UNC Greensboro
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Degrees & Programs
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Bachelor's in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services - Interpreter Preparation
Bachelor's in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services - Interpreter Preparation
UNC Greensboro’s Bachelor’s in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services (IDEAS) in Interpreter Preparation combines rigorous American Sign Language (ASL) instruction, immersive engagement with Deaf communities, and professional interpreter training within a program backed by more than five decades of Deaf Education expertise. Students develop not only the language and interpreting skills needed for the profession, but also the cultural competency, ethical decision-making, and real-world experience essential for success as interpreters.
Bachelor’s in Interpreter Preparation Program Distinctions
UNCG is home to the only four-year interpreter preparation program in the UNC System. Our students learn from faculty members who bring extensive experience from K-12 education, interpreting, and community practice.
The Interpreter Preparation concentration develops culturally responsive, community-connected interpreters. Students gain advanced ASL skills, extensive engagement with Deaf communities, practical interpreting experience, and the professional preparation needed to succeed in a wide range of interpreting settings.
100% of graduates pass the NIC written certification exam.
The program is accredited/affiliated with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
The Experience as an Interpreter Preparation Student
Students in the Interpreter Preparation program have opportunities to interact directly with Deaf community members through coursework, events, and experiential learning. These experiences improve language acquisition and provide insight into the lived experiences of Deaf individuals. Small class sizes and personalized support help students develop both their technical skills and professional identity.
UNCG’s ASL Lab is located within the School of Education and is available to be utilized by IDEAS students. Students are encouraged to participate in research opportunities with faculty members and doctoral students, study abroad, and attend conferences and professional develop experiences.
If you have completed an AAS degree, your credits will transfer on a course-by-course basis unless your degree is covered by a specific 2Plus program.
“Their guidance of my academic path laid the groundwork for the IDEAS program. You need content knowledge to work in a legal setting, social services setting, religious settings and others. You have to know a little about a lot, so you can interpret not just words, but concepts for an equivalent message in ASL.”
Applying to the Bachelor’s in Interpreter Preparation Concentration
No prior ASL experience required
Begin ASL coursework in the first semester
Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher
Meet with an IDEAS advisor and complete required forms outlining Technical Standards, Dispositions, and Program Requirements
Maintain overall GPA of2.5 or higher
Earn B- (2.70) or higher in SES courses
Satisfactory progress on Dispositions Review each semester
Continued demonstration of required competencies outlined in the Technical Standards
Pass benchmark assessments
Achieve ASLPI score of 2.0 or higher (taken during ASL IV)
Assessment Information for Interpreter Preparation
Cost: Free
Purpose: Initial screening to evaluate one’s potential in communicating with members of the Deaf community. Passing the assessment gives a student permission to take SES 102 ASL II designated for majors
When Administered: Taken during SES 101
Cost: Free
Purpose: Secondary screening to evaluate one’s ASL skills and processing ability at the intermediate level. Passing the assessment gives a student permission to take the SES 203 ASL III designated for majors
When Administered: Taken during SES 102 or when a person transfers in at this level
Cost: $165
Purpose: This external assessment evaluates one’s basic ASL skills to determine if they should continue in their field of study and if they have the achieved level of proficiency in order to begin an internship. Required rating: 2.0 or higher.
When Administered: Taken during SES 204 ASL IV
Developed by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the Center for Assessment of Sign Language Interpreting. Students typically take the written portion of the test while they are a senior in the program and the performance portion after they have graduated and have had some experience in the field. For more information, go to rid.org.
This test is typically taken before graduation. For more information, go to classroominterpreting.org.
After Graduating with A Bachelor’s in Interpreter Preparation
Students graduate from the Interpreter Preparation concentration with practical experience that helps them transition more confidently into the profession. Broad preparation allows students to explore multiple career paths within the interpreting profession.
Graduates of the program have found employment in public schools, higher education, interpreting agencies, government, and human services organizations.
Career paths include:
Educational Interpreter
Community Interpreter
Video Relay Services (VRS) Interpreter
Interpreting Specialist
“You need content knowledge to work in a legal setting, social services setting, religious settings and others. You have to know a little about a lot, so you can interpret not just words, but concepts for an equivalent message in ASL.”
UNC Greensboro accepts students with little or no experience with American Sign Language (ASL). Students will start taking ASL classes in the first semester of study. Students are required to pass several program benchmarks as they progress through the program.
Our four-year program leads to a bachelor’s degree and prepares students to take state and national assessments in order to become a certified interpreter. These assessments are administered through professional organizations that are not affiliated with any college or university. More information regarding assessments can be found higher on this page.
North Carolina has licensure requirements for interpreters working in community settings. To be granted a full-license, one must pass the NIC test. To sit for the NIC performance portion, one must have a bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation, students may apply for a provisional license and begin working as an interpreter while gaining experience to help them pass the performance portion of the assessment. For more information about North Carolina licensure, go to www.ncitlb.org.
No, UNC Greensboro’s program is a degree program. Completion leads to a bachelor’s of science degree.
Yes, UNCG recognizes that the best way to learn ASL is from native users of the language and immersion in the community using that language. All ASL courses and many of the upper level courses are taught in ASL without voice. All of the faculty and staff are fluent in ASL. Currently, there are full-time faculty members who are Deaf and CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). UNCG also has several adjunct faculty members who are Deaf.
Many students enter our program without any previous experience with ASL. As freshmen, students start the ASL sequence while taking general education courses. During the first ASL class, students take a screening test to see if they have the potential for becoming proficient in sign language in order to work with the Deaf community. If they pass the screening, they are able to continue to the next level of ASL and take courses specifically designed for majors. There are other benchmark assessments throughout the program which students must pass as well. This is especially helpful for individuals who have not had prior experience in ASL or interacting with the Deaf community so they can know if this is the career path for them.
We believe strongly in students practicing their ASL and interpreting skills in an interactive environment. Currently, the language and interpreting classes are not offered on-line. However, many of the general education courses and related area requirements are offered on-line.
We have had students enter the program as part-time students, however, the most effective way to learn ASL and the skill of interpreting is to immerse yourself in your studies. Students who have taken only a few courses at a time tend not to pick up ASL and the skills of interpreting as fast as those who attend full time. Students who progress through the program as full-time students form a cohort with other students taking the same classes and this support system proves to be invaluable.
The Interpreter Preparation program at UNC Greensboro is unique in that we offer three concentrations that lead to careers working with the Deaf community; Interpreter Preparation, K-12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teaching Licensure, and Advocacy Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Because of these multiple concentrations, students are given a broad-based exposure to working with the Deaf community. Concentrations within the program emphasizes the delivery of services for individuals who are D/deaf or hard of hearing from a multidisciplinary, family-centered and collaborative perspective that highlights the cultural and communication diversity among individuals who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
Currently there is a national shortage of sign language interpreters in both educational and community settings. Many of our students find employment during their internship course.
