Certificate in Translation and Interpreting

The Value of a Rutgers Certificate in Translation and Interpreting

Our certificate and MA program provides the development of professional translation and interpreting competence and establishes that candidates are qualified at the entry level in the field. This level is required in order to successfully take any of the professional certification exams, such as the ATA translation exam or the NJ Court Interpreting exam. Only 5 to 10% of candidates normally pass these exams, and our program prepares candidates to be ready for professional assessment. It also prepares students to pass preliminary entry exams for any job opening in Translation, Court Interpreting, or Medical Interpreting. The certificate does not guarantee employment in the field; however, many alumni of the certificate and MA program work as translators/interpreters or in closely-related fields. The program offers courses both online and in-person for the convenience of its students with an emphasis on translation and interpretation in Spanish-English and English-Spanish.

Certificate in Spanish-English Translation and Interpreting

Objective

To provide students the opportunity to gain competence in Spanish-English and English-Spanish translation. This program will train students in a skill which can be applied to future employment in connection with such major fields as Business, Health, Journalism, Legal Services or the Language Industries.

The Spanish Translation Certificate Program is offered at the undergraduate level to Rutgers students as well as to members of the community who are granted admission to Rutgers University and meet the entrance requirements to the certificate program. For more information on entrance requirements as a non-Rutgers students, please click here.

Students receive a certificate in Spanish<>English Translation when they have completed 19-21 credits in the applied courses and have received a 3.5 or better grade-point average for the entire sequence of the program (except for courses 401 and 402 which require a B+ or better. Grades below a B will not be accepted in any course).

To receive a certificate in Spanish<>English Translation and Interpreting students need to take these three courses: 01:940:475 - Community and Simultaneous Interpreting (1-3 credits), 01:940:477 - Court Interpreting (3 credits) and 01:940:471 - Internship in Translation/Interpreting (1-3 credits).

Students who are non-matriculated must apply for admission to the program and to Rutgers University prior to taking courses. Please click here for more information about admission for non-matriculated students. 

For matriculated students, you must complete the required prerequisites prior to starting the certificate. Upon completion of the certificate you will need to submit the Certificate Verification form to Prof. Miguel Jimenez to confirm your certificate in the Translation and Interpreting program.  Please click here to download the verification form.

It is important to recognize that the Certificate in Spanish-English Translation and Interpreting does NOT indicate that a student is a certified translator or interpreter. The certificate provides a strong foundation in translation and interpreting which can enhance further specialization in those areas.

Click here for the Certificate in Translation worksheet to track your progress.

 

Prerequisite Courses

  • 355:101 - Expository Writing I
  • 940:325 - Advanced Grammar and Composition
  • 940:326 - Introduction to Translation Studies
  • OR  Special Permission by the department

 

Required Courses

Once admitted to the program, students must take 401: Advanced Translation I during their first year of the certificate program.

  • 01:940:401 - Advanced Translation I (3 credits) 

 

Core Courses

  • 01:940:402 - Translation of Specialized Texts (3 credits)
  • 01:940:471 - Internship in Translation/Interpreting (1-3 credits)*
    (NOTE: 402 or 475 must be taken prior to or with the required internship)
  • 01:940:475 - Community and Simultaneous Interpreting (1-3 credits)
    (NOTE: With permission from the department, 402 may be taken as a co-requisite.)
  • 01:940:478 - Theory & Practice of Translation (3 credits)
    (NOTE: With permission of the department, 402 can be taken as a co-requisite.)
  • 01:617:431 - CAT Tools (Computer Assisted Translation)

 

Specialized Courses

  • 01:940:476 - Legal Translation (1.5 credits)**
  • 01:940:477 - Court Interpreting (3 credits)**
  • 01:940:479 - Translation, Media and Technology (3 credits)
    (NOTE: With permission from the department, 402 may be taken as a co-requisite.)
  • 01:940:486 - Medical/Technical Translation (1.5 credits)**
    (NOTE: With permission from the department, 401 may be taken as a co-requisite.)
  • 01:940:487 - Hospital/Community Interpreting (1.5 credits)**
    (NOTE: With permission from the department, 402, 475 or 486 may be taken as a co-requisite.)

 

Linguistics Courses

(Maximum of 6 credits or 2 courses)

  • 01:940:363 Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World (3 credits)
         OR 01:940:419 Dialectology of the Spanish-Speaking World (3 credits)
  • 01:940:364 Contrastive Analysis- Spanish/English (3 credits)
  • OR other approved linguistic courses

 

* Flexible assignment based on individual student background. Course may be waived for practicing translator/interpreting.
** For professional translators or interpreters and advanced students seeking the certificate, with prior approval these courses may be counted in lieu of linguistics courses or advanced core courses [parallel graduate courses may be counted in lieu of the above (i.e. 502 for 402)].  If course is 1.5 credits, it must be combined with another 1.5 credit course to count as 3 credits.