Deaf Communication Studies: Interpreter Education - AAS

Deaf Communication Studies: Interpreter Education - AAS

Associate in Applied Science | 60 credit hours minimum

Area of Interest: Communications, Design, and Creative Arts

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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:

  1. translate 250 words of printed English to ASL in 7 minutes with 75% accuracy.
  2. interpret 6-7 minutes of spoken English (approximately 110 words per minute) to ASL with 75% accuracy.
  3. interpret 6-7 minutes of ASL (approximately equivalent to 110 words per minute) to spoken English with 75% accuracy.
  4. transliterate 6-7 minutes of spoken English (110 words per minute) to Conceptually Accurate Signed English with 75% accuracy.
  5. compare and contrast mainstream hearing culture and Deaf culture in terms of history, challenges, self-advocacy, and self-efficacy.
  6. 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

General Education
ENG 101College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3
ENG 102College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)3
or ENG 103 Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)
MTH 161Quantitative Reasoning (MOTR MATH 120) (or MTH 161S)3
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3
THT 108Acting I (MOTR PERF 100)3
Program Requirements
DCS 106American Sign Language III4
DCS 109Grammar and Vocabulary for Interpreters3
DCS 121American Sign Language IV4
DCS 122Translation3
DCS 206Interpreting I3
DCS 210Sign to Voice Interpreting I3
DCS 211Specialized Interpreting3
DCS 212Deaf History and Culture3
DCS 213Professional Issues and Ethics2
DCS 216Educational Interpreting3
DCS 218Interpreter Field Experience2
DCS 219Workplace Learning: DCS3
DCS 220Interpreting II3
DCS 221Sign to Voice Interpreting II3
DCS 222Advanced Interpreting3
Total Credit Hours60

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.

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DCS 106 American Sign Language III4DCS 105 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 109 Grammar and Vocabulary for Interpreters3Concurrent 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 ProficiencyBEI Test of English Proficiency
DCS 122 Translation3Concurrent 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)3Placement 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)3Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours16
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DCS 121 American Sign Language IV4DCS 106 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 206 Interpreting I3DCS 122 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 210 Sign to Voice Interpreting I3DCS 122 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
ENG 102 College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)
or Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)
3ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours13
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DCS 220 Interpreting II3DCS 206 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 221 Sign to Voice Interpreting II3DCS 210 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 211 Specialized Interpreting3DCS 206 with minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 216 Educational Interpreting3DCS 206 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
MTH 161 Quantitative Reasoning (MOTR MATH 120) (or MTH 161S)3Satisfactory score on placement test and Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours15
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DCS 212 Deaf History and Culture3DCS 121 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 213 Professional Issues and Ethics2DCS 220 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 218 Interpreter Field Experience2Concurrent or prior enrollment in DCS 213 and DCS 222 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
DCS 222 Advanced Interpreting3DCS 211, DCS 216, DCS 220, and DCS 221 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3  
Credit Hours13
Summer Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DCS 219 Workplace Learning: DCS3DCS 213 and DCS 218 with minimum grades of "C" , and Reading ProficiencyBEI Performance Evaluation
Credit Hours3
Total Credit Hours60

*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.