Minor in American Sign Language Interpreting

In the Minor in American Sign Language Interpreting, students develop a strong foundation in signing and interpreting skills to prepare for a career in ASL interpreting from community events and performances to medical and business contexts. Sign language interpreters play a critical role in ensuring equal access to communication for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. This can also include tactile signing for Deaf and blind community members.

A recent Modern Language Association report finds that American Sign Language is the third most studied language in colleges and universities in the U.S., and the Communication Service for the Deaf estimates that one million people use ASL as their main form of communication. With Spartanburg serving as the home of South Carolina’s only School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Upstate region has a great need for ASL interpreters.

Students in the minor use a bi-cultural, bi-lingual model to learn to be effective communicators who align themselves to the language preferences of the people they serve. Upper-level courses are taught by certified ASL Interpreters with experience in a range of fields. Students must have developed intermediate proficiency in ASL prior to beginning the minor program.