Associate of Applied Science in American Sign Language - Sign Language Interpreter

San Antonio College (Alamo Colleges)

This program fully prepares you to work as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter or a Deaf Support Specialist for people in the Deaf community. This comprehensive program will teach you ASL and the interpreting process, while also familiarizing you with Deaf culture.As an interpreting student, you will learn the skills you need to begin working as an ASL interpreter, facilitating communication between people who are Deaf and hearing. You’ll learn ASL and gain an understanding of the interpreting process and profession, Deaf culture and a variety of specialized interpreting settings.In the Deaf Support Specialist program, you’ll be prepared to assist Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals as a paraprofessional in the workplace and with independent living skills. You will become familiar with the interpreting process, but your primary responsibilities include advocacy, job coaching and mentoring Deaf individuals in a variety of community and educational settings.Upon graduating with an associate degree in ASL: Sign Language Interpreter, you’ll be prepared for an entry-level career as an interpreter between Deaf and hearing individuals in a variety of settings, including educational and community-based employment. The demand for interpreters allows for a variety of job opportunities, either part-time or full-time. An ASL: Deaf Support Specialist degree prepares you for work as an advocate, job coach, mentor and/or paraprofessional to Deaf individuals.The interpreting program prepares you for the high-demand field of ASL interpreting. SAC offers the only program in Texas that requires you to pass the State Certification Exam as a graduation requirement. That means you’ll graduate with the credentials you need to begin working as an interpreter. ASL courses also count as foreign language credits and transfer for university credit.