Department of Interpretation

interpretation.gallaudet.edu
Graduate School and Professional Studies
Dr. Melanie Metzger, Chair
Kellogg Conference Hotel, Room 3101

The Department of Interpretation offers undergraduate and graduate programs in interpretation to educate deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students in the field of interpretation and prepare them for entry-level interpreting work in a variety of settings. Settings include medical, educational, business, and government, interactions where there may be direct, relay, and/or Deaf/Blind interpretation. The department prepares graduates to interact and interpret effectively with deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people, with an appreciation of diversity in a variety of communities in which they will work.

The department faculty are highly qualified and experienced with national and international reputations in the fields of interpretation and interpreter education. Publications and presentations based on faculty research and developmental work contribute to the advancement of knowledge in interpretation and interpreter education and of quality interpreting services in deaf and hearing communities. These endeavors also contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of signed languages and spoken language interpretation, translation, linguistics and sociolinguistics.

The BA in Interpretation (BAI) and MA in Interpretation (MAI) programs provide an interdisciplinary approach to interpretation, accompanied by a state-of-the-art interpreting laboratory and extensive fieldwork. The BA program focuses on face-to-face, interactive, community interpreting, and thus a dialogic approach to interpreting. The MA program focuses on both interactive and monologic approaches to interpreting with an increased emphasis on theory and research.

Declaring a Major

Requirements for Admission to a Major in Interpretation

Current Gallaudet University students:

May apply for admission to the B.A. in Interpretation major. Criteria considered for admission in the B.A. in Interpretation includes:

Must complete the pre-major courses of BIO 105, LIN 101, and INT 101
Submission of a minimum of two letters of recommendation by current and/or former instructors/professors/employers. One letter should cite sign language skills.
An ASLPI score of 3.0 or higher
Official transcript with a 2.75 or higher cumulative grade point average
Submission of a DVD of an applicant's current language abilities in American Sign Language and English, following the instructions given in the B.A. in Interpretation application DVD.

Prospective hearing students not yet enrolled at Gallaudet University

May apply as a new hearing undergraduate with declared major in interpretation, with a BA in Interpretation Student Contract at Gallaudet.

Submission of a minimum of two letters of recommendation by current and former teachers/professors/employers. One letter should cite sign language skills.
An ASLPI score of 3.0 or higher.
Official transcript with a 2.75 or higher cumulative grade point average in their recent education experience, whether in a high school or college.
Submission of a DVD of an applicant's current language abilities in American Sign Language and English, following the instructions given in the B.A. in Interpretation application DVD.

More information about the BA in Interpretation application process, with a BA in Interpretation Student contract, can be found at the undergraduate admissions website at http://admissions.gallaudet.edu/Academics/majors/Interpretation.htm.

Below is a list of criteria for certain groups of BA in Interpretation applicants:

Incoming freshmen with 24 or fewer credits along with meeting the BA in Interpretation admissions requirements may need four years of undergraduate studies to complete their BA in Interpretation degree.
Current undergraduate students and transfer students with 25-55 credits along with meeting the BA in Interpretation admissions requirements and some General Studies requirements may need three years of undergraduate studies to complete their BA in Interpretation degree.
Current undergraduate students and transfer students with 56 or more credits and a successful completion of INT 101 Introduction to Interpreting (3), INT 223 Interactive Discourse Analysis (3), LIN 263 Introduction to the Structure of ASL (3), BIO 105 Introduction to Human Biology (4) and most General Studies requirements, along with meeting the BA in Interpretation admissions requirements may need two years of undergraduate studies to complete their BA in Interpretation degree.

To continue in the program students are required to maintain grades of B or higher in all INT courses required for the B.A. in Interpretation major. Students are required, at their own expense, to successfully pass RID's National Interpreter Certification Knowledge written exam or RID's Certified Deaf Interpreter written exam by December 1 during their last academic year in the interpretation program. For test information, visit www.rid.org/education/testing.

BA in Interpretation Students with Transfer Credits

If you are a transfer student, following is information on a transfer student and financial assistance. With a transfer student's three years of undergraduate studies at Gallaudet University, the maximum number of transfer credits for requesting a financial assistance is 56 transfer credits. With a transfer student's two years of undergraduate studies at Gallaudet University, the maximum number of transfer credits for requesting a financial assistance is 80 transfer credits. If the number of your transfer credits is above the maximum number, you can work with your BA in Interpretation advisor to determine which transfer credits will be counted towards your Gallaudet graduation degree.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing BA in Interpretation Applicants

When Deaf and hard of hearing BA in Interpretation applicants are accepted as new undergraduate students at Gallaudet, they then can apply for the BA in Interpretation program and declaring major in interpretation. Information on the undergraduate application can be found at the undergraduate admissions website admissions.gallaudet.edu. Information on the BA in Interpretation application process can be found at the Interpretation Department website www.gallaudet.edu/interpretation.html.

Hearing BA in Interpretation Applicants

Hearing BA in Interpretation applicants can apply, as new hearing undergraduate with declared major in interpretation, with a BA in Interpretation student contract. Information about the BA in Interpretation application process, with a BA in Interpretation student contract, can be found at the undergraduate admissions website at admissions.gallaudet.edu/Academics/majors/Interpretation.htm.

Hearing BAI applicants who are current hearing undergraduate students without a declared major in interpretation (HUGs) at Gallaudet can apply for the BAI program and declaring major in interpretation. Information about the hearing undergraduate program (HUG) can be found at the undergraduate admissions website admissions.gallaudet.edu/Admissions/HUG/. Information on the BAI application process can be found at the Interpretation Department website www.gallaudet.edu/interpretation.html.

Undergraduate Majors offered:

No Minors are offered.

B.A. in Interpretation