Interpreting Studies
Mission
To improve the quality and quantity of pre-interpreting professionals who will serve & collaborate with community members and professionals by educating students in communication, human relations, and ethical reasoning.
Devon talks about his story at WOU as a XXXXX Major
Thinking like an interpreter from Day 1
The design of the program starts immediately upon entry to WOU – as a freshman or as a transfer student. You will immediately take courses with Interpreting (INT) faculty and begin learning about the complexities of the job. This has three purposes, minimally;
- it allows you to see if this is a fit for you (do you even like some of these non-linguistic things?);
- it allows us to see your aptitude and converse with you about it; and
- it gives you a longer time to absorb and practice with the complexities before being responsible for another person’s communication.
As you continue taking courses alongside your language courses, you will begin to appreciate that it is more than languages – language is the critical underpinning and a vital tool of the trade, but it is not the trade itself. You will unpack an understanding of people, places, topics, yourself, and the ethical and professional challenges of the profession. You will explore the business side of things, the range of language use you will be exposed to (in addition to traditional language being learned in your language classes). You will go into spaces and volunteer, with an eye for observing, noticing, integrating, and exploring – spaces like public schools, Deaf schools, conferences, businesses, and professional, community, and government offices and venues. You will begin to identify your own unique interests and contributions to the field via research and knowledge sharing.
Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway
After all that time, energy, and exploration at the undergraduate level, you will be ready to complete your Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies: Theory & Practice graduate degree which includes 18 credits (540 hours) of on-the-job supervised field experience. You will continue growing in your sophistication as a practitioner with deeper understanding and application of ethics & professional practice while conducting your own action research study. Action research is a study of YOU – an iterative study of your practice, interventions to improve, and assessment of the outcomes – and then do it again.
You will graduate with all the tools and minimum skills to be a stellar contribution to the field and more importantly to the consumers you serve given your deep and nuanced understanding of people, languages, places, yourself, and navigating systems.
Where This Degree Can Take You
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Potential Careers
- Educational Interpreter in K-12
- Postsecondary interpreter in colleges & universities
- Community-based interpreter (agency or freelance)
- Medical interpreting
- Video Relay Interpreting (interpreting for phone calls)
Potential Employers
Which Program Is Right For You …?
ASL Studies
Students from specialized language study enter diverse fields.
The ASL studies program is designed to create and transmit knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) in a climate that promotes respect for Deaf culture, Deaf history, and the Deaf Community.
Students in this program are interested in learning more about the linguistics behind ASL as well as the functional use of it in various settings for various purposes.
Students graduating from this program or prepared to pursue graduate programs at WOU in Deaf Studies and Professional Studies (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Educator MA, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling MA) or enter the workforce in any position that interfaces with the Deaf Community including educational assistant positions, dormitory staff, Vocational Rehabilitation, and teaching ASL.
Interpreting Studies: Theory
Students from diverse backgrounds specialize in interpreting.
Students from diverse backgrounds and study, such as ASL, Linguistics, and Interpreting coursework enter the Interpreting Studies program. This professional program is designed to prepare graduates to enter the interpreting field as professionals with graduate degrees who make significant contributions to the service delivery team.
This program combines classes in language development, linguistics, sociology, anthropology, education, and professional practices, as well as interpreting theory technique and the application of knowledge and skills to interpret performance. Courses are taught by highly qualified instructors and students interact with professional interpreters and consumers throughout their term of study. Students graduating from this program are prepared to enter the MAIS program and then the field of interpreting or pursue graduate degrees in related fields.
Alumni Share What They Are Doing
I Just accepted a new role and start on Monday. I am now the Internal Communications Manager for the Pacific Northwest Region with Comcast.
Jessica Bruck
’12 | B.A. In Communication Studies
I am currently on year 11 of teaching high school since graduating from WOU. Mainly I teach American Sign Language, but also teach Public Speaking (COM 111 credit) and business. Deided to go back and get my Masters in Comm with a focus on ….
Vinnie Rolfness
’12 | B.A. In Communication Studies
I am a Trus Specialist for a Trust Comany whose primary focus is to provide financial management and fiduciary solutions to Hawaii’s families, our kūpuna (elderly), and individuals with disabilities.
