The ASL-English Interpretation major is a four-year degree program that is designed for students who want to pursue careers as interpreters. The core curriculum of the program provides a coherent plan of study through courses in American Sign Language, Deaf culture, linguistics, the theories and skills involved in interpreting and transliterating, multicultural issues.  

In the first two years of the degree program, students focus on language development and culture while they are introduced to the field of interpretation. Students spend their junior and senior years focusing on practical, hands-on interpretation and theoretical courses. The curriculum involves two full semesters of practicum, which gives students an opportunity to undertake real-life interpreting assignments, always supervised by professional licensed interpreters.

Students experience many different interpreting settings before graduation, including medical, theatrical, educational, and freelance settings. Additionally, students can take a variety of different department electives, including “Creativity and ASL” and “2-D Interpreting: VRS and VRI.”

In order to be successful interpreters, students in the program will need to acquire mastery of standard American English, fluency in American Sign Language, and familiarity with public speaking techniques, as well as sensitivity to multicultural issues and challenges in interpersonal communication.

The curriculum also emphasizes work with the Deaf population as a linguistic and cultural minority. After leaving Columbia, graduates not only acquire fluency in ASL, but they become aware of and sensitive to issues concerning the Deaf community. 

Requirements to Graduate

Students must complete 56 credit hours to earn a BA in ASL-English Interpretation, as well as the LAS Core Curriculum. You can see a list of all required ASL-English Interpretation classes here.

The job outlook for employment of interpreters is expected to grow 42 percent from 2010-2020, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The amount of growth in this field is much higher than the average for all occupations.

Percentile wage estimates:
50 percentile: $21.23 per hour ($44,160 annually)
75 percentile: $29.89 per hour ($62,170 annually)
90 percentile: $42.31 per hour ($88,010 annually) 

Industries with the highest levels of employment (with hourly and mean wages):

Industry  Hourly Mean Annual Mean

Technical, Scientific, Other                                    $26.93                                 $56,020 

Elementary, Secondary Schools           $19.64                                 $40,850

General Medical, Surgical Hospitals       $21.43                                 $44,570

Local Government (OES)                     $22.48                                 $46,750

Colleges, Universities, Prof. Schools     $26.91                                 $55,970


Top paying industries (with hourly and mean wages):

Industry                                            Hourly Mean                               Annual Mean

Computer Systems Design, Related $50.47                                             $104,990

Management, Scientific, Technical  $46.64                                             $97,020

Federal Executive Branch (OES)     $36.13                                             $75,150

Business Support Services               $28.64                                             $59,570

Legal Services                                    $28.21                                             $58,670

Source: United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2011.