American Sign Language

Sign of the Times: A Contemporary Career Education in ASL

 

Maybe it’s the ultra-cool Sign Language interpreter onstage at Coachella, not so much signing as performing the lyrics of Radiohead, Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé, and beyond.

Or maybe it’s the even-cooler speech pathologist, literally making the difference between triumph and despair in a disabled learner’s life.

Whatever your inspiration, your degree or certificate in American Sign Language from Golden West College is relevant to hundreds of high-demand professions, from education to health care, social work to psychology, and more.

Interpreting is a complex and contemporary field, connecting disability services with high-level concepts in language, cognition, and psychology. Professionals in Interpreting careers encounter a wide variety of situations, ranging from large-scale public events to very personal medical and counseling settings.

The American Sign Language Interpreting program at Golden West College is designed to provide students with skills sufficient for general entry-level employment in the Interpreting profession. The versatile coursework covering topics of language, communications, and deaf and disabled culture, prepares students for various academic and career pathways and fulfills requirements for inclusion in the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Program Details

ASL Interpreting Degrees & Certificates

Golden West College’s American Sign Language Interpreting program opens doors to in-demand opportunities in a wide variety of education and social services fields. Currently, GWC offers both an Associate of Arts (AA) Degree and a Certificate of Achievement:

American Sign Language Interpreting – Associate in Arts (AA) Degree:
Orange County and its neighboring areas are rich in part-time job opportunities for Sign Language Interpreters. GWC’s AA program is designed to provide students with the skills and cultural knowledge required to succeed in Interpreting careers.

American Sign Language Interpreting – Certificate of Achievement:
GWC’s Interpreting Certificate leads to career opportunities in teaching, speech pathology, audiology, interpreting, and more.

For additional program details, see the ASL Interpreting Program Main Page or the Golden West College Catalog.

Why Golden West College?

Golden West offers CSU-transferable courses for students seeking credit toward bachelor-level Interpreting and Deaf Studies programs.

Our knowledgeable and accessible faculty are chosen for their real-world industry experience. This ensures that GWC American Sign Language Interpreting students learn the latest in software, technology, and industry philosophy.

Golden West cares! GWC is an energetic and welcoming community of learning, committed to supporting your higher education aspirations. Learn more about Golden West College’s student services and support resources by clicking here.

Golden Opportunities in Interpreting

Deemed a “Bright Outlook Occupation” by O-Net Online, American Sign Language Interpreting is expected to see an increase in demand as communications technology and opportunities for disabled professionals expand.   The future is bright for college-educated ASL Interpreting professionals with practical knowledge and field skills. Golden West College grads are earning great salaries in these positions and more!  

  • Audiologist
  • Court Interpreter
  • Educational Interpreter
  • Medical Interpreter
  • Paraprofessional Interpreter
  • Spanish Interpreter
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Technical Translator
  • Teacher for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Affording the Opportunity

Golden West College is proud to provide excellent-quality Career Education at a low cost. Our goal is to remain accessible to ALL community members seeking to enrich their future. Tuition: $46 per unit for California residents. Information on College Service Charge and additional fees available at: http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/register/.

For Financial Aid information or to find out if you are eligible for Free Tuition through our
Golden Promise Program, visit http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/goldenpromise/.

Accolades for Golden West College Interpreting

Golden West College’s ASL Interpreting department is honored to be the recipient of a 2018 Strong Workforce Star from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. ASL Interpreting at GWC earned a Bronze Star for excellence in earning outcomes, with the accolade noting a 54% average increase in earnings among program alums.

Future BUILT Support

Golden West College is committed to providing students with affordable, accessible Career Education pathways, along with responsive staff to assist and guide you on your way!

Career and Employment Center:
GWC’s Career Center is a hub for services related to the career development needs of students and the general public. Our friendly staff can assist you in exploring career fields with a comprehensive library of up-to-date, computerized and published resources.

Learning Resource Center:
Featuring facilities and materials for general assistance in math, reading, writing, and more, GWC’s Learning Resource Center is a one-stop destination for student support. Take advantage of tutoring services, computer lab access, library resources, and more!

Special Programs:
Golden West hosts a variety of career-oriented programs and services, including CalWORKS, Cooperative Work Experience (CWE), and many others.

Advising and Counseling:
Make sure you’re in the right classes… and on the right course! GWC’s Planning and Guidance Services cover a broad range of student needs, including degree advising, career counseling, and transfer assistance.

Special Programs:
Golden West College is committed to assisting our underserved and challenged students in any way possible. GWC offers specific resources for DACA students, Former Foster Youth, students requiring Basic Needs Assistance, and more.

Gainful Employment Information

For more information regarding the American Sign Language Interpreting program costs and employment outcome averages, click here.

Program Learning Outcomes

Liberal Arts: Emphasis in Arts and Humanities Associate in Arts:

  • Evaluate and interpret the ways in which people through the ages in different cultures have responded to themselves and the world around them in artistic and cultural creation.
  • Value aesthetic understanding and incorporate these concepts when constructing value judgments.

Liberal Arts: Emphasis in Business and Public Administration Associate in Arts:

  • Understand the place of business and technology within the global economy.
  • Critically apply ethical standards to business practices and decisions.

Liberal Arts: Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate in Arts:

  • Study human experience in the context of the larger society by applying investigative methods to collect, interpret, and present scientific data.
  • Analyze social change, analyze social problems, and analyze and develop social policies.
  • Think critically about how findings and ideas in social science can be applied to explain phenomena and events that influence the larger society.

Program Contact

Diana Rochat

Division Office

Average Salary in this Field

$31,904 –
$34,197

Bronze
Star

California Community College Strong Workforce Star Recipient

Careers in this Field

Audiologist
Court Interpreter
Speech Pathologist

Ready to Get Started?

Orange County industry depends on Future BUILT professionals with the next-level knowledge and skills learned in Golden West College’s Career Education programs.
Apply today and start building your  bolder future!

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