Graduate Certificate in Translation – College of Humanities & Social Sciences

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Graduate Certificate in Translation (CTr) is a one-year program offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Translation is one of the most sought-after skills today. If you have a passion for languages, want to keep up with the latest developments in the field, and wish to work with some of the best scholars and translators in the region, this program is for you.

The Certificate complements numerous degrees in the liberal arts. It is equally suited for new translators who need grounding in translation studies, as well as seasoned translators who seek to expand and improve upon their abilities.

The program is open to anyone interested, including upperclass undergraduates and graduate students enrolled at AUA, as well as new applicants, who wish to prepare for a rewarding career as a translator or cross-cultural communications specialist. Upon successful completion of the coursework (4 courses at 3 credits each), students receive a Graduate Certificate in Translation (English/Armenian).

For information on how to apply, please visit the Admissions website, or see our flyer.

PROGRAM GOALS

Goal 1. To promote critical and creative reflection on translation and/or interpreting processes.

1.1. Students will be able to follow critical discussions in translation and/or interpreting studies;
1.2. Students will be able to develop a language (vocabulary) and discourse (manner) for analyzing translations; they will be able to contextualize and evaluate translations in a constructive manner.

Goal 2. To provide students with a historical and theoretical framework for the translation and/or interpreting enterprise.

2.1. Students will be able to demonstrate an informed understanding of the history of translation and/or interpreting as fields of practice and academic disciplines;
2.2. Students will be able to apply modern theories in their translation and/or interpreting activities.

Goal 3. To introduce students to a range of academic, creative, and career opportunities related to translation and/or interpreting.

3.1. Students will be able to translate and edit a variety of texts from English to Armenian and from Armenian to English;
3.2. Students will be able to interpret for a variety of audiences from English to Armenian and from Armenian to English.

Goal 4. To advance the pursuit of excellence in translation and/or interpreting activities.

4.1. Students will be able to excel in their chosen field of translation and/or interpreting and broaden their scope.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Fall Semester: CHSS 380: Introduction to Translation Studies and CHSS 381: History and Theories of Translation (6 credits)

Spring Semester: CHSS 382: Practicum in Translation and CHSS 383: Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpreting (6 credits)

!Courses are scheduled during evening hours.

COURSES

CHSS 380: Introduction to Translation Studies (3 credits)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to critical discussions in translation studies and to help them develop a language (vocabulary) and discourse (manner) for analyzing translations as well as contextualize and evaluate translations in a constructive manner. Students are encouraged to view translation as a process, involving planning, drafting, and revision for clarity and precision. They are required to complete short readings and weekly writing assignments, which may include but are not limited to response papers, vocabulary journals, and translations from a range of texts from across the disciplines.

CHSS 381: History and Theories of Translation (3 credits)

This course aims to investigate the history of translation and the theories that have accompanied the changing roles of translation in the societies where they have been put into practice. Translation is viewed here as a factor that has contributed to shifts in intellectual, literary, and cultural trends. The course also examines the main theoretical concepts currently discussed in translation studies, and demonstrates how they influence translation in practice. By taking a comparative and cultural studies approach, rather than a purely linguistic approach, this course explores the impact of translation as a force for change and traces the ways in which texts are received by readers in different cultural contexts.

CHSS 382: Practicum in Translation (3 credits)

The practicum component aims to consolidate the theory and practice of translation covered in the previous courses. The course helps student translators develop and expand their own translating and editing techniques, and to facilitate the integration of their skills and knowledge through large-scale practice. It enables students to translate a wide variety of genres in professional areas (literary, medicine, law, business, etc.) so that they can make informed choices about their own professional future. Students are guided through their apprenticeship in stages—observation, controlled practice of translation techniques, and increasingly difficult and lengthy texts. Throughout the practicum, students receive constructive feedback and assistance and evaluate peer performance.

CHSS 383: Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpreting (3 credits)

Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpreting is a course grounded in theory and practice and specifically set up to train professional interpreters. The course offers students an opportunity to get acquainted with the theoretical and professional frameworks of consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. Students learn to interpret in various professional areas such as literature, medicine, law, business, etc. Worksite learning is a key component of the course during which students perform live interpreting tasks under supervision and shadow professional interpreters at work.