The A. Eugene and Bernice Hoeper ASL and Interpreting Program
Study Deaf culture and become proficient in American Sign Language. In addition to learning skills in the expressive and receptive use of American Sign Language (ASL), you can also prepare to professionally interpret between ASL and English in a high paying, in-demand career. Experiential and service learning, video lab assignments and on-site observations create a lively learning environment in which to hone your practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
My older brother Michael has been deaf since adolescence, and American Sign Language is an important form of communication in my family's life. The ASL Interpreter program at CCBC caught my eye.
Degree Type: Associate Degree | 60 Credits
Format: In-person | Format: Online
Location: Catonsville | Online
Degree Type: Associate Degree | 60 Credits
Format: In-person | Format: Online
Location: Catonsville | Online
Degree Type: Credit Certificate | 38 Credits
Format: In-person | Format: Online
Location: Catonsville | Online
Degree Type: Credit Certificate | 39 Credits
Format: In-person
Location: Catonsville
Mrs. Hoeper and the Hoeper Foundation have given CCBC more than $1 million in endowment funding to support scholarships for the college’s ASL and Interpreter Preparation students.
To honor and recognize the late Bernice Hoeper and her husband, Eugene, in 2018 the CCBC Interpreter Preparation program was dedicated in their names, and the program’s Learning Lab was renamed in honor of their foundation.
Students with no prior experience with ASL should begin with ASLS 101. Students with prior knowledge may schedule an assessment screening and placement interview.
The ASL screening is a half-hour appointment with one of CCBC's deaf instructors to assess your ASL proficiency. CCBC will place you in the appropriate level of ASL coursework based on your ASL expressive and receptive skills. You must have some fluency in American Sign Language to test out of some or all of CCBC's ASL classes (ASL I — ASL V). Candidates usually have either already taken formal ASL classes or have deaf relatives, friends or co-workers who they communicate with on a regular basis.
Students who are screened out of any course work pay the Credit By Exam fee for the waived courses (currently 50% of the current in-county tuition rate).
Department Chair, Communication Arts
Assistant Professor, Interpreter Preparation Program Coordinator
Associate Professor ASL & Deaf Culture Program Coordinator