<p>D is enjoying her Chemistry major in college, but is also developing an interest/passion in American Sign Language interpreting. She thought it was just an interest, but is realizing it may be more than that. She is learning sign language on her own, attending deaf socials at the local bookstore, and joined National Deaf Association and attended the national convention last week.</p>
<p>She's not ready to give up on Chemistry, which she loves, but is investigating what it takes to become an ASL interpreter. We are unclear about national vs. state certifications, and what a realistic outlook on the job market is.</p>
<p>Can anyone working as an Interpreter provide their perspective? What is your educational background?</p>
<p>There are four year ASL college majors, and also the opportunity to earn a certificate after you have a bachelor's degree in any field. Pros and cons for a college student already heading down a non-related major path.</p>
<p>Does she HAVE to have a 4 year ASL degree, or is the certificate program enough to get her employable? There is a local college that has a nationally certified program.</p>
<p>We live in the southeast, and D plans to stay in a southern state, living in a major metropolitian area or at least a mid-size city. She is not partial to kids, would rather work with those her age or older.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your experiences in this field.</p>
<p>The demand for interpreters far exceeds supply so it’s an area that I’d think would be easy to find a job down the line. The program I’m familiar with is at RIT/NTID: <a href=“http://www.ntid.rit.edu/aslie-home”>http://www.ntid.rit.edu/aslie-home</a> Of course it’s Rochester NY which is not the southeast by any means (I’m in NH and we think Rochester is cold!) but it’s an excellent program. NTID is unique in that it provides education to deaf/hard of hearing students who pursue all communication methodologies. So they have a strong interpreter program but they also have a full audiology department for students attending who have hearing aids or cochlear implants. My boys both are deaf with bilateral cochlear and are oral-only but really liked the environment at RIT and didn’t feel like outcasts because they don’t sign. I would think her science background would be a strength as I think finding a 'terp who also knows the subject would be really important in class. I’m interested to see if there are interpreters here and what they have to say. </p>
<p>The risk of an undergrad ASL-English Interpretation program is usually they can’t be condensed into fewer than four years, IIRC, and student must reach a certain level if proficiency halfway through to be permitted to continue into the final two years. Some schools permit those excluded from ASL higher courses to declare a Deaf Studies major as an alternative. </p>
<p>We have found a public, in state university that has ASL program, and D can manage her classes and still graduate in 4 years if she takes some pre-requisite courses at new school next summer. I feel comfortable comparing colleges in general, but have no clue how to judge ASL programs. Are they ranked in any way, or do I just ask for graduation rates from their program, % who pass the national certification exam, % who get jobs right away?</p>
<p>Just not sure how to confirm that this school’s program is credible. The university itself is not highly ranked, and I am okay with that, as long as the education D gets is enough to get her certified and employable.</p>