Deaf Communication Studies: Interpreter Education - AAS
Associate in Applied Science | 60 credit hours minimum
Area of Interest: Communications, Design, and Creative Arts
Program Description:
Deaf Communication Studies: Interpreter Education Program, Associate in Applied Science degree provides the instruction and experience necessary to develop ASL-English interpreting skills including sight translation, voice-to-sign interpretation and transliteration, and sign-to-voice interpretation and transliteration. The program includes theory of interpretation, ASL and English skills development, experiential practice interpreting a broad range of general topics and basic specialized topics, Deaf history and culture, and professional ethics. Graduates of the program will be prepared to pass the Missouri Interpreter Certification System Test of English Proficiency and the interpreter certification Basic performance evaluation to become entry-level professional interpreters. Students are admitted into the program after demonstrating intermediate ASL skills and a working knowledge of ASL linguistics.
Locations. This program is offered in its entirety at Florissant Valley and Wildwood.
Licensure. This program meets the educational requirements for state licensure in the following states: Missouri and Illinois. Students interested in pursuing licensure in a different state should contact the program coordinator for more information.
Related Programs. The Deaf Communication Studies Department offers a certificate in the following area:
Deaf Communication Studies: American Sign Language, Certificate of Specialization
Cost of Attendance. For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES.
Program Career and Salary Information. Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest.
The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.
Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.
At the completion of the program, students are expected to:
- translate 250 words of printed English to ASL in 7 minutes with 75% accuracy.
- interpret 6-7 minutes of spoken English (approximately 110 words per minute) to ASL with 75% accuracy.
- interpret 6-7 minutes of ASL (approximately equivalent to 110 words per minute) to spoken English with 75% accuracy.
- transliterate 6-7 minutes of spoken English (110 words per minute) to Conceptually Accurate Signed English with 75% accuracy.
- compare and contrast mainstream hearing culture and Deaf culture in terms of history, challenges, self-advocacy, and self-efficacy.
- demonstrate an effective process for making ethical decisions.
Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.
Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200) | 3 |
| or ENG 103 | Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110) | |
| MTH 161 | Quantitative Reasoning (MOTR MATH 120) (or MTH 161S) | 3 |
| XXX xxx | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement | 3 |
| THT 108 | Acting I (MOTR PERF 100) | 3 |
| Program Requirements | ||
| DCS 106 | American Sign Language III | 4 |
| DCS 109 | Grammar and Vocabulary for Interpreters | 3 |
| DCS 121 | American Sign Language IV | 4 |
| DCS 122 | Translation | 3 |
| DCS 206 | Interpreting I | 3 |
| DCS 210 | Sign to Voice Interpreting I | 3 |
| DCS 211 | Specialized Interpreting | 3 |
| DCS 212 | Deaf History and Culture | 3 |
| DCS 213 | Professional Issues and Ethics | 2 |
| DCS 216 | Educational Interpreting | 3 |
| DCS 218 | Interpreter Field Experience | 2 |
| DCS 219 | Workplace Learning: DCS | 3 |
| DCS 220 | Interpreting II | 3 |
| DCS 221 | Sign to Voice Interpreting II | 3 |
| DCS 222 | Advanced Interpreting | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
Full-Time Academic Plan
Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.
PLEASE NOTE: If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements. Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.
| First Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| DCS 106 | American Sign Language III | 4 | DCS 105 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 109 | Grammar and Vocabulary for Interpreters | 3 | Concurrent or prior enrollment DCS 106 with a minimum grade of "C", concurrent or prior enrollment in ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" , and Reading Proficiency | BEI Test of English Proficiency |
| DCS 122 | Translation | 3 | Concurrent or prior enrollment in DCS 106 with a minimum grade of "C", concurrent or prior enrollment in DCS 109 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency | |
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 | Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079 | |
| THT 108 | Acting I (MOTR PERF 100) | 3 | Reading Proficiency | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |||
| Spring | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| DCS 121 | American Sign Language IV | 4 | DCS 106 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 206 | Interpreting I | 3 | DCS 122 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 210 | Sign to Voice Interpreting I | 3 | DCS 122 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| ENG 102 or 103 | College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200) or Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110) | 3 | ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |||
| Second Year | ||||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| DCS 220 | Interpreting II | 3 | DCS 206 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 221 | Sign to Voice Interpreting II | 3 | DCS 210 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 211 | Specialized Interpreting | 3 | DCS 206 with minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 216 | Educational Interpreting | 3 | DCS 206 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| MTH 161 | Quantitative Reasoning (MOTR MATH 120) (or MTH 161S) | 3 | Satisfactory score on placement test and Reading Proficiency | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |||
| Spring | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| DCS 212 | Deaf History and Culture | 3 | DCS 121 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 213 | Professional Issues and Ethics | 2 | DCS 220 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 218 | Interpreter Field Experience | 2 | Concurrent or prior enrollment in DCS 213 and DCS 222 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| DCS 222 | Advanced Interpreting | 3 | DCS 211, DCS 216, DCS 220, and DCS 221 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| XXX xxx | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement | 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 13 | |||
| Summer | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| DCS 219 | Workplace Learning: DCS | 3 | DCS 213 and DCS 218 with minimum grades of "C" , and Reading Proficiency | BEI Performance Evaluation |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |||
*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.
**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.
*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice. Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.