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American Sign Language and Interpreter Preparation Program |
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Austin Community College 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, Texas 78752-4390 512.223.4ACC (4222) |
Frequently asked Questions 1. I want to become an Interpreter! Where do I start? If you do not know American Sign Language you need to take the perquisites for the program which are ASL 1 through 4 and English Composition 1301. If you know American Sign Language and have completed English Composition 1301, set up an appointment with Dr. Nathie Marbury to have your ASL skills evaluated then send your contact information to Emily Anderson or Dr. Lynn Beaman for advising. 2. What kinds of degrees or certificates can you earn through the program and how are they different? Interpreter Preparation Program Associate of Applied Science Degree: includes all ASL, Interpreting, and general education courses; will prepare students to take the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) certification test. American Sign Language Studies Certificate: includes ASL I-IV and a class on Deaf culture; provides a thorough knowledge of ASL; designed for students in other majors (e.g. Pharmacy Tech) who might use ASL to communicate as part of their job. We encourage all potential interpreting students that do not have a large post secondary academic or ASL background to pursue an associates degree. The two year program provides enough exposure to ASL and interpreting course work that will prepare them to be competent interpreters. Having an associates degree will also allow future students to become state or nationally certified. At the 2003 RID Conference in Chicago, the membership passed a motion which requires a degree in order to stand for future performance interview tests. It is important to note that these requirements are not immediate. In June of 2009, applicants who are hearing will be required to have a minimum of an associate’s degree in order to be considered a candidate for certification. Effective January 1, 2012, DHHS (state certification) will require individuals to possess an Associates degree to be eligible for certification testing. 3. If I already know some sign language, can I waive some ASL courses? Yes, if you qualify you may be able to waive some classes. Contact Dr. Nathie Marbury to set up an appointment for ASL Placement. 4. If a student has a full-time job, can they still complete this program? Yes, if they have some job flexibility. Some courses are offered once a year and some are offered either in the daytime or the evening. 5. What kinds of job opportunities are out there for sign language interpreters? There are a variety of full-time and part-time jobs for interpreters in the fields of educational, legal medical and video relay interpreting. There is a national shortage of interpreters. 6. Do students get help in finding internships? Yes. The internship supervisor will help them find a placement based on the students' area of interest. However we do encourage our students to independently seek out resources that best fit their needs. 7. How much money can entry-level graduates from this program earn? Hourly wages range from $14 to $25 an hour depending on education, experience and certification. Consult the following website, created by the U.S. Labor Bureau for a listing of current hourly wages and salaries for interpreters. 8. How does the IPP differ from being “certified” as an interpreter? The certificate provided by ACC is an educational certificate and not state or national certification. The IPP is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary to become certified at the state level. 9. How does a student become “certified” as an interpreter? State Certification is available through the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Board of Evaluation for Interpreters. For more information regarding DARS, visit their website at http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/index.shtml National Certification is available through the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID). For more information regarding national certification, visit their website at http://www.rid.org 10. How much does it cost to take classes at ACC? Tuition is based on how many credit hours you are taking a semseter and whether or not you reside in the ACC disctrict. Click here to find currently tution rates for ACC. Click here to see a map of the ACC district. Tuition can be paid in installments. Click here for more information regarding installment plans. 11. If I take ASL will it satisfy foreign language requirements? According to the Texas Education Code, section 51.303(c), "American Sign Language is recognized as a language, and any state institute of higher education may offer an elective course in American Sign Language. A student is entitled to count credit received for a course in American Sign Language toward satisfaction of a foreign language requirement of the institution of higher education where it is offered." If you are transferring your credit to another university or college, please check with them to ensure that your ASL credits will count as a foreign langauge at their school. 12. Has the degree plan for the interpreting degree changed? Yes. Several changes to the 2009-2010 AAS interpreting degree have been made.
13. Is your program offered online? No. Although some of the core courses required for the degree are offered online, such as English Composition and Math, ASL and Interpreting courses are not offered online. The University of Northern Colorado offers a Bachelors degree in interpreting. A majority of their classes are online. For more information on their program, visit www.unco.edu/doit. 14. I need an interpreter. Can students volunteer interpret for me? Interpreting Students at Austin Community College College offer volunteer interpreting services for events where professional interpreters are not provided. All requests are reviewed by department faculty. Please make your request at least two weeks in advance of the event and include all the following information:
The best way to make a request for a student interpreter is by e-mail to. Associate Professor and Assistant Department Chair Emily Anderson Students are available to provide volunteer interpreting services only if they are not in classes and will attend all events in a team of two. A student will reply to your message within two-three days so you know we have received your request. All requests for volunteers will be checked by department faculty. Students provide free interpreting service to help them learn how to interpret and work with Deaf people in the community. Your requests to have students interpret for you helps prepare them to be skilled professional interpreters. Students cannot provide interpreting service at any assignment which has funding available to pay professional interpreters. We also cannot provide service for the following settings:
If you are not sure if your request is appropriate for students, please send it to us and we will let you know if it's possible for students to attend. Examples of the kind of events where students provide interpreting include:
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Last modified: September 25 2009 @ 2:05 pm | Austin Community College District • Austin, TX