American Sign Language (ASL) /
English Interpreting Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Science Degree

Welcome to the University of North Florida's ASL/English Interpreting Program. We hope you will find the information you are seeking here, but if not, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have. UNF’s program began in fall 2007 after several years of planning and consulting with other successful programs. The program is designed to allow graduates of two-year associate degree programs to complete the last two years of a Bachelor of Science degree in a program filled with advanced interpreting coursework. Its development is directly related to the requirement in 2012 by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. that interpreters who seek national certification must hold a baccalaureate degree before being permitted to take the examination. Although this requirement does not specify that the baccalaureate degree must be in ASL/English Interpreting, our goal at UNF is to prepare students to become nationally certified interpreters and to promote further skill development in students who already hold national certification. The program abides by the National Interpreter Education Standards formulated by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education.

The "2+2" Design and Articulation

The "2 + 2" design is a national model for successful articulation between two and four-year interpreting programs. It allows UNF to build on the curricula and methodologies of programs that are already in existence and to provide students with an option for the BS degree. We strive to offer a curriculum that is advanced and does not duplicate coursework taken at the associate-degree level. There are five, two-year interpreting programs in Florida, and UNF officially partners with Florida State College at Jacksonville (South Campus) to facilitate the transfer process for incoming students.  We welcome graduates from the other interpreting programs at Valencia College, Miami Dade College, Hillsborough Community College, and St. Petersburg College. Students transferring from institutions outside of Florida are evaluated on a case by case basis to assure that the proper interpreting foundation has been achieved prior to starting in the UNF program.

Program Delivery

The program delivery is changing from a totally onsite program to a distance-friendly model in Fall 2013. This model will allow students who do not reside in Jacksonville to access the curriculum through three or four onsite weekends at UNF during spring and fall semesters, one onsite week during one summer, and online technologies, including virtual classrooms with frequent peer and instructor interaction. Although it is not required, students are highly encouraged to reside in Jacksonville, where they can regularly access faculty-student mentorship opportunities, participate in local Deaf community activities, engage in campus life and student organizations, and join study groups.

The ASL/English Interpreting program faculty members have undergone certification training for teaching online and bring a vast array of expertise in facilitating interpreting skill acquisition with a combination of online and face-to-face methodologies. Each course’s content is carefully evaluated to determine the most effective way of delivering it to students. UNF’s program is highly interactive, professors are continuously engaged in student learning, and the curriculum remains in alignment with national interpreter education standards. The B.S. degree awarded by our program is in compliance with the university’s SACS accreditation, and students who receive this degree are fully qualified to pursue advanced master-level and doctoral degrees.

Technology

Students who are admitted to this program should have daily access to high-speed internet and a desktop or laptop computer that is equipped with Microsoft Office and a web camera. Courses will use a variety of the latest technology to maximize skill and knowledge acquisition. These technologies include Blackboard Learn, Collaborate, and ooVoo, allowing students to interact synchronously or asynchronously to access recordings of class sessions at their convenience.

Program Benchmarks

The Interpreting program recommends that students start with an interpreting credential (such as QA or EIPA); however, one is not required. Prior to placement in the capstone Internship course, students must pass the National Interpreter Certification Written Examination.

Program Mission and Philosophy

The mission of the ASL/English Interpreting Program is to prepare exceptional practitioners who are capable of managing the complex cognitive tasks for conveying dynamically equivalent messages between American Sign Language and English. The curriculum is designed to develop outstanding communication skills in both English (written and spoken) and ASL. The program of study revolves around ethical reasoning and decision-making, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility to the Deaf community. In addition, our mission is to graduate students who consistently demonstrate interpersonal skills that reflect unconditional positive regard for all participants in the interpreting process, and professional dispositions that embrace diversity, equity, and equality of opportunity among the diverse language and cultural groups of the community.

Our goal is to provide a comprehensive curriculum within an innovative program design to produce highly qualified interpreters who are ready to span the readiness to work gap and achieve national certification. Our philosophy is that students will flourish when provided with:

1.       An experiential, service-learning environment that encourages alliance with Deaf community partners;

2.       An evidence-based curriculum that is in accordance with current spoken and signed language research;  

3.       Faculty members who are actively engaged in applied interpreting research and who encourage students to become consumers of research to inform their skill development;

4.       One-on-one mentorship and strong peer support networks;

5.       A spiraling curriculum that builds upon previously developed interpreting skills to achieve mastery;

6.       An emphasis on written and spoken English competency;

7.       High expectations for continued progress toward national certification;  

8.      A wide range of courses that cover advanced ASL skill development, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting skill acquisition, and linguistic-cultural competency

Transformational Learning Opportunities

UNF’s Board of Trustees has dedicated specific funding to support student engagement in transformational learning opportunities (TLOs) that broaden and deepen students’ intellectual and worldviews through study abroad. Each year, the Interpreting Program applies for these grant funds to provide our undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to study abroad, usually during Spring Break. This TLO exposes students to the training and role of spoken and signed language interpreters in the European Union, where students visit the University of Ljubljana and the University of Graz (Austria). It gives students access to a comprehensive translation library while they are enrolled in the Interpreting Research course, allows students to receive feedback on research ideas with EU researchers, provides Austrian Sign Language experience, and introduces the rich culture and heritage of Vienna, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia (part of the former Yugoslavia).

Program Admission

Prospective students are admitted each fall and must meet admission requirements of the university. To be considered for admission, you must fulfill these additional requirements:

1.  GPA of 2.5 or higher  (preferred 3.0+)

2.  Completion of a two-year interpreting degree (AA/AAS/AS) OR a two-year degree in another field if you currently hold national certification (CSC, CI and CT, NIC, NAD V)
State and institutional general education core requirements may not have been met in your two-year program. It is not required that you complete your general education core courses prior to attending UNF, but it is recommended. Unless UNF has negotiated an official articulation agreement with your prior institution, transcripts will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine course equivalencies and program placement. If you have questions about general education core requirements, contact Dr. Todd Parrish (parr0012@unf.edu) for Academic Advising.

3.  Interpreting Credentials 
Interpreting credentials are not required for admission unless the prior degree is in another field. Students entering the program with interpreting credentials, such as a QA or EIPA level, are more likely to progress steadily through the coursework. Nationally certified interpreters are welcome.

Steps toward Fall 2013 Admission

Deadline Extended to June 30!

• Goal Statement: Attach statement as a Word document in an email to Dr. Shaw (sherry.shaw@unf.edu) by April 1, 2013. In the statement, discuss (a) your reasons for wanting to study in UNF’s program, (b) skills and personal attributes you bring to the program, and (c) your professional goals (400-500 words). Statements will be evaluated on content and English form. At the end of this Goal Statement provide a link to an unlisted YouTube presentation of your professional goals in ASL (minimum 3 minutes).

• Online Application: Apply online by May 10, 2013.

• References:  Ask two professional references (not personal) to write support letters that speak to your ability to excel in the 2 + 2 program. (Send to: Dr. Sherry Shaw, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive 57/3500, Jacksonville, FL 32224)

• Transcripts:  Send all past transcripts to UNF. These must arrive by the application deadline of May 10, 2013. If you are graduating from another institution after May 10, you may send unofficial transcripts now and final transcripts as soon as they are available.