Course Descriptions
1320 American Sign Language I
An elementary course in American Sign Language (ASL) using a natural language approach to introduce culturally appropriate signed concepts related to the immediate environment. Common communicative events and interactions are utilized to acquire a basic working vocabulary and grammar. Includes development of appropriate linguistic/cultural behaviors and awareness of respect for deaf culture. Receptive and expressive skills are fostered through interactive ASL lessons without voice.
1321 American Sign Language II
Prerequisite: INTR 1320 with a grade of C or greater. An intermediate ASL course progressing from common, concrete communicative events and interactions to language usage expressing abstract ideas. Emphasis is on the comprehension and production of increasingly complex linguistic structure focusing on dialogues and conversational expressions. More complex receptive and expressive skills are fostered through interactive ASL lessons without voice.
2320 American Sign Language III
Prerequisite: INTR 1321 with a grade of C or greater. A conversational ASL course focusing on specific grammatical and cultural topics. Emphasis is on the development of fluent conversational skills utilizing grammatical nonmanual signals and markers. Students will learn how to narrate, describe, compare, and comment. Narratives of native language users are utilized for beginning text analysis of ASL. Interactive ASL lessons without voice lead to expanded vocabulary mastery and fluency.
2321 American Sign Language IV
Prerequisite: INTR 2320 with a grade of C or greater. Corequisite: INTR 3344. An advanced ASL performance course integrating cultural and linguistic competencies ranging from informal to formal communication events. Emphasis is on greater fluency in idiomatic language usage and mastery of vocabulary and syntax. Linguistic competence is enhanced through interactive discourse with native language users. Students will take the Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) and must pass with Intermediate level to proceed to interpreting courses. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
2330 Manually Coded English in Educational Settings
Prerequisite: INTR 1321. Designed to expose students to a variety of signed English systems. Students learn the rules governing the selection of signs and the rationale for sign language systems in the educational setting. Focus is on learning Signing Exact English (SEE II) as adopted by educational systems and state schools for the deaf. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
2342 Introduction to Interpreting
Designed to provide students with a working knowledge of the profession of interpreting, including the Code of Ethics, certification criteria, the roles and responsibilities of an interpreter, and compensation. Discussions of the role of the interpreter in a variety of professional settings including educational, medical, legal, the performing arts, counseling, and rehabilitation.
2360 Oral Transliterating
A study of the mechanics of and skills needed for interpreting for persons who are deaf and use the oral approach. Students will develop and practice appropriate techniques necessary for verbatim transliterating and voicing, and paraphrasing an a variety of interpreting settings. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
2370 Practicum
Prerequisite: INTR 2320 with a grade of C or greater, or prior permission of the instructor. Exposure and experience in using sign language/oral skills in settings with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Offers students opportunities to enrich and enforce knowledge of syntax and culture for greater linguistic mastery. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors.
3268 Intermediate Interpreting/Transliterating
Prerequisites: INTR 3362, 3364, 3366, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, A.A. degree in Interpretation or equivalent, or permission of program coordinator. An intermediate level interpreting and transliterating skills course designed to enhance both linguistic competencies and cultural appropriateness. Discussion of the role and responsibilities of interpreters and consumers, as well as ethical questions and dilemmas encountered during professional interpreting experiences. Includes practice of skills and process tasks of increased complexity with unplanned and planned language samples, such as dialogues, monologues, interviews, and lectures from a variety of interpreting settings. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
3330 Fingerspelling
Prerequisite: INTR 1320. A course designed to develop expressive and receptive fingerspelling skills. Emphasis will be on whole-word and phrase recognition, as well as on reading fingerspelling embedded in signed sentences. Expressive skills will focus on attainment of normal speed, clarity, and fluency. Extensive interaction and drills with the instructor-student(s) will enhance receptive and expressive speed and skill. Videotaped fingerspelling lessons of varying speeds embedded in sentences will be utilized for practice of receptive comprehension. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
3344 Interpretation Theory and Process
Prerequisite: Interpretation 2342. Corequisite: INTR 2321 or consent of instructor. This course uses a process-oriented approach for applying the essential cognitive strategies to interpretation. These strategies include organizing and manipulating visual images, analyzing message for meaning, and self-monitoring for message accuracy. The course serves as a transition from language learning to beginning interpretation from American Sign Language to English. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
3346 Principles of Educational Interpreting
Prerequisite: INTR 2342, A.A. degree in Interpretation or equivalent, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, or permission of program coordinator. Corequisite: INTR 3368. Issues related to interpreting in classrooms at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Analysis of the major transitions from childhood to adolescence to adulthood and the changes required in professional roles, responsibilities, and ethical decision making. Topics will include: working with children and adolescents, their parents, and educators; sign systems used in educational settings; educational goals and language policies; certification issues; working conditions; analyzing classroom interpreting tasks; and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for educational interpreting. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
3350 Artistic Interpreting in Educational Settings
Prerequisite: INTR 1321. Designed to teach students the skills needed to interpret music, prose, poetry, and drama in a visually artistic manner. Emphasizes appropriate use of conceptually accurate signs, facial expression, movement, and rhythm. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
3358 Interpreting for Persons who are Deaf-Blind
Prerequisite: INTR 2320, 2342. A study of the major causes of deaf-blindness and its impact on communication, mobility and life styles. Emphasis is on learning and practicing the various modes of communication used by persons who are deaf-blind. Students will become familiar with sighted guide techniques and the aids and devices available to persons who are deaf-blind. Tactile forms of communication will be emphasized during role-play situations. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
3360 Interpreting Contextually-Bound English Lexicon
Prerequisite: INTR 1321. Acquisition of skills needed for interpreting contextually bound English lexical items to appropriate ASL, contact language varieties, and English-based signing systems. Focus on developing ability to produce semantically/conceptually accurate signs by analyzing English idioms and idiomatic expressions, multiple meaning English words, and ASL idiomatic expressions. Will include analysis and selection of alternative and synonymous signs to convey intent and meaning of the message. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
3362 Interpreting in Specialized Settings
Prerequisite: INTR 2321, 3360, SCPI Intermediate, completion of all A.A. degree courses and university core requirements, or permission of program coordinator. Corequisite: INTR 3364, 3366. Acquisition of skills and vocabulary for interpreting in specialized settings such as medical, mental health, legal, rehabilitation, counseling, technical and religious fields. Emphasis on acquisition of specific terminology, concepts, and protocol in each area. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
3364 Sign to Voice Interpreting/Transliterating
Prerequisites: INTR 2321, 3360, SCPI Intermediate, completion of all A.A. degree courses and university core requirements, or permission of program coordinator. Corequisite: INTR 3362, 3366. Designed to develop skills in sign to voice interpreting for persons who are deaf. Students will learn to voice simultaneously and consecutively when viewing videotapes of native signers who use a variety of signing modalities to communicate. Audiotapes will provide students will immediate feedback. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
3366 Voice to Sign Interpreting/Transliterating
Prerequisites: INTR 2321, 3360, SCPI Intermediate, completion of all A.A. degree courses and university core requirements, or permission of program coordinator. Corequisite: INTR 3362, 3364. Designed to develop interpreting and transliterating skills through the use of interactive videotapes and audiotapes. Students will also learn to select and assess appropriate modality and language levels. Emphasis will be on the process of interpreting and developing fluency, speed, and accuracy. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
3370 Ethical Standards & Practices for Interpreters
Prerequisites: Interpretation 3362, 3364, 3366, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, A.A. degree in Interpretation or equivalent, or permission of program coordinator ; Co-requisite: INTR 3268. A course designed to teach and practice a model for ethical decision making within the field of interpretation. Students will study codes from international interpreting organizations, the RID Code of Ethics, the QAST Code of Ethics, the Arkansas Code for interpreters in the judiciary and the NCI Code of Ethics. The RID Ethical Practices System will be reviewed. Various interpreting scenarios presenting ethical dilemmas will be discussed and/or role played applying the Humphrey/Alcorn Decision-Making Model to the NCI Code of Ethics. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
4102, 4202, 4302 Workshop
Special topics.
4108, 4208, 4308 Independent Study
Prerequisite: consent of coordinator. Special topics.
4320/5320 Survey of Communication Methods
Overview of the various communication methods, systems, and languages (English and American Sign Language) used by children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing, condensed into one course specifically for students in the deaf education program. An emphasis will be placed on understanding the intra- and cross-cultural communication issues that provide the impetus for choice of communication method and/or language. Focuses on the development of conceptually accurate sign language skills utilizing English structure in an interactive approach for receptive and expressive sign language fluency.
4322 Comparative Linguistics: ASL and English
Prerequisites: INTR 2320, 2342. Study of the fundamental concepts of linguistics and its application to the study of American Sign Language. Focuses on the current state of research of linguistic inquiry such as phonology, morphology, syntax, and use of language. Compares and contrasts basic similarities and differences between ASL and English with a goal to develop critical thinking about the structure of ASL. Includes a two-part videotape that supplements the textbook by providing examples of signs/concepts discussed in the course. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors.
4340/5340 Deaf Culture
An interdisciplinary study of American Deaf culture and the factors that contribute to defining the Deaf Community as a distinct cultural minority, focusing on an awareness and understanding of cultural diversity and preservation of language. Covers the cultural identity, group norms, rules of social interaction, values, and traditions held by members who are deaf. Societal attitudes regarding deafness and issues such as cultural oppression and language power by the majority culture will be discussed, as well as the contributions of folklore, literature, plays and works of art made by persons who are deaf to the larger American culture and to their own community organizations. The impact of modern technology, emerging issues, trends and advocacy within the Deaf Community are presented. Typically offered Fall Semester only.
4380 Advanced Transliteration: English - English
Prerequisite: INTR 3268, A.A. degree in Interpretation or equivalent, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, completion of or current enrollment in all prior B.A. degree courses or permission of program coordinator. Corequisite: INTR 4382. Continuation of sign to voice and voice to sign transliterating skills development. Course includes practice in appropriate sign/spoken vocabulary selection, the matching register in the formal setting, and quality voice production. Students will focus on transliterating signed/spoken English in highly technical situations and develop specialized vocabulary in areas typically utilizing transliterators. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
4382 Advanced Interpretation: ASL - English
Prerequisite: INTR 3268, A.A. degree in Interpretation or equivalent, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, completion of or current enrollment in all prior B.A. degree courses or permission of program coordinator. Corequisite: INTR 4380. Continuation of the interpretation process between ASL and English including application of process skills, contrastive ASL-English linguistics, contrastive cultural analysis, and teaming skills for the consecutive and simultaneous interpretation process. Designed to include practice of requisite skills and process tasks of increased complexity with unplanned and planned language samples, such as dialogues, monologues, interviews, and lectures from a variety of interpreting settings. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
4384 Interpreting Academic Subjects
Prerequisites: INTR 3346, 3362, 3364, 3366, A.A. degree in Interpretation or equivalent, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, completion of or current enrollment in all prior B.A. degree courses or permission of program coordinator. Acquisition of interpreting/transliterating skills across a variety of academic subjects commonly taught in elementary through post-secondary settings. Emphasis on incorporating and pairing conceptually accurate sign usage within a variety of English-bound sign systems, as well as acquisition of specialized sign vocabulary for academic content areas. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors. Typically offered Spring Semester only.
4970 Internship
Prerequisites: INTR 4380, 4382, QAST Level I/I or equivalent, completion of all prior B.A. degree courses or permission of program coordinator. Practical experience in settings such as educational, rehabilitation, community service centers, and agencies serving children, adolescents, and/or adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. Designed to provide students with the opportunity to synthesize practical and academic experiences gained during the in-residence portion of the program. Student and instructor mutually will agree upon the site, supervision, and plan of activity before the semester begins. Enrollment restricted to Interpretation majors.