Interpreting, Deaf Education and Advocacy Services, B.S. Interpreter Preparation Concentration

The only public 4-year program of its kind in North Carolina. The Interpreter Preparation concentration prepares professionals to work as sign language interpreters in community and educational settings.  Our Interpreter Preparation graduates find careers working closely with the Deaf community through Sign Language interpreting agencies, Video Relay Service providers, and working in all levels of education K-12 and higher education.

Program Distinctions

• 100% of interpreting graduates pass the National Interpreter Certification (written).
• All areas of study focus on the unique educational needs of deaf and hard of hearing children emphasizing language acquisition, teaching methods, and communication modes.
• Faculty have extensive experience in the field, including former K-12 teachers and interpreters. Samuel Parker, interpreter coordinator, served as the lead interpreter for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration among other high-profile roles. 
• Accreditations and affiliations include: 
  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
  • N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
  • 2Plus interpreter preparation agreements with four North Carolina community colleges

The Student Experience

• Extensive field and internship experiences are offered in educational settings, government and community agencies, and health-related and nonprofit organizations.
• Students collaborate with faculty, staff, and doctoral students on research studies and projects.
• Opportunities are given to study abroad and experience international Deaf communities.
• Specialized training in communication modes is offered through American Sign Language (ASL) classes and the Sign Language Laboratory.
• Supervised experiences are available for student observations, volunteer work, and practicum in area public schools and other settings.
• Students actively participate in conferences, volunteer placements, professional development, and other networking opportunities.

After Graduation

• Graduates are commonly employed with public schools, interpreting agencies, federal government, and human services organizations. 
• Graduates are positioned to pursue graduate study in education, counseling, communication sciences and disorders, vocational rehabilitation, interpreting, linguistics, and more at nationally recognized institutions.

Apply to Professions in Deafness, B.S. Interpreter Preparation Concentration

Admission Requirements

• Meet with a Interpreting, Deaf Education, Advocacy and Services (IDEAS) advisor and complete forms outlining Technical Standards, Dispositions, and Program Requirements
• Overall GPA of 2.50 or higher

Progression Requirements

• Satisfactory progress on Dispositions Review each semester
• Continued demonstration of required competencies outlined in the Technical Standards
• Passing score on the Interpreting, Deaf Education, Advocacy and Services (IDEAS) Benchmark Assessments
• Achievement of a B- (2.70) or higher in SES courses
• Achievement of a 2.0 rating or higher on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) (taken during ASL IV)
• Overall GPA of 2.50 or higher

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

PEPSI: Program Entry Potential in Sign Language

• 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.

SPIL:  Sign Proficiency at the Intermediate Level

• 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.

ASLPI: American Sign Language Proficiency Interview

• 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 their internship. Required rating:  2.0 or higher.
• When Administered: Taken during SES 204 ASL IV; Taken during SES 204

NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS

National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Test

Developed by The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

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.

The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)

This test is typically taken before graduation. For more information, go to classroominterpreting.org.