Certificate in Translation
Please note that requirements may change. Students must complete the requirements in place during the term in which they begin their certificate. For current requirements, course schedules, and course descriptions, please click here here.
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 three language pairs or in general translation:
French to English Translation
Spanish to English Translation
English to Spanish Translation
Certificate
Requirements
Admission
You must pass an admissions test to obtain permission to
enroll in the prerequisite Introduction to Translation in the language pair of
your choice. For admissions test dates and information, see page 156. 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.
Course of Study
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.
Required Course
1. Introduction to Translation
This 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.
Core Courses
1. Commercial Translation I and II
Commercial 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.
2. Legal Translation I and II
Legal 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.
3. Technical Translation
In 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.
4. Medical Translation
The medical industry is expanding at a dramatic rate.
Information is exchanged across international 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.
Electives
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 elective courses are available in every language.
Certificate in Medical Interpreting
Please note that requirements may change. Students must complete the requirements in place during the term in which they begin their certificate. For current requirements, course schedules, and course descriptions, please click here.
This 160-hour curriculum is designed to train entry-level
medical interpreters in Spanish or Chinese to meet the needs of doctors’
offices, hospitals, emergency rooms, and other medical facilities. Recent New
York City legislation requires all city government
offices to provide translation and interpreting services for residents with
limited English proficiency. This course is the only one of its kind in New
York that includes a clinical internship. The
concentration in Chinese only admits new students in the fall semester.
Note: The concentration in Russian is no longer being
offered to new students. Please call (212) 998-7171 for more information.
Upon completion of the program, students have attained the
following:
• Interpreting skills.
• Knowledge of English medical terminology.
• A vocabulary of language-specific medical terms and
expressions.
• Ethics and confidentiality training.
• Skills in professional conduct for various clinical
settings.
• Experience through a clinical internship.
• Preparation to work in any hospital setting.
This certificate is awarded to students who successfully
complete four required courses with an average of a B or better.
Required Courses for
Medical Interpreting: Spanish/English
1. X27.9401 - Introduction
to Medical Interpreting: Spanish/English
2. X27.9420 - Medical
Terminology for Interpreters: Spanish/English
3. X27.9455 - Medical
Consecutive Interpreting: Spanish/English
4. X27.9444 - Clinical
Internship in Medical Interpreting
Required Courses for
Medical Interpreting: Chinese/English
1. X27.9402 - Introduction
to Medical Interpreting: Chinese/English
2. X27.9421 - Medical
Terminology for Interpreters: Chinese/English
3. Medical Consecutive Interpreting:
Chinese/English
4. X27.9444 - Clinical
Internship in Medical Interpreting
