Interpreter Training Program (ITP)

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.cincinnatistate.edu.

Interpreter Training Program (ITP)

The Interpreter Training program at Cincinnati State is a stepping stone toward competency in the field of sign language interpreting, including extensive coursework in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf studies. A rich learning environment is created through a combination of classroom instruction, experiential and self-directed growth, and community involvement.

Interpreting between ASL and English is a challenging and complex task. Students learning the profession must develop fluency in a language that is different from spoken languages. Once fluency is achieved, students must develop the skills to facilitate communication quickly and accurately between the two languages. The skills necessary to succeed in Interpreter Training cannot be mastered through classroom attendance alone. Students need to devote a great deal of time to study, practice, skill development, observation, and community involvement.

To complete the degree program successfully, students must be able to comprehend, write, and speak in English fluently.

Program graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Deaf Studies Certificate (DSC)

The Deaf Studies certificate enables students to learn about sign language and Deaf culture in order to be involved as an advocate or signer, but not as a paid professional interpreter.

Interpreter Training Program (ITP)

All degree-seeking students must complete a First Year Experience (FYE) course as part of the first 12 credit hours taken at Cincinnati State.

Semester 1LecLabCredits
ENG 101English Composition 1 303
ITP 102Beginning American Sign Language 2 313
ITP 120Psychosocial Aspects of Deafness 202
ITP 125Deaf Culture and History 202
ITP 140Fingerspelling and Numbers 202
Semester 2  
ENG 102English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues 303
PSY 110Introduction to Psychology 303
ITP 130Legal Issues of Deafness 101
ITP 135Introduction to the Interpreting Profession 202
ITP 201Intermediate American Sign Language 1 313
Semester 3  
COMM 110Public Speaking 303
ITP 202Intermediate American Sign Language 2 313
ITP 230Intermediate Assessment 101
XXX XXX Computer Skills Elective    3
ITP XXX Interpreting Elective    2
Semester 4  
MAT 111Business Mathematics 223
ITP 250Intra-Lingual Skills Development for Interpreters 303
ITP 251Advanced American Sign Language 1 313
ITP 270Transliterating 303
Semester 5  
ITP 220Educational Intepreting 202
ITP 252Advanced American Sign Language 2 313
ITP 261Advanced Interpreting 1: Sign to Voice 303
ITP 280Professionalism and Interpreting 101
ITP XXX Interpreting Practicum 1    3
Semester 6  
ITP 262Advanced Interpreting 2: Sign to Voice 303
ITP 265Interpreting in Specialized Settings 404
ITP XXX Interpreting Practicum 2    3
XXX XXX Humanities Elective    3
Total Credits:  58773

Program Prerequisite: Prior to enrolling in ITP 102 Beginning American Sign Language 2, students must complete ITP 101 Beginning American Sign Language 1 (or ITP Program Chair consent).

Electives

Interpreting Elective
ITP 205Performance Interpreting2
ITP 210Deaf-Blind Interpreting2
ITP 215Religious Interpreting2
Computer Skills Elective
IM 111Computer Applications 13
IM 130Electronic Word Processing: Microsoft Word3
MID 110Digital Media Concepts3
Humanities Elective
ART 110Introduction to Art3
CULT 105Issues in Human Diversity3
PHI 110Ethics3
REL 105World Religions3
THE 105Theater Appreciation3
Interpreting Practicum 1
ITP 191ITP Limited Practicum 11
or ITP 291 ITP Parallel Practicum 1
or ITP 295 ITP General Practicum 1
Interpreting Practicum 2
See ITP Program Chair

Deaf Studies Certificate (DSC)

Semester 1LecLabCredits
ITP 102Beginning American Sign Language 2 313
ITP 120Psychosocial Aspects of Deafness 202
ITP 125Deaf Culture and History 202
ITP 140Fingerspelling and Numbers 202
Semester 2  
ITP 130Legal Issues of Deafness 101
ITP 135Introduction to the Interpreting Profession 202
ITP 201Intermediate American Sign Language 1 313
Semester 3  
ITP 202Intermediate American Sign Language 2 313
ITP 220Educational Intepreting 202
ITP XXX Interpreting Elective 1    2
ITP XXX Interpreting Elective 2    2
Total Credits:  20324

Program Prerequisite: Prior to enrolling in ITP 102 Beginning American Sign Language 2, students must complete ITP 101 Beginning American Sign Language 1 (or program chair consent)

Electives

Interpreting Elective
ITP 205Performance Interpreting2
ITP 210Deaf-Blind Interpreting2
ITP 215Religious Interpreting2

Courses

ITP 101 Beginning American Sign Language 1
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

An introductory course on American Sign Language. Topics include: ASL vocabulary, Deaf culture, ASL grammatical features, and beginning ASL conversational comprehensive and expressive skills.
Prerequisites: None

ITP 102 Beginning American Sign Language 2
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

A continuation of ITP 101. Topics include: continued development of ASL vocabulary, Deaf cultural aspects, grammatical features, and beginning conversational comprehensive and expressive skills.
Prerequisites: ITP 101 (minimum grade C)

ITP 120 Psychosocial Aspects of Deafness
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

An introductory course on psychosocial aspects of Deafness. Topics include: language, norms of behavior, values, and traditions within Deafness; and the evolution of the view of Deaf people from a pathological to a cultural perspective.
Prerequisites: None

ITP 125 Deaf Culture and History
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

An introductory course on the unique characteristics influencing Deaf people throughout the past hundred years, and the achievements and accomplishments of Deaf individuals in various professional fields.
Prerequisites: None

ITP 130 Legal Issues of Deafness
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the legal rights of the Deaf and people with other disabilities, and the social service organizations and other agencies that serve the Deaf population.
Prerequisites: None

ITP 135 Introduction to the Interpreting Profession
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course offering a framework for understanding the field of interpreting. Topics include: role of the interpreter in various settings, the interpreting process, physical factors, language variations, and the Code of Professional Conduct.
Prerequisites: None

ITP 140 Fingerspelling and Numbers
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course providing intensive practice in comprehension and production of fingerspelled words and numbers, with emphasis on clarity and accuracy.
Prerequisites: ITP 101 (minimum grade C) or ITP Program Chair consent

ITP 191 ITP Limited Practicum 1
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.

Students spend three hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 250

ITP 192 ITP Limited Practicum 2
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 191. Students spend three hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 191

ITP 193 ITP Limited Practicum 3
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 192. Students spend three hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 192

ITP 194 ITP Limited Practicum 4
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 193. Students spend three hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 193

ITP 195 ITP Limited Practicum 5
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 194. Students spend three hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 194

ITP 196 ITP Limited Practicum 6
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 195. Students spend three hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 195

ITP 198 First Year Special Topics in Interpreter Training
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on selected topics related to Interpreter Training, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: Vary by section

ITP 199 First Year Independent Project in Interpreter Training
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A project related to Interpreter Training that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Interpreter Training faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: Vary by section

ITP 201 Intermediate American Sign Language 1
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

A course on developing and practicing receptive and expressive skills for acquiring ASL targeted vocabulary and grammatical features. Topics include: improving ASL skills by visual comprehension, signing, writing with gloss system, and using basic expressive and receptive skills in laboratory/class settings.
Prerequisites: ITP 102 (minimum grade C)

ITP 202 Intermediate American Sign Language 2
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

A continuation of ITP 201. Topics include: higher level skills in major grammatical features of ASL and additional practice of receptive skills using prepared dialogues as well as numbers.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 205 Performance Interpreting
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on interpreting for theatre and other performance art venues. Topics include: vocabulary and skill building, and script translation.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 210 Deaf-Blind Interpreting
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the skills, protocols, and techniques necessary to communicate with, interpret for, and guide individuals who are Deaf-Blind.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 215 Religious Interpreting
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on interpreting in religious settings. Topics include: religious signs and their relationships to various religious settings.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 220 Educational Intepreting
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on interpreting in educational settings. Topics include: the educational setting, the code of professional conduct, inservicing, and the IEP process. The Ohio Department of Education's Interpreter Guidelines are included in the curriculum.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 225 Vocabulary Building
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course reviewing sign vocabulary already learned as well as introduction of new vocabulary in order to scaffold the student?s sign vocabulary base. Topics include:รก ASL structure, appropriate sign parameters, and conceptual accuracy.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 230 Intermediate Assessment
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on reviewing and teaching ASL vocabulary and structure, culminating in the Intermediate Assessment. Students receive a course grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: ITP 201 (minimum grade C)

ITP 250 Intra-Lingual Skills Development for Interpreters
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on practicing the role of a professional interpreter in various settings and applying the interpreting process, language variations, and the demand control schema. This course prepares students and approves them for the Practicum experience.
Prerequisites: ITP 202 (minimum grade C) and ITP 230

ITP 251 Advanced American Sign Language 1
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

A course on advanced ASL communication skills, vocabulary, and grammatical features. Topics include: advanced practice and development of expressive and receptive skills in American Sign Language.
Prerequisites: ITP 202 (minimum grade C) and ITP 230

ITP 252 Advanced American Sign Language 2
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

A continuation of ITP 251. Topics include: advanced level vocabulary building and grammatical features improvement, and applying native-like signing into American Sign Language production.
Prerequisites: ITP 251 (minimum grade C)

ITP 261 Advanced Interpreting 1: Sign to Voice
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on principles and strategies of interpreting from American Sign Language into spoken and written English equivalents. Topics include: the technical and mental processes involved in ASL-to-English interpretation simultaneously and consecutively using the Colonomos and Gish Models.
Prerequisites: ITP 202 (minimum grade C) and ITP 230

ITP 262 Advanced Interpreting 2: Sign to Voice
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A continuation of ITP 261. Topics include: signing with live models and unknown material.
Prerequisites: ITP 261 (minimum 80% on Voicing Evaluation)

ITP 265 Interpreting in Specialized Settings
4 Credits. 4 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on specialized vocabulary in advanced interpreting settings. Topics include: vocabulary related to medical, mental health, social work, and legal interpreting settings.
Prerequisites: ITP 202 (minimum grade C) and ITP 230

ITP 270 Transliterating
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on transmitting spoken English into English-based sign language. Topics include: initialized signs and other English-related communication systems.
Prerequisites: ITP 202 (minimum grade C) and ITP 230

ITP 280 Professionalism and Interpreting
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the professional components of becoming a sign language interpreter. Topics include: resume building and appropriate conduct in the workplace, in interviews, and online.
Prerequisites: ITP 251 (minimum grade C)

ITP 291 ITP Parallel Practicum 1
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 5 Lab Hours.

Students spend five hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 250

ITP 292 ITP Parallel Practicum 2
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 5 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 291. Students spend five hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 291

ITP 293 ITP Parallel Practicum 3
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 5 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 292. Students spend five hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 292

ITP 294 Educational Interpreting Practicum
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 5 Lab Hours.

Students spend 100 hours during the semester in a K-12 setting completing supervised observations of a working interpreter and practice in the role of an educational interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 192 or ITP 291 or ITP 295

ITP 295 ITP General Practicum 1
3 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 10 Lab Hours.

Students spend ten hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 250

ITP 296 ITP General Practicum 2
3 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 10 Lab Hours.

A continuation of ITP 295. Students spend ten hours per week in educational institutions and community agencies, completing supervised observation and practice in the role of the interpreter. Students also participate in weekly seminars.
Prerequisites: ITP 295

ITP 298 Second Year Special Topics in Interpreter Training
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on selected topics related to Interpreter Training, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: Vary by section

ITP 299 Second Year Independent Project in Interpreter Training
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A project related to Interpreter Training that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Interpreter Training faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: Vary by section

Faculty

Program Chair

Dawn Caudill
CI, CT, NAD5

Other Full-time Faculty

Anthony Merchinsky