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 professional and theoretical competence in Spanish-English and English-Spanish translation, interpreting and translation technologies. This program will prepare students for a successful career in the language service industry in fields such as health, legal services, business, language technologies, localization or audiovisual translation.
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 16-18 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 326, and 401 which require a B+ or better. All courses count towards the major and minor for undergraduate students. Grades below a B will not be accepted in any course).
To receive a certificate in Spanish<>English Translation and Interpreting students need to complete 16-18 credits and also fulfill the same grade-point average and minimum grade requirements explained above. Students need to take two or more courses on interpreting including: 01:940:475 - Community and Simultaneous Interpreting (3 credits), 01:940:477 - Court Interpreting (3 credits), 01:940:471 - Internship in Translation/Interpreting (1-3 credits), and 01:940:487: Community and Hospital Interpreting (1.5 credits).
For full-time students, the certificate can be completed in one year. 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 or Prof. Ramírez Polo 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 - College Writing I or 01:355:103 Exposition and Argument
- 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: 940:326 - Introduction to Translation Studies (3 credits) (only for Rutgers undergraduate students. Non-matriculated students are exempt)
- 01:940:401 - Advanced Translation I (3 credits) (Required for all)
- 01:940:471 - Internship in Translation/Interpreting (1-3 credits)* (NOTE: This requirement can also be met by registering for 940:493 or 940:494 - Independent Study*
Elective Courses
Elective courses in Translation
- 01:940:402 - Translation of Specialized Texts (3 credits)** (NOTE: 402 or 475 must be taken prior to or with the required internship)
- 01:940:479 - Translation, Media and Technology (3 credits) (NOTE: With permission from the department, 402 may be taken as a co-requisite.)
- 01:940:478 - Theory & Practice of Translation (3 credits)
(NOTE: With permission of the department, 402 can 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.) - 01:940:476 – Legal Translation (1.5 credits)**
(NOTE: With permission from the department, 401 may be taken as a co-requisite.)
Elective courses in Interpreting
- 01:940:475 - Community and Simultaneous Interpreting (3 credits)
(NOTE: With permission from the department, 402 may be taken as a co-requisite.) - 01:940:477 - Court Interpreting (3 credits)**
- 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.)
Elective courses in Translation Technology
- 01:617:431 - CAT Tools (Computer Assisted Translation) (1.5 credits)
Elective courses in Linguistics or Culture
Any 300 or 400 level Spanish course with the approval of the Director or Coordinator of the program. Maximum of 3 credits or 1 course (These courses do not count for non-matriculated students seeking the certificate).
Some recommended courses are:
- 01:940:363 - Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World (3 credits)
- 01:940:419 - Dialectology of the Spanish-Speaking World (3 credits)
- 01:940:367 - Sociolinguistics in the Spanish Speaking World (3 credits)
- 01:940:368 - The Bilingual Mind (3 credits)
- 01: 940:362 - Spanish Phonetics and Phonology (3 credits) (For interpreting)
* 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 required or elective courses [parallel graduate courses may be counted in lieu of elective courses (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 credit.