This
program is for students who are pursuing employment and careers in the field of
deafness and sign language Interpreting. The curriculum is designed to prepare
students for successful completion of certification examinations conducted by
the state of Illinois and other associated accrediting agencies. Specifically,
the certificate will benefit students who are interested in working with the
deaf/hard-of-hearing community, learning American Sign Language, and working
with deaf/hard-of-hearing children in a K-12 setting. As a two-year certificate,
this program will benefit students who are interested in transferring to a
four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree in sign language
interpretation, deaf studies, or deaf education.

You will
be taught by professionals in the field with years of experience in sign
language interpretation. This program includes an internship and observation
hours that will allow you to gain valuable on-the-job experience.

Employment Outlook There is a strong and persistent need for qualified sign language
interpreters. Currently, the supply of qualified interpreters is not able to
keep up with the demand. The greatest demand for interpreters is in
medium-to-large cities and metropolitan areas. This certificate program responds
to the demand for qualified interpreters in the Chicago area and the collar
counties. There are multiple job descriptions available to students who complete
this certificate program.

Job
opportunities in the field of interpreting are expected to grow at a much faster
rate than the average for all occupations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
projects a 42 percent growth rate from 2010 to 2020. The demand for American
Sign Language interpreters is expected to grow rapidly due to the use of video
relay services. Video relay relies on ASL interpreters to facilitate phone
conversations using an online platform. Bureau data also show that interpreters
earned a median salary of $43,300 a year in May 2010, with the lowest 10 percent
earning less than $22,950, and the top 10 percent earning more than $86,410.
Employment opportunities also can be found for ASL interpreters in educational
institutions, social service agencies, government agencies, medical
institutions, and the legal system.

Nature of WorkThe primary goal of this program is to prepare students to develop the
skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career in sign language
interpretation. Sign language interpreting will serve students who are pursuing
employment and careers in the field of deafness and sign language interpreting.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students for successful completion of
certification examinations conducted by the state of Illinois and other
associated accrediting agencies, which will allow for gainful employment.