American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies

Deaf Support Specialist

Certificate

The certificate program in Deaf Support is comprised of 8 technical courses totaling 22 credit hours. A Deaf Support is responsible for assistance with advocating, educating and promoting community awareness pertaining to Deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing communities. Their responsibilities involve supporting Deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers with independent living skills, informing them of community services available, and educating them in terms of their rights as they relate to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, they may assist with locating the latest rehabilitative and/or assistive technological devices. The Deaf Support Specialist Certificate program is designed to provide students with a foundation for entry level Deaf Support Specialist jobs.

Trilingual Interpreter

Certificate

The Trilingual Enhanced certificate was created to strengthen the skills of an interpreter who is currently utilizing the three languages of ASL, English and spoken Spanish in his or her professional work. This certificate was also designed to offer training to interpreters who would like to utilize these three languages or to add to their existing skills. The Trilingual Enhanced certificate requires a minimum language proficiency in both American Sign Language and Spanish.

Specialization: Sign Language Interpreter

Associate of Applied Science

The Associate of Applied Science degree in the Sign Language Interpreter Specialization is comprised of a combination of technical and general education courses. The degree requires 63 credit hours of designated coursework. Students must take a mid-program evaluation, the State Certification Basic Exam, as well as a program exit exam in order to complete the degree requirements. Students are expected to maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in all program coursework. Students interested in pursuing the Associate of Applied Science degree are required to consult with department staff before registering for any SLNG classes.

The Sign Language Interpreter option is for individuals seeking employment as an interpreter. An interpreter is one who facilitates communication between persons who do not share the same language. Interpreting between Deaf and Hearing cultures is a process of communicating spoken English messages into American Sign Language or Signed English as well as rendering American Sign Language or Signed English messages into spoken English.

Program Learning Outcomes

Deaf Support Specialist Certificate

Students will demonstrate and apply the appropriate use of intakes and service contracts.
Students will be able to explain and give examples of the impact Deafness may have on their families.
Students will be able to explain and give etiology leading to Deafness.

Trilingual Interpreter Certificate

Student will demonstrate an ability to produce dynamic equivalence from a source language to a target language with an emphasis in Spanish to ASL and ASL to Spanish.
The student will demonstrate the ability to interpret efficiently in a trilingual environment.
The student will demonstrate a cultural and contemporary awareness of Spanish cultures.

Specialization: Sign Language Interpreter Associate of Applied Science

The student will be able to identify and explain the interpreter's role to aide students in a post-secondary setting.
The student will discuss and interpret designated oral speech and post-secondary lectures using American Sign Language.
The student will be able to describe variations of interpreting and apply the appropriate interpretation mode depending on the Deaf consumers education level and upbringing.
The student will be able to distinguish appropriate behavior according to the Code of Professional Conduct for Sign Language Interpreters in various scenarios.

Advisory Committee Members

Hampton Huddleston. Med., COMS. Orientation and Mobility Specialist- Advisory Chair
Roland Quesada, BEI Level 3/Court Sign Language Interpreter/Sorenson VRS
Vanessa Vera, Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehab Counselor for the Deaf
Anival Hendrickson CRP Advanced Employment Services
Sandra Hendrickson, Owner Advanced Employment Services
Sarah Carrizales - STC Alumni - Community Interpreter - Certified Basic
Gracie De Luna - STC Alumni - Program Specialist - Texas School for the Deaf Austin
Milca Hipolito - STC Alumni - Job Coach for the Deaf
Richard Givens - STC Alumni - UTRGV Lead Interpreter - NIC Certified
Paul Villarreal - STC Alumni - Community Interpreter - Certified Basic

Ex-Officio Members

Ernie Pena, Sign Language Interpreter
Melissa Ibanez, ASL Instructor South Texas College
Nora McAllister, South Texas College Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf

Associate Degree

American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies Specialization: Sign Language Interpreter Associate of Applied Science

Deaf Support Specialist Certificate

TSI Exempt

Plan of Study Grid
Fall		Credit Hours
SLNG 1304	American Sign Language (ASL) I	3
SLNG 1300	Fundamentals for Deaf Support Specialist/Service Provider	3
	Credit Hours	6
Spring
SLNG 1305	American Sign Language (ASL) II	3
SLNG 2330	Advanced Techniques for Deaf Support Specialist/Service Providers	3
SLNG 1311	Fingerspelling and Numbers	3
	Credit Hours	9
Summer
SLNG 1344	American Sign Language (ASL) III	3
SLNG 1317	Introduction to the Deaf Community	3
SLNG 2186	Capstone: Internship I	1
	Credit Hours	7
	Total Credit Hours	22

Trilingual Interpreter Certificate¹

TSI Liable

Plan of Study Grid
Fall		Credit Hours
SLNG 2370	Trilingual Interpreting I	3
SLNG 2373	Latino Interpreting Issues	3
	Credit Hours	6
Spring
SLNG 2372	Trilingual Interpreting II	3
SPAN 2389	Academic Cooperative	3
	Credit Hours	6
	Total Credit Hours	12

¹: Courses under the Enhanced Trilingual Certificate can be taken concurrently with the Sign Language Interpreter major.