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. If you pass SIGN 2125-Introduction to Signed Language, SIGN 2210- American Sign Language I, SIGN 2130-Fingerspelling, ENG 1120-Composition II, and LING 2110-Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics OR LING 301-Introduction to Linguistic Analysis with a C or above you can now apply to the program.
  2. After passing SIGN 2125, and SIGN 2210 with a C or above you can now take SIGN 2220-American Sign Language II and SIGN 2150-Lexical Semantics (SPRING ONLY). We also recommend you take SIGN 352-Language and Culture in the Deaf Community (FALL ONLY) in conjunction with SIGN 2220-American Sign Language II.
  3. After passing SIGN 2220 with a C or above, you can now take SIGN 310-American Sign Language III.
  4. After passing SIGN 310-American Sign Language III, SIGN 2150-Lexical Semantics, and SIGN 352- Language and Culture in the Deaf Community you can now take SIGN 360-The Interpreting Profession (FALL ONLY) and SIGN 305-Structure of American Sign Language (FALL ONLY).
  5. If you passed SIGN 360-The Interpreting Profession with a C or above you can now take SIGN 411-Consecutive Interpreting and SIGN 418-Signed Language Interpreting Research.
  6. After passing SIGN 411-Consecutive Interpreting (SPRING ONLY) and SIGN 418-Signed Language Interpreting Research with a C or above you can now take SIGN 412-Simultaneous Interpreting and SIGN 419-Practicum in Signed Language Interpreting.

Please Note: Any course above SIGN 2125-Introduction to Signed Language requires you to submit a Restricted Form with the exception of SIGN 352-Language and Culture in the Deaf Community.

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 Signed Language Interpreting Roadmap 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 LING2110 or LING301 and 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: artsci.unm.edu/advisement 

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.