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The Graduate School

American Sign Language and English Interpreting

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Overview

Educational Interpreting concentration:

The Educational Interpreting Concentration (EIC) is designed to meet the needs of (a) pre-certified students who aspire to national certification and work within K-12 settings as an educational interpreter or, (b) certified interpreters who seek to increase their specialized interpreting skill sets and knowledge base about educational interpreting in K-12 settings. The program includes 30 credit hours of courses in education, mentoring, research, service learning, and interpreting in K-12 educational settings.

General Practitioner concentration:

The General Practitioner concentration is designed to meet the needs of: 

  1. pre-certified students who aspire to national certification and general practice or,
  2. certified interpreters who seek to increase their specialized interpreting skill sets and knowledge bases.

The concentration consists of 30 credit hours that include courses in specialized settings, mentoring, research, service learning, and intercultural contexts.

Interpreting Pedagogy concentration:

In this unique program, academia (UNF) and industry (Sorenson Communications) have collaborated to build a curriculum for certified interpreters to earn a Master's degree that will prepare them to teach the interpreting process in colleges and universities. The Interpreting Pedagogy concentration consists of 30 credit hours that contains courses on teaching translation, teaching interpreting, applied research, assessment, distance learning, adult learning, and curriculum development. The program is distance-friendly and uses a cohort model with a maximum of 15 students per year.

Concentrations

The American Sign Language and English Interpreting program requires applicants to choose one of the following concentrations:

  • Educational Interpreting
  • General Practitioner
  • Interpreting Pedagogy

Prerequisites 

Educational Interpreting and General Practitioner concentrations:

  • Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree with previous interpreting coursework that includes:
    • Language - American Sign Language, Fingerspelling & Numbers, Advanced ASL Discourse, Comparative Linguistics, ASL Structure
    • Foundation Courses - Deaf Culture, Introduction to Interpreting, Interpreting Ethics
    • Interpretation/Transliteration Skills courses
    • English - ASL, ASL - English Interpretation/Transliteration, Applied Interpreting Theory, Cognitive Processing
    • Practicum, Internship, Field Experience (minimum 9 hours) OR
  • Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in another field, National Certification (CSC, CI and CT, NIC, NAD V, COI) and Program permission
Interpreting Pedagogy concentration:
  • Bachelor degree preferred in interpreting, linguistics, education or deafness-related field
  • National Interpreting Certification (RID, CSC, CI and CT, NIC, NAD V, AVLIC COI) is strongly preferred, exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis
  • Deaf persons who aspire to teach in interpreter education programs are encouraged to apply (with or without certification)
  • Teaching experience in interpreter education (preferred)
  • Strong academic English and academic ASL competency

Special Notes

The MS ASL/English Interpreting program has an out-of-state tuition rate that differs from other UNF graduate programs. Please refer to the ASL English Interpreting Tuition & Fees for additional information.

Application Deadlines

Fall Term . . . . . . . . August 1 - all concentrations
Spring Term . . . . . December 1 - General Practice
Summer Term . . . April 15 - Interpreting Pedagogy concentration

Graduate Program Director

Dr. Len Roberson
Professor
(904) 620-2185
Building 57, Room 3514

The following items must be submitted no later then the deadline posted above. Incomplete applications with outstanding requirements, or those post-marked after the posted deadline, are subject to cancellation. Once an application has been canceled, the decision can not be reversed. Applicants may apply for the next application cycle.

  • UNF admission application
  • Application fee
  • If applicable, collection holds and judicial holds must be cleared
  • All of the below university and program requirements
  • University Requirements
    • A baccalaureate degree from an accepted institutional accreditor, or its equivalent from a foreign institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.
    • Transcripts, and foreign evaluations if applicable, from all post-secondary institutions attended. Admitted students will be prompted to provide official copies. 
  • Program Requirements - Educational Interpreting concentration
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Letter of intent
      • 500-1000 words
      • Include why you have chosen to pursue the Educational Interpreting Concentration of the MS degree and how this graduate program will help you attain your professional goals.
      • At the end of the letter, provide a link (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) to the ASL video described below
      • ASL Video
        • Create a video using academic-level ASL sharing how your admission in the General practice program will help you achieve your goals. Identify those goals and discuss your intent of pursuing this graduate degree. Also discuss your own work and involvement with the Deaf community.
        • Include the link to the video (in YouTube) at the bottom of your Letter of Intent identified above. Be sure the video is set to be viewed by individuals with the link. 
    • Two letters of recommendation
      • At least one letter from a college/university professor is preferred
      • Address applicants academic background and aptitude for graduate work;
      • Applicant's capabilities for future performance and scholarship
  • Program Requirements - General Practitioner concentration
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Letter of intent
      • 500-1000 words
      • Answer "How will the General Practitioner Program help you attain your goals?"
      • At the end of the letter, provide a link (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) to the ASL video described below
      • ASL Video
        • Create a video using academic-level ASL sharing how your admission in the General practice program will help you achieve your goals. Identify those goals and discuss your intent of pursuing this graduate degree. Also discuss your own work and involvement with the Deaf community.
        • Include the link to the video (in YouTube) at the bottom of your Letter of Intent identified above. Be sure the video is set to be viewed by individuals with the link.
    • Two letters of recommendation
      • At least one letter from a college/university professor is preferred
      • Address applicants academic background and aptitude for graduate work;
      • Applicant's capabilities for future performance and scholarship
  • Program Requirements - Interpreting Pedagogy concentration

    This concentration is available to nationally certified interpreters (RID, CSC, CI and CT, NIC, NAD V, AVLIC COI), and Deaf interpreters who are interested in teaching interpreting.) Exceptions to having national certification are made on a case-by-case basis and your letter of intent and video should address why an exception should be made with regards to holding national certification.

    • Curriculum vitae
    • Letter of intent
      • 500-1000 words
      • Elaborate on professional goals related to teaching interpreting
      • Answer "How will the interpreting pedagogy program help you attain your goals?"
      • At the end of the letter, provide a link (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) to the ASL Video described below
      • ASL Video
        • Create a video using academic-level ASL sharing how your admission in the Interpreting Pedagogy program will help you achieve your goals. Identify those goals and discuss your intent of pursuing this graduate degree. Also discuss your own work and involvement with the Deaf community, your experience in interpreter education and your leadership roles in the field.
        • Include the link to the video (in YouTube) at the bottom of your Letter of Intent identified above. Be sure the video is set to be viewed by individuals with the link.
    • Two letters of recommendation
      • At least one letter should be from a college/university professor is preferred
      • Address applicants academic background and aptitude for graduate work;
      • Applicant's capabilities for future performance and scholarship in interpreter education
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