Degree Details
- This bachelor's degree is a 120 credit (73 credits within the major + plus university-wide course requirements) program requiring 11 consecutive semesters (fall, spring, and summer) to complete. The interpreting courses are sequenced and offered once per year, so if you need all 80 credits of ASL & INTR courses, it will take the full 11 terms to complete the program.
- If your ASL competency places you above ASL V and you have transferable courses within the major, you may be able to complete the program in less than four years. If you are a working interpreter holding interpreting credentials (RID, ED:K-12, or 4.0+ on the EIPA performance and passed the EIPA written) and have 21 or more LAC credits to transfer in(see below), the most common entry point is Intro to Consecutive Interpreting: Skill Development in the summer of Year 2. This entry point may allow you to complete the program in as few as seven semesters.
- Upon being accepted into the program, you will be assigned an advisor who will assist you in determining your personalized plan of study based on your ASL competency and any credits being transferred in to UNC.
- Year 1 and 2 focus on developing your ASL and English skills.
- Year 3 and 4 focus on developing your interpreting skills.
- You must pass all major courses (INTR course prefixes) with a B or better.
Year-Round Mostly Online Program
- Online Courses in Fall and Spring: ASLEI courses are fully online in the fall and spring semesters. You will participate in structured courses using an online learning management system with assignments and due dates. The time of day you do coursework is up to you as long as your work and your interactions with peers and staff are completed on time.
- Hybrid Courses in Summer: Additionally, you will take accelerated hybrid ASLEI courses in the summers. This consists of two weeks online in June followed by four weeks on campus in Greeley, CO. You will take 6-7 credits providing intensive language, knowledge, and/or interpreting preparation. While on campus during the summer semester, you will be in face-to-face classes from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays with daily and weekend assignments.
- All on-campus and online students will receive an annual Summer Logistics Packet providing information on traveling to Colorado and UNC, on-campus accommodations, and other resources to help you plan a four week on-campus visit. Most out-of-state students stay in one of UNC's residence halls (approximately $1,000 for the month) and purchase a meal plan through dining services.
Courses and Requirements for Graduation
This UNC bachelor's degree program requires 120 total credit hours. For full program requirement details, see the official program listing in the UNC Undergraduate Catalog.
ASLEI Program and Overall Plan of Study
- Example 4-year plan of study
- To see the upcoming courses in the ASLEI program, visit this program's Current Students page.
- See the Eligibility & Transfer Credit tab for details about transferring your previous college credit, including the LAC coursework.
Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Coursework
UNC's Liberal Arts Curriculum provides students with a grounding in the liberal arts that is infused with critical and creative inquiry, and which also satisfies the six general education areas required for undergraduate degree programs at all public higher education institutions in the state of Colorado.
Many of these courses will potentially be fulfilled from your transferred credit.
View the current LAC requirements and policies. Course requirements by category (with links to list of eligible courses) are available at the bottom of the page.
Waiver of Liberal Arts Curriculum Requirements
Individuals with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or a Bachelor’s degree (regardless of date of completion) from a regionally accredited institution will have their Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements waived. See the Undergraduate Catalog for more information about LAC waiver and transfer evaluationpolicies.
Taking Prerequisite or LAC Courses Online
If you are missing any of this coursework:
- The UNC Course Search – use the "Go to schedule of classes" button (many LAC course offerings are during Summer sessions; UNC does not currently have online LAC courses in the following subjects: Math, and Science with lab).
- You can also search for online courses at Colorado Community Colleges Online or peruse options at any community college, particularly one near you (tuition is often lower for local residents).
Admission Requirements
You must meet the UNC undergraduate admission requirements for the academic year for which you are applying. See the UNC Catalog for current admission requirements.
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In order to be accepted into this program, you must display proficiency in ASL I-IV. Specifically: 2 years of ASL as a foreign language in high school or 2 years ASL (4 classes; ASL 1-4) on a college transcript and/or life experience. (A Deaf culture course may also be helpful depending on how your ASL competencies are acquired.)
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As part of the application process, you will demonstrate your ASL competency through the Demonstration of Competency screening (or designated alternative pathway) to ensure you are ready for the advanced ASL coursework.
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Please note: UNC offers ASL I-IV. Visit the Department of ASLIS ASL intro courses page to see when the courses are available.
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You may also want to view the minimum technical requirements for online courses.
Eligibility by State
At this time, UNC can serve online education to students from every state, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. We are not currently accepting students to our online programs who reside in the CNMIs.
Because some states may have additional requirements or limitations for certain programs, please check the following page to verify your eligibility. Note: if your state is showing "limited authorization" it means you are likely eligible with additional documentation, but please contact kim.black@unco.edu for details.
Current State Authorizations for This Program
International Student Eligibility
International students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply to our online programs. Applicants for online programs must demonstrate English proficiency, or enroll in the UNC Intensive English Program, in order to be considered.
This program requires occasional visits to the United States. You will need to submit financial documentation before you plan to arrive in the U.S. (and again each time you travel to the U.S.). The financial documentation needs to demonstrate that you can pay for the cost of tuition and living expenses for the days that you will be in the U.S.
Please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page for details about English proficiency requirements, financial documentation and applying as an international student.
Transferring Credit
Transferring Interpreting Coursework
Given the reality of transferring classes across programs from different institutions, it's unlikely that all of your sign language and interpreting courses will count towards the 80 credits needed within the major.
For example, the ASLIS department will not accept the following courses for the ASLEI program:
- Deaf Culture/Community
- Manually Coded English
- 200 level internship experiences
UNC Transfer Policies
Students are considered transfer students if they have completed any college-level coursework after completing high school. As part of your UNC application, you will need to submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
Please visit the Transfer of Credits pages on the UNC Office of the Registrar website for information about:
- How many credits can transfer
- Requirements of credits transferred, such as your earned grade and institutional accreditation
- The transfer evaluation process
- Transferology – this service allows you to view our published course equivalencies for your previous courses. This can be done for free before you apply to UNC.
- For those students who have taken or are taking supporting courses at a Colorado public two-year institution, see the Transfer Articulation Guides.
Tuition
This is an Extended Campus program, which means:
- A flat per-credit tuition rate for all students (in-state or out-of-state)
- There are no student fees – they are incorporated into our flat tuition rate
- Certain courses may carry specific course fees for additional services and materials
Program tuition for the 2023-24 academic year (which runs Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) is $484 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2024-25 academic year will be determined mid-June 2024.
Instructional materials will vary by course, but will average approximately $150 per course over the life of the program.
Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC FAFSA/financial aid page for current undergraduate students has key dates and support, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted throughout the school year but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid. If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
Bachelor's students must be enrolled in in a minimum of 6 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 12 credits per term.
To apply for federal financial aid assistance
Fill out the FAFSA form at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
For more specific help, contact the Office of Financial Aid:ofa@unco.edu, 970-351-4862or via the UNC Financial Aid website.
Students can also find helpful information such as the Guide to Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.gov/resources. Most of the resources are available in English, Spanish, and Braille.
Student Health Insurance
The University of Northern Colorado offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to all degree-seeking students who enroll in courses on our main UNC Campus, an Extended Campus Center, or Online.
Degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours will automatically receive this benefit each term. SHIP premiums will appear on your semester bill. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you must opt out of this plan each Fall via an online waiver process.
Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information about the insurance plan.
