College of Education Health and Human Services
School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes

About This Program

With the American Sign Language/English Interpreting Licensure Preparation program, you will develop the language and cultural competence needed to become a licensed interpreter and provide a crucial service to the Deaf community. Read more...

Contact Information

• Jamie McCartney, Ph.D. | jmccar15@kent.edu | 330-672-0708

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers

• American Sign Language/English Interpreter
• Sign Language Interpreter

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Questions in Anticipation of Licensure form

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Endorsement Requirements

Progression Requirements

Candidates seeking Ohio interpreting licensure from the Ohio Department of Education are required to have passed the entrance assessment and the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (Intermediate level or higher) or the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (minimum 2.0 level). The Sign Language Proficiency Interview must be taken at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

• Semester One: Students must earn a minimum B- grade in ASEI 53100 in order to progress.
• By Semester Four: Students must have a minimum 3.000 licensure GPA and 2.750 overall GPA at the beginning of their fourth semester and maintain throughout.
• Semester Four: Students must take the entrance assessment with ASL/English interpreting faculty and a Deaf individual. Students who do not pass the assessment may take the test one more time before the fall semester. Students who fail both times will not be able to progress in the program.
• Before Entering Semester Five: Students must obtain a passing score on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview. Passing score will be a prerequisite for ASEI 53104, ASEI 53112 and ASEI 53118.
• Semester Five: Students will take an interpreting readiness assessment during ASEI 53104 as the midterm. Students who fail may continue progressing but must develop a professional development plan. Students must earn a minimum B- grade in ASEI 53104 to progress.
• Start of Semester Six: Students must take the entrance assessment during the spring when they're in ASL 29202. Students who fail the assessment may continue progressing but must develop a professional development plan.
• All Semesters: Students must complete all of their clinical hours each semester because completion of hours supersedes the course grade. There are 45 hours in the fall semesters and 30 in the spring semesters starting with the junior year. 
• All Semesters: With exceptions noted above, students must earn a minimum C or S grade in ASEI, ASL or English courses to progress to the next semester.

Graduation Requirements

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Program Learning Outcomes

Completers of this non-degree program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate native or near-native fluency in spoken and written English (80% of the time as per the NCIEC), American Sign Language, deaf and non-deaf cultures.
2. Effectively interpret audio and video texts, as well as live presentations, across a variety of genres and be able to adapt interpretations to consumer modality preferences.
3. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal skills and professionalism across all classroom/program-related settings, while interacting with others, with an awareness of linguistic, cultural, contextual and personality differences.
4. Make appropriate and effective ethical decisions, both in practical and authentic interpreting situations, in alignment with Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf's Code of Professional Conduct and Kent State University's Code of Student Conduct.
5. Demonstrate adaptability and teachability.
6. Articulate the impact of interpreting models, theories and best practices and how they inform one's work.
7. Recognize substantive linguistic and paralinguistic cues from others from a distance of 3-10 feet in a variety of environments.

Residence Requirement Policy for Non-Degree Teacher Education Licensure/Endorsement Preparation Programs

• Non-degree licensure (initial and additional) and endorsement programs  that are a total of 15 credits or above: Students must complete 60% of the coursework at Kent State University, including the course that addresses the CAEP A.1.1 Standard as designated by the program area.
• Non-degree licensure (initial and additional) and endorsement programs that are less than 15 total credits: Students must complete 100% of the coursework at Kent State University.
• Students are permitted 6 years to complete licensure  programs and  4 years to complete endorsement programs at Kent State University.
• Coursework transferred from another university cannot be more than 6 years old at the time the licensure/endorsement program is completed.
• Students who do not meet the residence requirements will not be recommended for licensure by Kent State University.

Full Description

The American Sign Language/English Interpreting Licensure Preparation non-degree program prepares students for state licensing eligibility to become educational interpreters for deaf children (K-12), or a community interpreter. Completion of the prescribed coursework is a prerequisite to being recommended by Kent State University for licensure, and licenses are granted by the Ohio Department of Education

This program does not culminate in a master's degree. Students interested in a master's degree at Kent State must be fully admitted into and complete requirements for the master's program, in addition to courses that are prescribed for licensure.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.