Requirements
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
In order 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 student handbook for more information.
Students must earn a C or above in each course to be eligible to take subsequent SIGN courses.
Effective June 2013, students are permitted a maximum of two attempts to apply and interview for acceptance to the major in Signed Language Interpreting. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the program as soon as they have completed the pre-requisites listed above.
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.
American Sign Language Minor Requirements
The minor in American Sign Language requires SIGN 2125, 2210, 2220, 310, 320, 352. Please consult with your college advisor about this minor.
Please note our policies:
Students must earn a C or above in each course to be eligible to take subsequent SIGN courses (effective on Jan 1, 2024).
Effective Spring semester 2013, students (including majors and minors) must successfully complete SIGN courses numbered 2210 and above within two attempts. An attempt includes receiving any letter grade (A through F), WP, WF, W, WNC, CR, NC, I, or AUDIT.
Courses accepted by UNM to fulfill the university’s core curriculum requirements should not be assumed to satisfy Signed Language Interpreting Program prerequisite courses or major requirements. Please see program director or contact sign@unm.edu/505.277.0928 for more information.
RESTRICTED FORMS for Fall 2024 Classes.
If you are interested in taking a SIGN class at UNM in Fall 2024, and you have already taken or are currently taking SIGN 2125, please click on the Restricted Form link below, fill out the form, and submit it to us. We will email you as soon as possible if you have been accepted into a class. If you have any questions, please email sign@unm.edu. Thank you.
