Caribbean Sign Language Interpreting (BA)
Programme Overview
This programme takes students through a course of study which allows them to develop fluency in a Caribbean Sign Language and expertise in Sign Language interpreting. This programme also allows students to develop an understanding of Deaf culture, and of the place of sign language in Caribbean Societies. Graduates will therefore be equipped to serve the Caribbean and the rest of the world in this regard.
Programme Objectives
This programme addresses the critical shortage of trained interpreters for Deaf communities in the Caribbean. This programme will focus on the usage of sign language variety commonly used within the territory of the campus. Thus, within the Jamaican context that would be Jamaican Sign Language (JSL), within the Trinidad and Tobago context, Trinbago Sign Language (TSL), et cetera. Since most Caribbean Sign Languages are mutually intelligible, a student can do this programme at a campus which is not located in his home territory and still function well when he returns to his country.
Upon completing this programme successful persons will be:
- Fluent in Sign Language
- Qualified to assist the Deaf in communicating with hearing persons who are not users of a Sign Language, specifically in public service.
Admission Requirements
Three Years Full-Time
- Five CSEC subjects (General Proficiency Grades I-III) and/or GCE O'Level / BGCSE subjects (Grades A-C) including English Language AND two double Units CAPE subjects or 2 GCE A-Level subjects (one of which must be a Humanities subject for which courses are taught at the University).
- Strongly recommended that the student has a Foreign Language. Individuals without a foreign language pass, at least at CXC CSEC, will be required to take a least one of the basic foreign languages courses.
Four Years Part-Time
- Five CSEC subjects (General Proficiency Grades I-III) and/or GCE O’Level/BGCSE subjects (Grades A-C) including English Language.
- Strongly recommended that the student has a Foreign Language. Individuals without a foreign language pass, at least at CXC CSEC, will be required to take a least one of the basic foreign languages courses.
Programme Structure
The Major in Caribbean Sign Language Interpreting requires a total of forty-five (45) credits.
LEVEL ONE
- LING1401 Introduction to Language and Linguistics
- LING1819 Beginners' Caribbean Sign Language
- LING1001 Introduction to Phonology
- LING1002 Introduction to Morphology and Syntax
AND
FOUN1012: Critical Reading and Writing in the Humanities OR FOUN1019: Critical Reading and Writing in the Disciplines*
FOUN1002: Language Argument
Foreign Language**
Plus three (3) Free Electives
LEVEL TWO
- LING2204 Deaf Language and Culture
- LING2301 Sociology of Language
- LING2302 Sociolinguistics
- LING2810 Introduction to the Structure and Usage of Jamaican Creole, OR Equivalent Caribbean vernacular structure and usage course
- LING2820 Structure and Usage of Caribbean Sign Language 2
- LING2920 Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Translation
AND
FOUN1201: Science, Medicine & Technology in Society***
FOUN1301: Law, Governance, Economy & Society***
Plus two (2) Free Electives
LEVEL THREE
- LING3819 Advanced Caribbean Sign Language
- LING3909 The Profession of Interpreting
- LING3910 The Practice of Sign Language Interpreting
- LING3399 Language Planning**
AND
Five (5) Free Electives
**Faculty Research Requirements:
HUMN3099 - A six (6) credit Caribbean Research Project may be taken as a substitute for the research course LING3399. Students who opt to do HUMN3099 the research course will be required to take two (2) additional Level II or III Linguistics courses to satisfy the forty-five (45) credit requirement for the major.
To obtain a more even spread of courses across the three (3) years of the programme, some of the level two courses can be taken in the final year. It is recommended that students make use of academic advising at the start of the year before taking a decision on this.
NB: Compulsory: THREE Humanities non-major courses, not including any LANG-coded courses.
*Students who are not exempt from the ELPT and who have not been successful in the test should register for FOUN1019; this reduces the number of credits which can be taken in Free Electives at Level 1.
Careers after Graduation
Graduates will be able to act as valuable assets to local organizations created especially for deaf persons such as the Jamaica Association for the Deaf. Graduates will also be trained to venture into international waters as the course is not restricted to English speaking territories.