students will be able to take courses in the program during the fall, winter, spring, and summer terms.

ASL Interpreter Education Program (East Los Angeles College)

Sign Language and Interpreting (Mount San Antonio College)

American Sign Language/Interpreting (Los Angeles Pierce College)

Sign Language/Interpreter Training (El Camino College)

Foundations of Interpreting (Rio Hondo College)

Approximately 440 students are expected to enroll in this program annually.  50 students are expected to complete the program annually.

n/a