American Sign Language/English Interpretation

As an interpreter, you are the crucial link between two very different worlds. You take a message from English, in a hearing-world context, and place it in American Sign Language (ASL) in a Deaf-cultural context, without changing or influencing its meaning. And you do the same in reverse. Both worlds depend on you in order to understand each other. As an interpreter, you require excellent social and interpersonal skills, as well as emotional stamina and agility.

• We are the only school east of Ontario to offer this program and one of only four of this kind nation-wide.


• A number of our teaching faculty are Deaf, giving you an authentic one-on-one experience with Deaf culture and keeping you up to date on events in the local and regional Deaf communities.


• In your second year of the program, you'll also have the opportunity to put your skills to work in a real-world environment during a five-week practicum.

There is a shortage of qualified Interpreters within this province and beyond. There is a high employment rate for graduates in both full-time and part-time work. Opportunities exist in the school system from kindergarten to Grade 12, at Community Colleges and Universities, as well as in the community at large. Interpreters are needed in the legal system, in hospitals, at meetings, on TV and a wide variety of venues. Our graduates are employed by the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA), as well as several other referral agencies.

You'll find some of our graduates on stage interpreting at events, performances and in public forums. Many are involved in committees for national professional associations or a local chapter of professional interpreters. In addition to their work as interpreters, some of our graduates have returned to NSCC to teach or mentor the next generation of students.

• High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent.


• Successful completion of the Deaf Studies Certificate or equivalent.


• As a final stage of your application process, you are interviewed in person so we can assess your ASL and English skills, as well as your knowledge of Deaf culture.


• Detailed instructions regarding entrance requirements – Entrance Requirements PDF (88KB)