International flags in campus center
The American Sign Language program context was established in May 1998, when the Commission on Higher Education approved the Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language-English Interpretation to be offered at Indiana University Indianapolis. It was originally intended to fully articulate with the American Sign Language associate degree program at Vincennes University. Furthermore, Indiana University Indianapolis has come to recognize ASL for foreign language credit since that time, and as a result, students can enter upper-division coursework in interpreting either through articulation from Vincennes University or by completing the pre-requisite ASL 1-4 coursework, Deaf Culture coursework, and liberal arts foundation at Indiana University Indianapolis.
Each semester, ASLIE serves approximately 300 students enrolled in ASL coursework. According to the program’s mission statement, the coursework “prepares students to enter the profession of interpreting as entry-level community interpreters who possess analytical skills, a broad breadth of knowledge, and the ability to combine and synthesize the diverse and complex aspects of human language behavior in contemporary society.” According to program staff, obtaining national certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. is also a desired graduate outcome.
