The Educational Interpreting Program at the University of Tennessee prepares students to work as professional interpreters and transliterators with deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. An educational interpreter facilitates communication between deaf students and other non-signing members of the school community, including teachers, specialists and hearing classmates.
The UT program provides 36 credit hours of course work in the areas of American Sign Language, Deaf Education and Interpreting. Students in the program are involved in several activities on and off campus involving the Deaf community. Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD), located approximately 3 miles from the UT campus, provides ample opportunity for students to be involved in language immersion experiences.
Recent graduates have gained employment in K-12 school settings, at post-secondary institutions, and full-time positions in agencies that serve deaf populations.
Students who complete the program are encouraged to take the National Certification Exam offered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). This certification is recognized as the professional standard for interpreters in every state of the country.