This program is intended for linguistically skilled individuals of diverse professional and educational backgrounds who seek to develop abilities in the field of translation. The certificate can be earned in one of six language pairs or in general translation:Arabic to English TranslationFrench to English TranslationGerman to English TranslationSpanish to English TranslationEnglish to Portuguese TranslationEnglish to Spanish TranslationGeneral TranslationThe German to English, English to Portuguese, and Arabic to English Certificates are offered online only. The other language pairs are offered both on-site and online.
You must pass an admissions test to obtain permission to enroll in the prerequisite course Introduction to Translation in the language pair of your choice. For admission test dates and information, see this page. Test results are valid for one year. Students are formally admitted to the program only upon successful completion of the Introduction to Translation course specific to the language pair they are studying with a grade of B or better. Students wishing to register for a single course without pursuing a certificate must still pass the admissions test and receive permission from the director prior to enrolling. A maximum of two courses completed by noncertificate students may be counted retroactively toward a certificate.Certificates are awarded to students who successfully complete six courses with an average grade of B or better. With the exception of the Certificate in General Translation, the six courses (one required, at least four core, and one elective) must be taken in the language pair of specialization as outlined below. Students pursuing the Certificate in General Translation must take the required course and three core courses in one language pair and two core courses in a second language pair, with prior approval of the director.Introduction to TranslationThis course, offered in each program and designed with a view to that particular language pair, provides a survey of the reference materials, methods, and techniques of translation. You are exposed to a wide range of texts and issues from a variety of fields so that you can become acquainted with the kinds of materials and problems that a translator actually encounters in professional life. Prerequisite: Passing the admissions examination.Commercial Translation I and IICommercial I concentrates on the analysis and translation of documents related to business, banking, finance, and insurance. Commercial II introduces the student to more challenging documents and terminological problems encountered in this field. Prerequisites: For Commercial I, Introduction to Translation; for Commercial II, Commercial I.Legal Translation I and IILegal I provides an introduction to the demanding task of translating between the languages of two different legal systems. The course also addresses legal style, terminology, and specialized reference materials. Legal II delves more deeply into the intricacies of this fascinating subject. Prerequisites: For Legal I, Introduction to Translation; for Legal II, Legal I.Technical TranslationIn today's world, it is impossible to ignore the importance of science and technology. These courses address problems specific to technical translation. Sample texts are related to engineering, optics, the oil industry, telecommunications, manufacturing, and more. Prerequisite: Introduction to Translation.Medical TranslationThe medical industry is expanding at a dramatic rate. Information is exchanged across country borders from pharmaceutical and advanced technologies to biomedical and genetic research. In these courses, students master the skill of translating a wide range of materials from the areas of medical research, clinical medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Prerequisite: Introduction to Translation.
An elective is chosen from among a group of courses such as Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations; International Organizations; Translating the News; Literary Translation; and Translation into the Source Language, which are offered on a rotating basis. Consult the Bulletin for current listings. Not all courses are available in every language pair.
