Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Contact: Randy Thuesen
Email: randy.thuesen@unco.edu
Location: McKee 511
Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/asl-interpreting/
Policies:
Department of ASL & Interpreting Studies policies are published in the Student Handbook.
Advising Information
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering. The importance of the program advisor cannot be overstated. Program advisement includes all aspects of students' present and future academic and professional planning. It is often the program advisor who can help students conceptualize their academic program within the context of their own professional goals and aspirations. This responsibility is likely to involve extensive discussions of academic or professional goals well beyond the program.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to the 'Student' tab, and click the 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of three parts:
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
2. Required Major Credits
3. University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The ASL-English interpretation (ASLEI) baccalaureate degree program is delivered in two ways: a traditional undergraduate offering on the Greeley campus and as an online program. Both traditional and online students participate in summer coursework with onsite requirements. The ASLEI program prepares majors to provide competent interpreting services between individuals who are deaf and use ASL as their primary language and individuals who are not deaf and do not know ASL. Graduates of this program will be work and/or certification-ready as they will be prepared to interpret in a range of low-risk community and educational settings with professional autonomy. The ASLEI program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education, and it is the only distance-delivered interpreter education baccalaureate program in the nation to have achieved this distinction.
Program Admission Requirements:
Program-specific requirements. See website: www.unco.edu/cebs/asl-interpreting/
Program Requirements:
ASLEI Program Academic Standing
ASLEI student program academic standing is determined by (1) course grades at the end of each semester and/or (2) evidence the student is meeting benchmark expectations.
- An ASLEI student must maintain a grade of ‘B’ or higher in each of the INTR and ASL courses.
- Should an ASLEI student fall below a ‘B’ grade in any INTR or ASL course, they will be placed on provisional status during the next semester and will be required to retake the course.
- An INTR or ASL course cannot be taken more than twice.
- Course prerequisites will still need to be met.
- Students placed in provisional status will be required to meet with their academic advisor to develop an academic success plan.
- If, during the provisional semester, a student is unable to demonstrate academic progress or meet the grade requirement of ‘B’ or higher, it may be recommended that the student be asked to step out of the program for a year or may be required to change their major.
- The ASLEI program faculty reserves the right to require the withdrawal from the ASLEI program of any student who, in their professional judgment, fails to satisfy the requirements of professionalism and/or performance.
An ASLEI student remains in good academic standing as long as the student is able to demonstrate appropriate behavior as outlined in the ASLEI disposition form.
- Should one or more INTR course instructors document disposition concerns, a student may be placed on provisional status during the next semester.
- The student will be required to meet with the ASLEI coordinator and academic advisor to develop a plan that addresses disposition concerns and subsequently meets the goals outlined in the plan.
- If a pattern of disposition concerns continues in future courses, it may be recommended that the student be asked to step out of the program for a year or may be required to change their major. The ASLEI program faculty reserves the right to require the withdrawal from the ASLEI program of any student who, in their professional judgment, fails to satisfy the requirements of professionalism and/or performance.
Progression
A benchmark assessment is conducted during the spring of the second year to determine student readiness to move forward into the interpretation skills courses in the program. Students must pass an ASL expressive assessment, an ASL receptive assessment, and a review of student disposition assessments completed by ASLEI faculty.
- If it is determined that ASL skills and or disposition have not met the passing requirement, the student will be placed on provisional status for the following semester. Students must successfully comply with the provisional status requirements in order to move forward with coursework.
- In the event that provisional status requirements are not met, the student will meet with the ASLIS advisor to determine next steps. The next steps may be that the student be asked to step out of the program for a year, or they may be required to change their major.
Internship
ASLEI students are required to complete a 4- to 5-week/160-hour internship during the final semester of the program. Internship placements are most often outside of the student’s home state, which requires an intern to have the financial and logistical resources to coordinate personal transportation and accommodations.
- Student interns are required to have a ‘B’ or better in all ASL/INTR courses (including any electives, concentrations, or minors with an INTR or ASL prefix) and cannot be on provisional status prior to internship placement. In the event that a student is at risk of not receiving a ‘B’ grade in any INTR course being taken during the semester prior to the internship placement, their internship status will be reviewed prior to placement to determine if the student is able to demonstrate the expected and requisite intern disposition and skills.
- Some internship sites may require students to submit a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and/or a drug test prior to arriving at the internship site.
Prior Learning Credit
Students who screen for and achieve advanced placement in ASL courses above ASL 101 American Sign Language I may receive prior learning credits, provided a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher is earned on the student’s first UNC course taken above ASL 101. After receiving a “B” or higher grade, students must petition the Office of the Registrar in order to be awarded the prior learning credits. Petition forms are available through the ASLEI Advisor. Depending on which ASL course the student screens into, up to 15 prior learning credits may be applied.
More information can be found in the Prior Learning Credit in American Sign Language section of the catalog.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
ASL 201 and ASL 202 may be used for up to 6 credits of Arts & Humanities Coursework, which also counts for Multicultural Studies.
A student wanting advanced placement in American Sign Language courses above ASL 101 must meet with a faculty member in the American Sign Language & Interpreting Studies (ASLIS) department for a placement screening. A student may receive retroactive credits, provided a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher is earned in the student’s first UNC course taken above ASL 101.
After receiving a grade of “B” or higher students must petition the Office of the Registrar in order to be awarded the retroactive credits.
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 73 credits
Students completing a major in ASL-English Interpretation and a minor in ASL are exempt from the University policy that a maximum of 12 credit hours can be shared between a major and minor.
Take all of the following courses:
3. University Wide Credits — 16 credits
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 16 credits.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 35 credits
Fall Semester
| INTR 100 | Strategies for ASL English Interpretation Success | 1 |
| INTR 101 | ASL V | 3 |
| INTR 111 | ASL Linguistics | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| INTR 102 | ASL VI | 3 |
| INTR 201 | Ethics for Interpreters | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Summer Session
| INTR 103 | ASL for Interpreters I | 3 |
| INTR 113 | Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Year 2 – 33 credits
Fall Semester
| INTR 112 | Theory and Practice of Interpreting | 3 |
| INTR 204 | ASL for Interpreters II | 3 |
| INTR 312 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Spring Semester
| ASL 310 | Deaf Culture and Community | 3 |
| INTR 206 | Meaning Transfer Skills for Interpreters | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Summer Session
| INTR 230 | Research Methods in Interpretation | 1 |
| INTR 245 | Interpreting Skills & Theory I | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Year 3 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| INTR 345 | Interpreting Skills & Theory II | 6 |
| INTR 430 | Introduction to School Interpreting | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Spring Semester
| INTR 330 | Observation-Supervision | 3 |
| INTR 355 | Interpreting Skills & Theory III | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Summer Session
| INTR 445 | Interpreting Skills & Theory IV | 5 |
| INTR 449 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Year 4 – 21 credits
Fall Semester
| INTR 401 | Professional Decision-Making for Interpreters | 3 |
| INTR 440 | Interpreting in Community Settings | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Spring Semester
| INTR 450 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| INTR 492 | Internship for Interpreters | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Admission Requirement: ASL IV demonstrated competencies are required for program entrance. If an applicant is not ready to enter the program at ASL V, the degree will require more than 4 years to complete.
Advising Notes –
Prior Learning Credit: A student seeking placement in ASL courses beyond ASL 101 may earn retroactive credit by:
- Completing an ASL I-IV placement screening with a faculty member in the ASL & Interpreting Studies Department.
- Earning a “B” (3.0) or higher in the student’s first UNC course taken above ASL 101.
- Submitting a retroactive petition form to the Office of the Registrar (available at the ASL & Interpreting Studies Department in McKee 114).
ASL III-IV can be used for up to 6 credits of Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Coursework.
University-Wide Electives: 16 credits may be applied to a Minor or Electives. (A minor is not required for this degree).