George Brown College’s Honours Bachelor of Interpretation (American Sign Language – English) is the first degree of its kind in Canada. Developed to address the growing demand for qualified Sign Language Interpreters, this degree helps prepare graduates for work in this dynamic field.
An interpreter is a fluent bilingual-bicultural professional, facilitating communication between those who do not share the same language or culture.
To be a sign language interpreter requires manual dexterity, critical thinking skills, visual-spatial recognition and cognitive processing abilities in order to process information instantaneously at a level of bilingual and bicultural expertise beyond conversational fluency. For non-Deaf interpreters this will also include auditory-processing capabilities.
Over the course of four years, students will continue to improve and hone both their English and American Sign Language proficiencies while studying to become interpreters.
This program focuses on seven areas of learning:
- Language and Culture
- Field Fundamentals
- Interpreting Skills
- Research Methods/Trends
- Ethics and Professionalism
- Breadth Electives
- Field and Community Experience
