Concentration in ASL/English Interpreting (BA Linguistics)
The linguistics major consists of linguistics courses designed to foster a deep understanding of human natural language, including an appreciation of the structure and organization of natural languages, the variety of natural languages, the commonalities that underlie the vast apparent differences among languages, the processes of language acquisition in children, the psychological and neurological bases of language use, and the form and significance of social variation in language.
The ASL/English interpreting concentration is intended for students who wish to eventually become nationally certified ASL/English interpreters.
The goals of the linguistics major are 1) to help each student develop an understanding of the nature of natural language, 2) to help each student develop a foundation of more specialized expertise relevant to the student’s career goals, and 3) to help each student compile a record of achievement that will facilitate the student’s search for employment or further education.
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For ASL and ASL/English Interpreting resource links, click here.
For the USM ASL Club's Maine Deaf Film Festival, visit: www.mainedeaffilmfest.com
Courses & Requirements
Checklist of Requirements
ASL/English Interpreting Concentration (48 - 51Credits)
Note: Four semesters of ASL (101 through 202I) or equivalent proficiency are prerequisites to the interpreting and upper-level ASL courses, but do not count as credits toward the major.
- LIN 185: Language, Mind, and Society
- LIN 305: Contrastive Analysis: ASL and English
- LIN 310: Signs of Language in the Brain
- LIN 313: Syntax
- LIN 331: ASL/English Interpreting
- LIN 332: Consecutive Interpreting and Deaf/Hearing Interpreter Teams
- LIN 333: Interpreting: Source Language ASL
- LIN 334: Interpreting: Source Language English
- LIN 422: Cognitive Perspectives on Syntax
- LIN 435: Advanced Interpreting
- ASL 301: ASL Literature in ASL; or ASL 302: ASL Linguistics in ASL; or ASL 303: Deaf Art and Theatre in ASL
- ASL 401: Advanced ASL I
- ASL 402: Advanced ASL II
- One of the following:
- LIN 405: Sight Translation
- LIN 413: Supervised Mentoring
- LIN 498: Thesis
- or earn six credits in LIN 425: Special Topics in ASL/English Interpreting
For Linguistics in ASL/English Interpreting with Honors:
- G.P.A. of at least 3.7 in LIN and ASL courses
- Take all of the following, and earn a grade of at least 'B' in each: LIN 311, LIN 312, LIN 314, LIN 315, LIN 490
Suggested four-year plan for Linguistics Majors, ASL/English Interpreting Concentration:
There are many possible paths through the major. The listings below are suggestions that may or may not be appropriate for individual students. Courses do not have to be taken in the order shown here so long as the prerequisites for each course are met before it is taken.
See the departmental catalog listing for course prerequisites. Note especially that students must earn at least a 'B' in LIN 185 before enrolling in LIN 311, 312, 313, 314, or 315.
Note that many of the suggested semester schedules listed here do not make up a full course load. These semesters would need to be filled out with general education courses, electives, a minor, or possibly a second major.
ASL/English Interpreting Concentration:
(course in italics is required for Deaf Studies Minor)
- Fall 1: LIN 185, ASL 101
- Spring 1: ASL 102, LIN 203
- Fall 2: LIN 310, LIN 313, ASL 201
- Spring 2: LIN 305, LIN 422, ASL 202
- Fall 3: LIN 331, ASL 401, LIN 425 (if taking six credits of LIN 425)
- Spring 3: LIN 333, ASL 402
- Fall 4: LIN 332, LIN 334
- Spring 4: LIN 435, ASL 301/302/303, LIN 425 (or 405, 413, 498)
Long-term scheduling
To help students plan their academic careers, we try to offer courses on a regular cycle. This is difficult and we cannot always offer courses when we, or our students, would most like them to appear. So, this listing should not be mistaken for a promise to offer any particular course in any given semester. Nevertheless, to the extent we can, we try to keep to the plan laid out below.
Offered every fall:
- ASL 101, 201
- ASL 401
- LIN 185
- LIN 211
- LIN 310
- LIN 311 (or every other fall)
- LIN 313
- LIN 331
- LIN 332
- LIN 334
Offered every spring:
- ASL 101, 102, 202
- ASL 402
- LIN 185
- LIN 201
- LIN 203
- LIN 305
- LIN 312 (or every other spring)
- LIN 333
- LIN 422
- LIN 435
Offered once a year, semester varies, sometimes summer:
- ASL 301 or 302 or 303
- LIN 213
- LIN 315
Offered once every two years in spring:
- LIN 212
- LIN 314
- LIN 421
- LIN 490
Offered every semester as independent learning options:
- LIN 395
- LIN 398
- LIN 498
Offered irregularly, depending on demand:
- LIN 405
- LIN 425
- LIN 426
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