Interpreting Internship

To graduate with a Deaf Studies Interpreting degree each student needs to complete 3 internship credits, or 180 hours (60 hours per credit).

 

Application Process

  1. Pass the Utah Knowledge Exam

    Take the Utah Knowledge Exam here       View the instructions on scheduling the exam
  2. Find possible internships

    Possible internship sites include: the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind (Springville, SLC, Ogden), local school districts (Alpine or Nebo), local colleges or universities (SLCC, U of U, BYU, or UVU), VRS observation, theatre interpreting, and freelance agencies (5 Star, InterWest, or ASL Comm). With each site, try to contact the accessibility department or internship coordinator to discuss possible internships. This list is not comprehensive.

    • Tip: create a free website to look more professional when applying for internships. This can include samples of your interpreting work, contact information, your resume, Curriculum Vitae, and responses to ethical scenarios. Many will ask for this information anyway. Not required, but highly recommended.  VIEW LIST OF EXAMPLE WEBSITES
  3. Meet with the internship coordinator

    Email the internship coordinator ([email protected]) to set up a meeting. Together, you will begin creating a plan to complete your internship. 
    • Be prepared to mention the specific semester(s) you plan to start your internship. 
  4. Fill out the internship form

    Fill out the UVU internship Approval Form       as best as you can in your own words. Then, create a proposed schedule showing the dates and times of how you will complete your hours, the total hours you will reach over the semester, and how many credits you will receive.
    • Tip for Steps to Accomplish: Think about what in your internship will help you learn ASL. This could include interactions with different people, assignments, prep, ethics, etc.
    • Tip for Methods of Measurement: These are the course assignments, which may change based on who the internship coordinator is, so it’s best to reach out to them and ask.
  5. Complete the orientation

    Next, complete the online UVU internship orientation training       and take a screenshot of your Training Completion Code.
  6. Contact the internship coordinator

    Once you have all this information, email it to the internship coordinator to ask for approval of your internship and set up an appointment to complete paperwork.
    • Tip: don't start your internship before the paperwork has been completed! Any hours before then will not count.
  7. Apply for a permit

    If you aren’t certified yet, apply for a Temporary Student Permit through UIP. You can view the steps on how to obtain this on UIP’s website      . You will need a letter of recommendation from an interpreting instructor as well as the name and contact information of two deaf references.
  8. Register for LANG 481R

    Once you have approval, register for LANG 481R. Create a Google Doc folder with all of the required documents and share it with [email protected]      . Read through the syllabus and this website and make sure you stay up to date on all the assignments. See below for more information on the specific requirements.
  9. You are ready to start your internship

FAQ

How do I schedule the Utah Knowledge Exam?

    STEPS:
  1. Go To: https://jobs.utah.gov/usor/uip
  2. Click “Log In” a) Create an ID or sign in (if you have already created an account)
  3. Click on “Certification”
  4. Click “add or apply for certification”
  5. Choose the “Knowledge Exam”
  6. Pay & Schedule

Sanderson Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 5709 South 1500 West Taylorsville UT 84123

What are some examples of websites students have created when applying for internships?