Public Service Technology: American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) is the natural language of deaf people in the United States. Two programs in ASL and Interpretation are designed to prepare hearing students to communicate with deaf people, and provide interpretation between deaf and hearing people.

The Career Studies Certificate in American Sign Language is a one-year, part-time program. Prospective students include parents of deaf children and people who plan to work in deaf-related fields, such as social work, vocational rehabilitation, deaf education, etc. Office personnel who want to make their businesses more “deaf-friendly” will benefit from this program of study. The program does not prepare a student to perform interpreting services between spoken English users and ASL users. Proficient ASL users require further training to become interpreters.

The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in ASL-English Interpretation is an intensive two-year, full-time course of study designed to benefit those who are interested in providing communication access between deaf and hearing people. The requirements for admission to the program are proficiency in American Sign Language and proficiency in English as demonstrated by placement into ASL 261 and placement into ENG 111. Students must earn at least a C or better in each applicable prerequisite course in order to register for its subsequent course. Successful completion of this program prepares the student to pursue either a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III, or national certification. These credentials qualify the student to interpret in entry-level settings, either in education or the community.

These two programs of study are not intended to prepare students for transfer into a baccalaureate degree program. The limited number of general education courses required in the program may be transferable to four-year colleges and universities.

For further information go to: www.tcc.edu search keyword ASL. For academic counseling, career advisement, and admission to the ASL Studies or the Interpreter Education program, please contact the program head at (757) 214-6157 or sgrieser@tcc.edu.

Associate of Applied Science Degree: ASL-English Interpretation (640)

Career Studies:  American Sign Language (221.640.01)

1        Eligible courses are listed on page 33 in the 2010-2011 catalog.  See your

          academic advisor or counselor to choose the appropriate course(s).

American Sign Language Website