Courses and Requirements
All ASL and DST courses, with the exception of DST101, require a DST major or permission of the instructor. Students must earn a minimum grade of B in all ASL language courses and a minimum grade of C in DST courses and ASL203 and ASL205 in order to move to the next level of courses and for graduation. A minimum of 64 credit hours are required for graduation.
Starting in the Fall of 2014, any student enrolled in an associate degree program who is new to NECC and has no academic history at the college, must take at least one course designated as intensive in each of NECC’s six core academic skills in order to graduate. In most cases, the program’s core required courses include these intensive courses. Plan to see an advisor for more complete information about this graduation requirement.
Program Prerequisites
ENG 101 English Composition I, ASL101 Elementary ASL I and ASL102 Elementary ASL II with a “B” or better or demonstrate comparable skills/knowledge. All ASL and DST courses, with the exception of DST101, require a DST major or permission of the instructor.
Additional Admissions Criteria
All admission criteria are available in the Deaf Studies Criteria Packet which can be found on the NECC Forms page.
CORI/CHRI/SORI
Students in this academic program will be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. For more information, visit the CORI/CHRI/SORI page on the NECC website.
Electives
Requirements
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Global Awareness Intensive |
| ASL111 | Intermediate ASL I | 5 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| ASL112 | Intermediate ASL II | 5 | |
| ASL201 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 4 | |
| ASL202 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL203 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| ASL205 | Deaf Literature & ASL Folklore | 3 | |
| DST101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 | |
| DST102 | Introduction to the Interpreting Field | 4 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| PHI110 | Ethics | 3 | |
Courses with Prerequisites: ANT101, ASL111, ASL112, ASL201, ASL202, ASL203, ASL205, DST102, DST191, DST205, ENG102
Course with Co-requisite: DST101
Program Notes
Students considering a career in ASL/English interpreting must achieve mastery of both American Sign Language and English by the end of their training. Success in the interpreting profession requires very good interpersonal skills, empathy, acceptance of cultural and linguistic differences, ethical judgment, and a readiness to pursue life-long learning. Graduates must pass state-level credentialing or licensing exams to gain employment. National credentialing is typically achievable within two to four years after state-level credentialing.
Courses are offered during the daytime hours only, two days per week. Students must have reliable transportation to and from their practicum sites.
Recommended Course Sequence Deaf Studies Interpreting Transfer Associate Degree
Year 1
Fall
| ASL111 | Intermediate ASL I | 5 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 | |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| MAT120-299 | Math Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Global Awareness Intensive |
| ASL112 | Intermediate ASL II | 5 | |
| ASL203 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| GOV OR HIS | Government OR History Elective | 3 | |
Year 2
Fall
| ASL201 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 4 | |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3-4 | |
| PHI110 | Ethics | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL202 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL205 | Deaf Literature & ASL Folklore | 3 | |
| DST102 | Introduction to the Interpreting Field | 4 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| Science Elective | 3-4 | |