Choose Your Path
UNC’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies (ASLIS) mission statement is:
Quality instruction preparing culturally and linguistically competent interpreters, teachers and users of American Sign Language.
The Department houses four areas of study built around American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf Culture, and related fields of interpreting and teaching. The ASLIS programs offer highly regarded curricula with input from national experts, taught by nationally recognized instructional staff, and offered through multiple delivery methods.
Are you interested in one of our programs?
Are you a current student searching for program resources?
News and Announcements
Join us for Dr. Leilani Johnson's retirement party at the UNC University Center on July 19th - Learn more! Unable to come to UNC campus, join us through live streaming.
Dr. Leilani J. Johnson - Director Emerita of American Sign Language & Interpreting Studies
Join us in congratulating Dr. Leilani Johnson for being awarded Director Emerita for her outstanding service to UNC and the field as a whole! We are honored to work with her and grateful for the impact she has had on the lives of so many students, faculty, staff, practitioner in the intepreting field, and members of the Deaf community!
Welcome Dr. Byron Bridges and Kellie Stewart!
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Byron Bridges and Kellie Stewart will be joining the ASLIS Department beginning fall 2018!
Interested in Applying for 2019?
Both the ASLEI undergraduate program and the TASL graduate program will be accepting applications for 2019 after Labor Day. Be added to the ASLEI or TASL mailing list to stay updated!
OSEP Scholarship:
The Department of ASL & Interpreting Studies was awarded a five year grant (2015-2020) from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to establish the Preparation for Interpreters in Educational Settings (#H325K150213). The OSEP scholarship will be offered to qualifying students who declares the Educational Interpreting major (on-campus and online) and are beginning their upper division coursework (Year 3 and 4).
Areas of Study
ASL Courses
ASL I-IV will develop your ASL skills and knowledge of Deaf Culture. With over 20 sections of ASL courses offered each fall and spring semester there is plenty of opportunity to begin and continue your studies of ASL.
• ASL I, II, III, and IV are offered on campus.
• ASL III and IV are also offered online.
ASL Minor
American Sign Language Minor will expand your skills and knowledge of ASL and Deaf Culture through ASL I-VI and two upper division knowledge courses. The minor can accompany many UNC majors.
- ASL Minor is offered on campus and online.
- ASL Minor is only available to UNC students.
ASLEI Bachelors
ASL–English Interpretation (ASLEI) Bachelor of Art program will train you to mediate communication events in either community or educational settings.
The ASLEI program is completed on campus or online (on campus summer sessions required).
TASL Masters
Teaching American Sign Language (TASL) Master of Arts program will train you to be an ASL instructor. TASL offers two programs: the Master’s or the Master’s Plus Licensure.
Both programs are completed online with summer sessions in Greeley, CO.
Graduate Spotlight
Rosetta Maravilla
2017 Honor Graduate from the ASL-English Interpretation program
Rosetta Maravilla, a 2017 graduate from the University of Northern Colorado was recognized as being the first person from her family to earn a college degree. Rosetta earned a Bachelors of Arts in ASL-English Interpretation, with concentrated studies in educational interpreting.
Rosetta belongs to a small group of ASL interpreters for whom ASL is a first language and are often referred to as a Deaf Parented Interpreter (DPI). She grew up quadrilingual – learning a mix of American and Mexican sign language from her parents and learning English and Spanish from her aunts and uncles who can hear.
Rosetta, originally from southern California and now living in Las Vegas, Nevada brought a unique set of experiences and rich understanding with her when she enrolled in UNC’s Extended Campus. Raised by her parents to value her education, Rosetta became interested in studying ASL at college, after taking some classes in high school. With the option to study remotely, while living in Las Vegas, and with an intensive four weeks on-campus in Greeley during the summer, Rosetta began building on her native language through formal interpreter education, which she describes as pivotal to her professional career!
Rosetta is currently employed as a K-12 educational interpreter. She recently joined the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) to help with networking, resources, job-finding, and certification maintenance. She recognizes that with this foundation from UNC, many opportunities are now at her fingertips: “I’m just ready to put myself out there!”
