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 the faculty with any questions you might have. The ASL/English Interpreting Program at UNF was implemented 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 obtain a bachelor's degree by offering the last two years of interpretation study at UNF. Its development is directly related to the upcoming 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. The program abides by the National Interpreter Education Standards formulated by the Conference of Interpreter Trainers and aspires to accreditation status in 2012.

The "2+2" Design and Articulation

The "2 + 2" design is a national model for successful articulation agreements 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 advanced degree. There are four, 2-year programs in Florida, and UNF officially partners with Florida State College at Jacksonville (South Campus) to facilitate the transfer process for incoming students. Another articulation agreement with Hillsborough Community College in Tampa is in development. Students transferring from other institutions 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 Benchmarks

The Interpreting program recommends that students start with an interpreting credential (such as QA or EIPA); however, one is not required until the student reaches senior status. Before admission to advanced courses, students must achieve a minimum of a QA 1 to advance in the program. The exit requirement is to take and pass the NIC Written Exam, which may be taken in satisfaction of the QA Written Exam prior to QA testing.

Program Mission and Philosophy

Our mission 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. We believe that students will flourish when provided with:

1. An experiential, service-learning environment that strives to re-center Interpreter Education in the Deaf community;
2. An evidence-based curriculum that is developed in accordance with current spoken and designed language research and faculty who are actively engaged in applied interpretation research;
3. A respect for diverse populations and a multicultural appreciation across the curriculum;
4. A task-based approach to language and interpretation learning;
5. An ongoing curricular focus on market needs and demands;
6. Stakeholder (Deaf Community, students, professional community) involvement in program planning;
7. Onsite delivery system that incorporates web-enhanced technology

Program Admission

Prospective students must meet admission requirements of the university. The Interpreting Program only admits students during fall semesters. 

• Letter of interest
  A letter of interest, preferably submitted at least by the semester prior to your plan to attend UNF, is requested in order to plan upcoming semester schedules. Address your letters to Dr. Sherry Shaw (sherry.shaw@unf.edu) and send via email. When your letter is received, you will be admitted to an online "classroom" that keeps you updated about the program. This allows you to participate in discussions with other transferring students and helps you feel a part of the UNF community even before you arrive. 


•  Completion of a two-year interpreting degree (AA/AAS/AS)
  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 courses prior to attending UNF, but it is recommended. One exception to this is Florida State College at Jacksonville, whose students must complete all general education core requirements prior to transfer. Unless UNF has negotiated an official articulation agreement with your prior institution of study, transcripts will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine course equivalencies and program placement. Students without the foundational background in interpreting will be referred to FSCJ for prerequisite satisfaction prior to UNF admission.


• Cumulative and specific program GPA of 2.5 or higher  


• Interpreting Credentials
  Interpreting credentials are not required for admission. Students entering the program with interpreting credentials, such as a QA or EIPA level, are more likely to progress steadily through the coursework. Students will be required to obtain a QA Level 1 after their first year in the program and before achieving senior status in order to proceed with advanced coursework.