Faculty
Jeffery York
Coordinator of Interpreter Education
Email: yorkjb@wpcc.edu
Phone: 828.448.6028
Phone (VP): 828.475.0750
Carr Hall
Interpreter Education
A Career That Makes A Difference
Through coursework and internships, you will gain skills in American Sign Language/English interpreting for this high-demand career through Western Piedmont Community College’s Interpreter Education program. We prepare you for an entry-level position as a sign language interpreter. The program also offers working interpreters with opportunities to upgrade their skills through in-service training.
Interpreter Education includes significant work with American Sign Language (ASL), exposure to the structure and character of the deaf community, and developing effective interpreting skills.
So where can I work?
The WPCC Interpreter Education program prepares you for entry-level jobs with educational systems or in a variety of community settings, including work with industry. Interpreters can also be self-employed on a part-time or full-time schedule.
Statistics from ONET Online suggest that the full-time salary (median to high) range for interpreters in North Carolina is from $38,310 to $80,000 per year.
See An Interpreter In Action
Here’s a short video of an interaction featuring a WPCC student at Lady Fair 2017 in Morganton, North Carolina.
Meet Kay Smith
It could have been a disaster. Kay Smith had her job outsourced and sent overseas. Years of mill work was gone. What would she do? Kay found her calling when she returned to school at WPCC, enrolling in the Interpreter Education program. Read her story, and her new and exciting career helping others.
Estimated Tuition
Estimated Books
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Graduation Rate
Articulation Agreements
Western Piedmont Community College and Gallaudet University have established an articulation agreement that allows WPCC students the opportunity to transfer to Gallaudet, the world’s only university designed to be barrier-free for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
This agreement gives WPCC students the opportunity to study in the world’s only interpretation program that offers bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees.
Western Piedmont Community College and Appalachian State University (ASU) have an articulation agreement that allows students to transfer to ASU and receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with the possibility of also working on campus as a student interpreter.
For More Information on Transfer Opportunities
For more information on the transfer opportunities available to WPCC students, please contact Jeffery York, Coordinator of Interpreter Education at 828.448.6028 or by e-mail at yorkjb@wpcc.edu.
Programs of Study
Associate in Applied Science
WPCC’s two-year Interpreter Education program has 68 hours of coursework leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree.
American Sign Language Certificate
The ASL Certificate is a 17 credit-hour program that focuses on American Sign Language and is a job-enhancement for other careers and fields of study.
Introduction to the American Deaf Community Certificate
The American Deaf Community certificate program introduces you to the American Deaf Community and is a job-enhancement opportunity for other careers and fields of study.
Admissions
Let’s get started! Our counselors are happy to provide the information and guidance you need to submit your application, apply for financial aid and scholarships, visit and tour our campus.
Financial Aid
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