Requirements for the Signed Language Interpreting Major

The B.S. major in Signed Language Interpreting requires a minimum of 40 hours in Sign numbered above 200. Must take SIGN 2125 regardless of ASL Level or credit transfers. It serves as a foundational class for the program.

Signed Language Interpreting Major Guideline

1. After earning a grade of C or higher in SIGN 2125 – Introduction to Signed Language, SIGN 2210 – American Sign Language I, SIGN 2130 – Fingerspelling, and ENG 1120 – Composition II, you are eligible to apply to the program.
2. After earning a grade of C or higher in SIGN 2125-Introduction to Signed Language and SIGN 2210-American Sign Language I, you may enroll in SIGN 2220 – American Sign Language II and SIGN 2150 – Lexical Semantics (Spring only). It is also recommended that you take SIGN 352 – Language and Culture in the Deaf Community (Spring only) concurrently with SIGN 2220-American Sign Language II.
3. After earning a grade of C or higher in SIGN 2220 – American Sign Language II, you may enroll in SIGN 310 – American Sign Language III.
4. After earning a grade of C or higher in SIGN 310 – American Sign Language III, SIGN 2150 – Lexical Semantics, and SIGN 352 – Language and Culture in the Deaf Community, you may enroll in SIGN 360 – The Interpreting Profession (Fall only) and SIGN 305 – Structure of American Sign Language (Fall only).
5. After earning a grade of C or higher in SIGN 360 – The Interpreting Profession, you may enroll in SIGN 411 – Consecutive Interpreting and SIGN 418 – Signed Language Interpreting Research.
6. After earning a grade of C or higher in SIGN 411 – Consecutive Interpreting (Spring only) and SIGN 418 – Signed Language Interpreting Research (Spring only), you may enroll in SIGN 412 – Simultaneous Interpreting (Fall only) and SIGN 419 – Practicum in Signed Language Interpreting.

    

   Notes

   • A minimum grade of C is required in all prerequisite courses unless otherwise stated.
   • Courses with restricted term availability should be planned carefully with an academic advisor.
   • Admission to the program is required prior to enrollment in upper division interpreting coursework.
   • The below courses can only be taken when you have completed all of the pre-requisites for the course AND have been accepted to the Signed Language Interpreting Program
     • SIGN 411-Consecutive Interpreting
     • SIGN 412-Simultaneous Interpreting
     • SIGN 418-Sign Language Interpreting Research
     • SIGN 419-Practicum in Signed Language Interpreting

Fall start 

Course only offered Fall semester

Course only offered Spring semester

Course offered Spring and Fall semesters

Spring start 

Course only offered Spring semester

Course only offered Fall semester

Course offered Spring and Fall semesters

Signed Language Interpreting Major Study Requirements

The B.S. major in Signed Language Interpreting requires a minimum of 40 hours in Sign numbered above 200.

• SIGN2125 - Introduction to Signed Language (3)
• SIGN2210 - American Sign Language I Prerequisite: SIGN2125. Requires permission of program director. (3)
• SIGN2220 - American Sign Language II Prerequisite: SIGN2210. Requires permission of program director. (3)
• SIGN2130 - Fingerspelling Prerequisite: SIGN2125. Requires permission of program director. (3)
• SIGN2150 - Lexical Semantics for Transliteration Prerequisite: SIGN2125. Requires permission of program director. (3)
• SIGN310 - American Sign Language III Prerequisite: SIGN2220. Requires permission of program director. (3)
• SIGN352 - Language and Culture in the Deaf Community, Part 1 (3)
• SIGN360 - The Interpreting Profession Prerequisites: SIGN205 & SIGN2150 & SIGN352 & SIGN310 & LING2110 or LING301. ASL and English Assessments required. Requires permission of program director. (3)
• SIGN305 - Structure of American Sign Language Prerequisites: SIGN2210 & LING2110 or LING301. Requires permission of instructor. (3)
• SIGN411 - Consecutive Interpretation Prerequisite: SIGN360. Requires permission of program director(3)
• SIGN412 - Simultaneous Interpreting Prerequisite: SIGN411. Must be admitted to Interpreting program to enroll. (3)
• SIGN418 - Signed Language Interpreting Research Must be admitted to Interpreting program to enroll. (3)
• SIGN419 - Practicum in Signed Language Interpreting Prerequisite: SIGN360. Must be admitted to Interpreting program to enroll. (1 - 3)

Please refer to the UNM Catalog for more information.

Admission to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Signed Language Interpreting Program is competitive and not automatic. Majors must formally apply with the program to gain admission. Application packets are reviewed each May. Students must complete ENG1120 and SIGN 2125 and SIGN2130 and SIGN2210, and be eligible to transfer to the College of Arts & Sciences before applying. Transfer credit for ASL courses taken at other colleges/universities will be awarded on a case by case basis dependent on an assessment of the student’s ASL knowledge and skills. Contact the program director or sign@unm.edu for more information. For more advisement information visit Arts & Sciences Center for Academic Success.

To ensure that students have a strong foundation in English and American Sign Language prior to enrollment in interpreting skills classes, interpreting majors must pass English and ASL assessments. Those assessments will take place the spring semester prior to enrolling in SIGN 360. Please see the student handbook for more information.

Students must earn a C or above in each course to be eligible to take subsequent SIGN courses.

Departmental Honors: A student seeking departmental honors in the Department of Linguistics (for majors in either Linguistics or Signed Language Interpreting) should identify a research project during the junior year in consultation with an appropriate professor/mentor and should submit a proposal in the form of a letter to the department chairperson.

If the proposal is approved by the department chairperson, the student should enroll in Ling 498 the first semester of the senior year and Ling 499 the second semester of the senior year. These six hours of honors work are in addition to the minimum number of hours required for the major.