American Sign Language/English Interpreter, Associate in Applied Science Degree
New State of Iowa program can pay your tuition, click here to find out more about the Last Dollar Scholarship.
If you’re looking for a rewarding and dynamic career path that allows you to support and improve communication access, you’ve come to the right place. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is the only college in Iowa to offer an American Sign Language - English Interpreting AAS Degree and Deaf Studies Certificate.
American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most popular language in America. It contains phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax and pragmatics, just like spoken languages. ASL is both a manual and a visual language; the information is encoded with the shape and movement of the hands and other parts of the body, as well as facial expressions.
Award Options for American Sign Language/English Interpreter
The college offers two award options, delivered both on-campus and online.
ONLINE PROGRAM ADDITION – FALL 2022
Lectures and coursework are housed online via Canvas, the college’s course management system. Instructional video content is provided by DawnSignPress, the nation’s leading publisher of ASL and deaf film, literature and software, based in San Diego, California. Regardless of geographic location, online students will be required to complete an in-person workshop totaling two-days each semester. The workshops will give you the chance to practice your skills face-to-face and communicate with members of the deaf community as well as fellow peers in the classroom. With this new format, you can work toward your degree from anywhere, at any time of day, and then put your skills to practice during the full-day workshops. It’s the best of both worlds - flexible and hands-on. |
About The Program
EICC’s American Sign Language (ASL) - English Interpreting AAS Degree is an “advanced
standing” program that requires students to first complete the Deaf Studies Certificate before entering into the AAS program.
With classes taught by an experienced professional, you’ll gain a strong foundation in ASL—learning how to adhere to correct linguistic structures and cultural norms. You’ll study deaf history, professional ethical standards, fields of specialty, and more.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are prepared to sit for the following exams:
- Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)
- The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Interpreter Certification (NIC)
- Board of Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) certification
See Professional Licensure for more information.
Iowa residents can take advantage of Iowa’s Last Dollar Scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition and institution-wide fees for the program.
What can you do with a degree in American Sign Language?
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting is a rapidly expanding human service professional
field that serves deaf and hard-of-hearing populations. Interpreters are utilized
for a number of settings including educational, medical, legal, religious, business,
video relay services and entertainment, among others.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 24 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Because the demand is so high for ASL Interpreters, you’re almost guaranteed to find work—many of our graduates go on to work in:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Courtrooms
- Churches
- Business offices
- Entertainment
Use the tool below to see a full report for this career field. For further guidance,
you can connect with an academic advisor to discuss your specific career goals.
Contact
Diane Roebuck, Instructor
American Sign Language - English Interpreting
563-441-4024 | droebuck@eicc.edu
NOTE: The ASL I - VI classes can be taken for Foreign Language credit at the state universities and some private colleges.
Locations: Scott Community College
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Questions? Call toll-free 1-888-336-3907, email eiccinfo@eicc.edu or contact the college nearest you and ask to speak to an advisor.
- Clinton Community College, 563-244-7000
- Muscatine Community College, 563-288-6000
- Scott Community College, 563-441-4000
t is the policy of Eastern Iowa Community College District not to discriminate in
its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual
or potential family, parental or marital status, as required by the Iowa Code §§216.6
and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d and
2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational
Amendments, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.
§ 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et
seq.).
If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please
contact EICC’s Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Equity Coordinator, Eastern Iowa
Community College District, 101 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801, 563-336-5222,
equity@eicc.edu or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of
Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor,
Chicago, IL 60604-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560 Facsimile: (312) 730- 1576, TDD
(800) 877-8339 Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.