ASL/English Interpreting
The ASL/English Interpreting Master's Program is temporarily suspended.
The Bachelor's Program is ACTIVE.
The ASL/English Interpreting concentration prepares students to work with children and adults who have hearing loss or are deaf in both educational and community settings.
Graduates may apply for licensure from the State of Ohio to interpret in pre-K-12. Students also receive instruction and practice necessary to interpret in community settings, including medical and mental health venues, social service offices, job sites and universities to name a few. This intensive major challenges and prepares students for the dynamic and diverse field of sign language interpreting. All of the instructors are nationally certified with extensive careers as interpreters in a wide variety of venues. The coursework and instructors guide students in developing interpreting expertise, sign language fluency and professional ethics. Students have three years of ASL instruction. Coursework encompasses interpreting process models and their application; analytical approaches to professional and ethical decision-making; interpreting proficiency across a variety of settings and consumers; and comparative analysis of English and ASL through the study of linguistics, discourse structures and features, pragmatics and sociolinguistics. Students learn self-assessment strategies for lifelong learning and receive guidance in preparing for the RID NIC and EIPA national certifications. A key component for this major is over 500 hours of practicum experiences with interpreter mentors. Students qualify for the advanced interpreting practicum in their final semester by passing the Sign Language Proficiency interview (SLPI) at the intermediate level or a minimum level 2 score on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI).
Please contact Dr. Jamie McCartney for more information.
Licensure
If you are interested in ASL/English Interpreting Licensure, you must be fully admitted into the Non-Degree Special Education ASL/English Interpreting Licensure Preparation Program and complete the prescribed coursework on the prospectus in addition to courses that are prescribed here for the Master's Degree.
Admission Requirements
M.Ed.: Official transcript(s), goal statement, two letters of recommendation and Questions in Anticipation of Licensure form. Licensure minimum GPA required 3.000.
Graduation Requirements
M.Ed.: The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree requires a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate coursework including at least 16 semester hours at the 60000 level or above. A major consisting of 18 or more semester hours in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services is required. M.Ed. students have six years from the term of first enrollment to complete the degree.
Students in the Deaf Education and ASL/English Interpreting concentrations must also pass the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) at the intermediate level for graduation. ASL/English Interpreting students may also pass the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) at level 2 as an alternative to the SLPI.
M.ED. IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ASL/ENGLISH INTREPRETING
Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.