Translation, MA

Location(s): Main Campus

Driven by the ever-greater reliance of business, industry, and governments on translation, the demand for professionals with strong translation skills is now higher than ever. Well-trained translators are employed in a wide spectrum of positions, both with translation companies and as direct hires in a wide-variety of industries. Students who complete the MA in Translation are well-prepared to fill this growing need.

The master’s program offers individualized tracks to accommodate a variety of backgrounds. Students develop a solid experience in the practice of translation, from literary genres to real-world applications to deep dives into specialized areas of translation, such as arts, medical, and financial translation. Everyone receives a foundational knowledge in translation studies theories and considers how theory informs their practice.

Our program is built around the workshop model for learning translation. All graduate students take small group workshops each semester in addition to elective coursework in students’ areas of interest, to build professional translation skills and gain the broad knowledge necessary to manage a variety of translation jobs and to specialize in one or more chosen areas.

Along with translation and translation studies, our faculty specialize in areas such as linguistics, literature, race and gender theory, and area studies for languages such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Japanese and Spanish.

Admission Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Translation must follow the standard Graduate School matriculation procedures. Admission decisions are made by the TRIP Director, in consultation with the advisory committee and any other faculty member whose expertise seems appropriate for the applicant.

Graduate applicants submit the following:
Transcripts demonstrating a completed bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 or higher GPA (or its equivalent);
Standard exam scores, if relevant (the GRE is optional);
Two writing samples, one in each language, one of which can be non-academic (minimum of 2 pages each in 12 point font, one-inch margins);
Two letters of recommendation;
Personal statement that declares your languages and discusses your language proficiency, particularly in regard to reading:

Graduate applicants’ materials should demonstrate the following background:

Near-native fluency in English, as well as (and especially) the ability to write academic texts in English, as demonstrated by TOEFL scores (95+). A waiver for the proof of English proficiency requirement is available to applicants who meet one the following eligibility criteria:
- Have received a graduate-level degree from an accredited institution in the United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania, and some Canadian provinces.
- Have completed at least two years of full-time study at an accredited institution in the United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania, and some Canadian provinces.
- Are a current Binghamton University student.
Near-native fluency in a second language;
Optionally, but desirable: a good reading knowledge of a third language, meaning the applicant can read reliably with a dictionary;
Previous immersion in a culture where the second language is spoken;
Background coursework in translation studies is desirable but not required.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Translation must complete 32 credits of graduate coursework, which includes:

Required Core Courses
- Translation Practice
  - TRIP 572: Translation Workshop: Literary - (4 credits)
  - TRIP 573: Translation Workshop: Non-Literary - (4 credits)
  - TRIP 561: Computer-Assisted Translation (4 credits)
- Translation Theory
  - TRIP 560: Intro to Translation Studies - (4 credits)
Workshop and Disciplinary Electives (16 credits)
- These electives include workshops for translator training and translation studies in a variety of topics. Depending on their interests, students may choose electives from related courses in other academic departments.

Internship or Translation Project

For their culminating project, students may choose between an internship or a translation project.

Internship: In consultation with TRIP, students may secure a practical translation internship opportunity during a given semester. The credits earned will depend on the weekly time commitment. The internship is overseen by a faculty member, whose level of guidance will vary depending on their role. Some internships will be overseen by a faculty member in the form of a professional translation project, such as for a law firm or placements at local or regional agencies. TRIP maintains contacts for potential internships; however, students are ultimately responsible for coordinating their internship directly with a given person or agency. The credits will range from one to four, depending on the weekly time commitment for the internship.

Translation Project: Students who complete a Translation Project will work with a faculty member, who will select a literary or non-literary text of approximately 7,000 words. The translation will include translator’s notes and annotations and is an open-book, take-home assignment. The total submission will range from 15-30 pages. The translation project will constitute a four-credit course.

For both the Internship and Translation Project, students take TRIP 595 for one semester.

TRIP Internship and Translation Project hours-to-credit scale:

Credits	Hours
1	50
2	100
3	150
4	200

Additional Information About the Program

Residency Requirement: Students are expected to be in residence for at least twenty-four (24) credits of their formal course work, which will usually take between three semesters and two academic years.

For more information on the Translation MA program, please refer to the TRIP website. To apply to the Translation MA program, please visit the University Admissions website.