Sign language interpreting is a fascinating, challenging and rapidly expanding field that offers an endless variety of opportunities and rich linguistic and cultural experiences. There is no better place to prepare for a career in sign language interpreting than the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology.

More than 1,100 Deaf and hard-of-hearing students live, study and socialize on the RIT campus, providing interpreting students like you with excellent opportunities to interact with students and enhance your sign language and interpreting skills as well as your experience with Deaf culture.

Why should you pursue your interpreting degree at RIT?

• The faculty of NTID’s Department of the American Sign Language and Interpreting Education are nationally respected interpreter educators. All of our American Sign Language classes are taught by Deaf faculty members who are certified by the American Sign Language Teachers Association, and all of our interpreting instructors are certified as sign language interpreters by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

• Our interpreting and self-instruction labs are state-of-the-art audio/visual facilities with a wealth of interpreting and sign language materials you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
• Because RIT receives special federal support for students in the interpreting program, you pay about one-third of RIT’s regular tuition rate.
• You have access to more than 100 interpreters on campus and more than 300 off campus in the Rochester community.
• Rochester has one of the largest concentrations of Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents in the United States. As an interpreting student at RIT, there are many opportunities for you to interact with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, including numerous Deaf student clubs and sports, the Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf, open-captioned movies, Deaf theater and much more. Deaf culture programs are also held throughout the year at various venues in the community.

Learn more about the ASL-English Interpretation Program