Translation Studies, PhD

Location(s): Main Campus

The doctoral program is primarily designed to prepare its graduates for careers in both the academic field and scholarly research, including research-informed translation. It offers individualized interdisciplinary tracks to accommodate a variety of backgrounds. The doctoral program offers the following features:

Inclusive curriculum comprising, but not limited to, history and traditions of translation studies, literary studies, cultural and postcolonial studies and philosophy;
Individualized interdisciplinary tracks, with the option to take courses in other academic departments; and
Learner-centered atmosphere through discussion seminars and independent studies, to make learning an enriching exchange among students and faculty.

Admission Requirements

Students pursuing the PhD in translation studies 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 should demonstrate the following background, as attested by transcripts, standard exam scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement and a writing sample.

Near-native fluency in English, as well as (and especially) the ability to write academic texts in English, as demonstrated by high GREs (310+) (GMAT or LSAT will be accepted in place of the GRE), and high TOEFL scores (100+);
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;
A master’s degree in a relevant area; applicants with no graduate course work in languages should also be prepared for a diagnostic examination during the application process.
Background in translation studies; applicants who do not have a documented background in translation studies, or who do not have any formal certification in translation, may be provisionally admitted; full admission will be granted after passing the certificate examination.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the PhD in Translation Studies must complete 36 credits of graduate coursework (48 credits for those entering the program without a previous master’s degree in a related field), which includes:

A. Translation Practice (8 credits total):

B. Translation Theory (8 credits total):

C. Allied and Disciplinary Electives (20 credits total):

Depending on their interests, students will be able to choose electives from a variety of courses in other academic departments

D. Dissertation Courses (2+ credits total):

Note:

* Students who present workshop credits from Binghamton University or elsewhere may petition to have the required workshop courses waived. However, if a waiver is granted, these credits must still be fulfilled with other relevant classes.

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

The comprehensive examination consists of four parts, detailed below: a dissertation prospectus, two written take-home exams and an oral examination. Students need to form an exam committee consisting of an academic advisor (who will usually serve as their dissertation director - the chair of the committee - and who supervises the dissertation prospectus) and two additional faculty members from Binghamton University, whose work is relevant to their project, each of whom will be responsible for one of the written take-home exams.

Dissertation Prospectus. This is a longer paper (approximately 30-50 pages) devoted to a theoretical issue or sub-area explicitly related to translation studies, which will help students establish the direction of their dissertations. It should involve substantial scholarship and show that students are familiar with the current bibliography on the topic selected and are able to articulate their arguments in an academically acceptable format. The paper serves as a dissertation proposal in that it defines the areas that the student will be focusing on for their research.
Main Area of Concentration. Students are required to define an area and build a reading list with one of their committee members that reflects students’ main interests in the field. Suitable topics might be, for example, translation pedagogy, political aspects of translation theory, translation and ethics, linguistic approaches to translation, translation criticism or a focus on the literary works of a particular period/language. (This is a 72-hour take-home examination scheduled by the student.)
Minor Field. This section of the exam focuses on a field that either complements or expands the student’s main area of concentration. Thus, if a student’s main area of concentration is, for example, translation pedagogy, the minor field might be contemporary approaches to education or the training of translators in medieval Spain. Students will build a reading list for this field with one of their committee members that reflects the student’s main interests in the field. (This is a 72-hour take-home examination scheduled by the student.)
Oral Examination. This final component of the comprehensive exam involves all committee examiners and requires the student to explain choices made in each written exam, including the prospectus.

In order to pass their PhD comprehensive examination, students must achieve a grade of B+ or better on each part. At the discretion of the examiners and in consultation with the graduate advisor, a student who has failed to achieve this standard may retake the part (or those parts) in which the grade was below B+ once. All exam procedures and evaluations follow the Graduate School Manual.

Dissertation Requirement

The dissertation is an original research project, which may consist of a case study, an annotated translation, a speculative essay, a literature survey or some other form approved by the student’s committee, presented and defended in a public form. The dissertation should be at least 200 pages, not including bibliography and appendices. If students choose to include a translation as a part of dissertation, their theory-guided analysis of the translation must comprise at least one-quarter, or 50 pages, of the total dissertation.

Additional Information About the Program

Residency Requirement: Students are expected to be in residence during their formal coursework, which will usually take two academic years. It is also advisable that they stay in residence during the subsequent requirements described below.

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