AAS Sign Language Interpreting Advisement Form   (PDF file - requires Acrobat Reader)

There is a great and ever-increasing demand for qualified sign language/English inter­preters. Interpreters are employed full- and part-time in education, business, government, and as independent freelance interpreters. The two-year sequence of courses leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree with a major in Interpreting for the Deaf. This pro­gram prepares students with the skills and knowledge to enter the growing profession of interpreting.

Once admitted, students complete a sequence of professional courses in sign language and interpreting. Students who are able to take at least ten hours per semester can com­plete their professional studies in two years. Completing the general studies requirements for an Associate of Applied Science degree may require additional semesters. Students who are able to take only one course per semester should consult with an advisor to develop an individual plan of study. To complete the final course in the professional program, students must fulfill all assigned hours of field experience and pass a comprehensive examination. Students accepted into the program who subsequently withdraw from the course sequence are required to get written permission from the Program Coordinator before enrolling in future SLIP courses. They may be required to pass an additional assessment of their signing skills.

Students wishing to audit or enroll in selected courses from the program must obtain approval from the Program Coordinator. Students will be required to earn at least 80 per­cent on the final examination in the prerequisite skills class. Such students will be admitted on a space-available basis. It is expected that the students will possess the necessary knowledge and skills to complete requirements of the selected course.

This program of study requires special admission as explained below. Contact the Sign Language Interpreting office at (678) 891-3600 or visit our website at www.gpc.edu/~gpcslip for more information.

Admissions to the Sign Language Interpreting Program
This program requires special admission. The Sign Language Interpreting Program sequence of professional courses (SLIP) begins only in the fall semester, and enrollment is limited. The Department of Sign Language Interpreting confirms official notification of acceptance to the program. Admission requirements include the following:

• Acceptance to Georgia Perimeter College.
• Attendance at a program orientation.
• Academic credit for ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101H and ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102H, each with a grade of "C" or better.
• Completion of Sign Language Interpreting Program application available in that department.
• Successful completion of an entrance interview demonstrating intermediate conversational proficiency in American Sign Language.
• Demonstration of spoken English fluency.

Contact the Sign Language Interpreting office at (678) 891-3600 for additional information.

The College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) does not apply to this career program. However, an applicant who is admitted to the college under this program and subsequently changes to a transfer program will be subject to CPC requirements.

Sign Language Interpreting
General Education and Professional Curriculum

Prerequisites for Sign Language Interpreting AAS degree
12 hours

SLIP 1904 (a) American Sign Lang I 3 hours
SLIP 1905 (a) American Sign Lang II 3 hours
SLIP 1906 (a) American Sign Lang III 3 hours
SLIP 1907 (a) American Sign Lang IV 3 hours
or demonstrated equivalent intermediate conversational American Sign Language skills

NOTE:
(a) These courses do not apply toward graduation requirements.

General Education for Sign Language Interpreting AAS degree

28-30 hours

ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 must be completed prior to admission to this program. The remaining courses in this list may be taken while taking the American Sign Language prerequisites and the SLIP professional curriculum courses.

Required Courses:

ATEC 1201 Computer Concepts 1 hour
RSCH 1203 Research Strategies and Technology 1 hour
COMM 1201* Public Speaking 3 hours
ENGL 1101* (a) English Composition I 3 hours
ENGL 1102* (a) English Composition II 3 hours
HIST 2111*
or
HIST 2112* United States History I

United States History II 3 hours

3 hours
MATH 1001 (b) Quantitative Skills and Reasoning 3 hours
PHED Physical Education Electives 2-4 hours
POLS 1101* American Government 3 hours
PSYC 1101* Introduction to General Psychology 3 hours
Select elective from Core Area C      Humanities/Fine Arts 3 hours

NOTES:
* Or Honors version

(a) ENGL 1101* and ENGL 1102* must be completed prior to admission to this program. The remaining general education courses my be taken while a student is taking the American Sign Language prerequisites and the SLIP professional curriculum.
(b) MATH 1101, MATH 1111, MATH 1113 , or MATH 2431 may be substituted for MATH 1001.

Professional Curriculum for Sign Language Interpreting AAS degree
39 hours
SLIP 1924 Fingerspelling and Numbers 1 hour
SLIP 1925 Classifiers in ASL 1 hour
These two courses may be taken at any time prior to or during enrollement in the
professional program.

First-year courses:

SLIP 1911 American Sign Language Narrative and Discourse 6 hours
SLIP 1911L Interpreting Lab 1 1 hour
SLIP 1915 Deaf History and Culture 3 hours
SLIP 1923 Consecutive ASL to English 3 hours
SLIP 1931 English to ASL Interpreting 3 hours
SLIP 1931L Interpreting Lab 2 1 hour
SLIP 1941 Introduction to Interpreting 3 hours

Second-year courses:

SLIP 2901 Interpreting in Specialized Settings 3 hours
SLIP 2901L Interpreting Lab 3 1 hour
SLIP 2912 Simultaneous ASL to English 3 hours
SLIP 2912L Interpreting Lab 4 1 hour
SLIP 2932 English to American Sign Language II 3 hours
SLIP 2951 (a) Practicum 6 hours

NOTE:
(a)   A comprehensive exam and student portfolio are required to exit the program.

Effective Fall 2011