A Sign Language Interpreter is a person specially trained to facilitate communication between the d/Deaf, DeafBlind, Hardof Hearing and Hearing communities. Lansing Community College's Sign Language Interpreter Program prepares students to take the State of Michigan certification exam. Upon certification, LCC graduates may find employment in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, religious, Video Relay Centers, colleges and universities, public schools, and medical and legal institutions. Some of these settings will require additional training, endorsements, and assessments to secure employment.
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Degrees and Certificates Offered
Communication, Journalism, and Language, GA
Overview
This degree is designed for students wishing to work in a field related to Communication. Pathways included in this Career Community are Communication, Sign Language Interpreter, and World Languages. This degree includes a set of courses common to all majors and all transfer institutions. Students beginning college in this degree program are encouraged to work with academic and program advisors throughout their first few semesters of study to determine their specific major area and transfer institution (if transfer is a goal).
PROGRAM DETAILS
Admissions Requirements
LCC is an open enrollment college serving all those who are excited to learn. Applicants seeking financial aid must possess a high school diploma or GED.
Transferability
General education requirements may differ from one institution to another. Contact your preferred institutions and plan their general education requirements accordingly with an LCC advisor.
Sign Language Interpreter, AAA
Overview
A Sign Language Interpreter is specially trained to facilitate communication between the d/Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing communities. Lansing Community College's Sign Language Interpreter Program prepares students to take the Stateof Michigan certification exam. Upon certification, LCC graduates may find employment in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, religious, Video Relay Centers, colleges and universities, public schools, and medical and legal institutions. Someof these settings will require additional training, endorsements, and assessments to secure employment.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Admissions Requirements
LCC is an open enrollment college serving all those who are excited to learn. Applicants seeking financial aid must possess a high school diploma or GED.
Career Information
The occupations listed below may require education beyond an Associate Degree. Please see Career Coach for specific career requirements.
*Please note that data shared on this page is provided by Lightcast are estimates only, may require education beyond the certificate or associate degree granted by LCC, and are no guarantee of employment. LCC advises that you rely on your own due diligence in choosing a field of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be an interpreter when I finish this program?
The Associates in Applied Arts attests that a student has completed the program, but is not an interpreting credential. You will have to take and pass one of the credentialing tests available in the state of Michigan. The Year Three Professional Program focuses specifically on test-taking skills!
Do I need a degree to be an interpreter?
Interpreters need to know a little bit about a vast array of subjects. The more classes you take, the higher education you have and the easier the interpreting process will become. Also, all interpreter credential tests require a minimum education level.
When are classes offered?
Year One classes are offered all times of the day and evening. Year Two and Year Three classes are only offered at night.
I need a different SIGN class schedule. Who do I talk to?
A Sign Language Program Advisor. They can tell you which classes are flexible and can be taken any time, as well as which classes are rigid and must be taken in order; or are only offered specific semesters.
Is it possible to complete this program with a 40-hour/week job?
Absolutely! Students do it every year, and many of our students drive long distances to come to LCC.
How do I get my SIGN credits from another school to transfer?
How do I test out of a SIGN class?Please contact a Sign Language Program Advisor and set up a skills assessment. The results of your assessment will determine your placement in our ASL classes, and if your credits will transfer.
When should I send my previous transcripts to LCC?
As soon as they are complete with a final grade reflected. If there are no grades for the SIGN classes, we can't accept those credits.
I have some credits to transfer. When will they show up on my LCC transcripts?
When you apply for graduation, we will do a check of your total institutional credits and will apply any SIGN transfer credits at that time.
Where will I get all those Practicum hours?
Year Two Practicum will be completed at various sites, depending on where you live. We have partnerships with interpreters, agencies, schools, hospitals, and Deaf community members in over 66 cites all over the state of Michigan.
Year Three Practicum hours will be completed mostly at LCC. You will be supervising the Year Two students in classrooms at LCC, or working in groups at the library.
What can I do for fun? Do you have a student organization?
We have the Sign Language Club (SLC), which manages all of our student outreach activities. Students sit on the SLC Board, and are in charge of managing:
- Mentorship Program (advanced students are paired with beginners)
- Sip n' Sign (meets during the week to practice and use ASL)
- Deaf Coffee Chat (community gathering in Lansing)
I just want to learn ASL. Can I take just the language classes?
Yes. Contact a Sign Language Program Advisor and tell them you're taking classes for personal interest, and you'd like an override.
Related Links
Transferability
General education requirements may differ from one institution to another. Contact your preferred institutions and plan their general education requirements accordingly with an LCC advisor.
Sign Language Interpreter, CA
Overview
A Sign Language Interpreter is specially trained to facilitate communication between the d/Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing communities. Lansing Community College's Sign Language Interpreter Program prepares students to take the Stateof Michigan certification exam. Upon certification, LCC graduates may find employment in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, religious, Video Relay Centers, colleges and universities, public schools, and medical and legal institutions. Someof these settings will require additional training, endorsements, and assessments to secure employment.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Admissions Requirements
LCC is an open enrollment college serving all those who are excited to learn. Applicants seeking financial aid must possess a high school diploma or GED.
Career Information
The occupations listed below may require education beyond an Associate Degree. Please see Career Coach for specific career requirements.
*Please note that data shared on this page is provided by Lightcast are estimates only, may require education beyond the certificate or associate degree granted by LCC, and are no guarantee of employment. LCC advises that you rely on your own due diligence in choosing a field of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be an interpreter when I finish this program?
The Associates in Applied Arts attests that a student has completed the program, but is not an interpreting credential. You will have to take and pass one of the credentialing tests available in the state of Michigan. The Year Three Professional Program focuses specifically on test-taking skills!
Do I need a degree to be an interpreter?
Interpreters need to know a little bit about a vast array of subjects. The more classes you take, the higher education you have and the easier the interpreting process will become. Also, all interpreter credential tests require a minimum education level.
When are classes offered?
Year One classes are offered all times of the day and evening. Year Two and Year Three classes are only offered at night.
I need a different SIGN class schedule. Who do I talk to?
A Sign Language Program Advisor. They can tell you which classes are flexible and can be taken any time, as well as which classes are rigid and must be taken in order; or are only offered specific semesters.
Is it possible to complete this program with a 40-hour/week job?
Absolutely! Students do it every year, and many of our students drive long distances to come to LCC.
How do I get my SIGN credits from another school to transfer?
How do I test out of a SIGN class?Please contact a Sign Language Program Advisor and set up a skills assessment. The results of your assessment will determine your placement in our ASL classes, and if your credits will transfer.
When should I send my previous transcripts to LCC?
As soon as they are complete with a final grade reflected. If there are no grades for the SIGN classes, we can't accept those credits.
I have some credits to transfer. When will they show up on my LCC transcripts?
When you apply for graduation, we will do a check of your total institutional credits and will apply any SIGN transfer credits at that time.
Where will I get all those Practicum hours?
Year Two Practicum will be completed at various sites, depending on where you live. We have partnerships with interpreters, agencies, schools, hospitals, and Deaf community members in over 66 cites all over the state of Michigan.
Year Three Practicum hours will be completed mostly at LCC. You will be supervising the Year Two students in classrooms at LCC, or working in groups at the library.
What can I do for fun? Do you have a student organization?
We have the Sign Language Club (SLC), which manages all of our student outreach activities. Students sit on the SLC Board, and are in charge of managing:
- Mentorship Program (advanced students are paired with beginners)
- Sip n' Sign (meets during the week to practice and use ASL)
- Deaf Coffee Chat (community gathering in Lansing)
I just want to learn ASL. Can I take just the language classes?
Yes. Contact a Sign Language Program Advisor and tell them you're taking classes for personal interest, and you'd like an override.
Related Links
Contact Us
Sign Language Interpreter Program
Arts and Sciences Division
Gannon Building Room 1222
Phone: 517-483-5329