Translation and Interpreting - MA

The Master of Arts Program in Translation and Interpreting (MATI) is a professional degree program that will train students for careers in translation and interpreting in local government, corporations, private enterprises, non-governmental organizations and other institutions in the private and public sectors. By offering a combination of practical and theoretical courses, the program provides a clear career path for bilingual students, training them to perform community, legal, medical and conference interpreting as well as written translation in various spheres of governmental and nongovernmental work. The program combines rigorous theoretical grounding and hands on linguistic and professional training with instruction in computer-assisted technologies, software localization and other transferable skills. This program is offered in the Chinese, Russian and Spanish language tracks with plans for more language tracks in the future.

The program is unique in the greater NYC area in its focus on the development of practical and professional skills and its emphasis on translation technologies and training in language specific, purpose-driven translation and interpreting skills, targeting high-demand business and public sectors.

Admissions Requirements

The following admission requirements will apply to all applicants:

Completed BA degree (language and translation-related degrees preferred but not required), or equivalent
Fluency in language A (equivalent of Level 3+ or higher on Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale, corresponding to “Superior” on ACTFL scale) and full professional working proficiency in language B (equivalent of Level 2+ or higher on ILR scale, corresponding to “Advanced High” on ACTFL scale). Students matriculating from the undergraduate translation programs at Hunter College may have their language proficiency testing requirement waived based on their academic record and recommendation from language faculty.
For international students with BA (or equivalent) from a foreign institution of higher learning, TOEFL ITP scores of 102 or higher (corresponding to 7.5+ on IELTS scale). The application consists of the following components:

Personal essay/statement of purpose
Online application form
Undergraduate transcripts
Two letters of recommendation (for applicants with industry experience, one academic and one professional encouraged)
Interview with faculty adviser, which will be conducted in language A and B to further evaluate the applicant’s ability to communicate and process information in both languages.
The Language and Skills Test for language proficiency (http://www.icls.edu/languageskills-assessment/) • Students who score within a three-point range of target test scores may be admitted provisionally and required to take an additional Special Topics in Language course prior to the start of the program
Language Remedial Requirements
- In the Chinese track, students accepted provisionally will be required to complete one of the following existing courses: CHIN 70500 Topics in Advanced Conversation CHIN 70600 Topics in Advanced Writing CHIN 70700 Topics in Advanced Reading CHIN 70800 Topics in Chinese Culture and Society
- In the Russian track, students accepted provisionally will be required to take TRNR 75100 Comparative Russian-English Grammar in Context
- In the Spanish track, students accepted provisionally will be required to complete 6, rather than 5, Special Topics in Languages (Spanish).

Curriculum - 30 credits

The program-wide curriculum will consist of the following components, detailed below:

Language-Neutral Core Courses (6 credits)

Core Courses with a Language-Specific Component (6 credits)

Elective (3 credits)

Language-Specific Courses, including Special Topics in Language (STL) (15-18 credits)

1. Language-Neutral Core Courses (6 credits)

Certain translation-relevant skills exist outside specific languages and provide baseline knowledge to all students interested in careers in Translation and Interpreting. All students, regardless of language tracks, are required to complete two core courses, offered in English in a language-neutral setting

2. Core Courses with a Language-Specific Component (6 credits)

The following courses are required for students enrolled in all language tracks. Each course is divided into a language-neutral portion, during which students receive theoretical training (including ethics, code of conduct, industry-specific information) and a language-specific component, conducted by a graduate teaching assistant in each respective language and consisting of vocabulary practice, role-play, authentic document translation, simulated interpreting scenarios and peer editing and feedback. These are:

3. Elective (3 credits)

Students will select a course to complement their training in translation. The choice of the class will be dictated by the student’s professional interests and prospective fields of employment.

Requiring an elective will compel the students to gain field-specific knowledge outside of language. The inter-departmental character of this elective not only allows graduate students to avail themselves of collaboration across departments that forms part of Hunter’s tradition of academic excellence, but also model the interdisciplinary nature of any professional work environment. The students will select courses based on availability with the approval of the program director.

Sample topics and courses include:

English Linguistics (ENGL 60700 )

Rhetoric and Composition (ENGL 60700 )

The Nature of Written Language (ENG 78550)

Fundamentals of Health Policy and Management (PH 75600 )

Healthcare Systems and Policy (NURS 70400 )

Community Organizing and Development for Health (COMHE 75200 )

Demographic Issues in Planning and Development (URBG 70300 )

Social Welfare Policy and Services (SSW 70150 )

Immigrants and Refugees: Policies and Issues (SSW 70219 )

Literary Translation (Independent study)

Research and Methods (Independent Study)

Translating New York: Émigré Literature in Translation (Independent study)

Translation and Interpreting Internship (by department permission)

4. Language-Specific Courses: Special Topics in Language (15 credits)

The Special Topics in Language (STL) courses vary by language track. The language track is indicated in the course number (TRNC for Chinese; TRNR for Russian; TRNS for Spanish).

Chinese: Special Topics in Language

TRNC 75100 - Market Strategies & Critical Perspectives for Chinese-English Translators
TRNC 75200 - Chinese to English Professional Translators Workshop
TRNC 75400 - Chinese-English Editing and Revising in Translation
TRNC 75600 - Translation in Commercial Affairs (CHINESE-ENGLISH)
TRNC 76100 - Chinese-English Fundamentals of Sight Translation & Consecutive Interpreting
Additionally, students without an educational background in translation or scoring below the required proficiency level for admission will be required to take one of the following: