Translation - M.A.
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies
109 Satterfield Hall
Kent Campus
330-672-2150
mcls@kent.edu
www.kent.edu/mcls
Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies
109 Satterfield Hall
Kent Campus
330-672-2150
mcls@kent.edu
www.kent.edu/mcls
Description
The Master of Arts degree in Translation prepares students for careers in translation, language project management, international business and government.
The Translation major comprises the following concentrations:
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Russian
- Spanish
Fully Offered At:
- Online
- Kent Campus
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for unconditional admission
- Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale for unconditional admission
- Official transcript(s)
- Goal statement
- A CD or MP3/wav file with a five-minute oral sample in the applicant's first and second languages (conversational, not read from a script)
- Writing sample(s) in applicant's second language,1 which should be accompanied by a signed declaration that the sample is original work and that the applicant received no help in its preparation
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score
For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
| 1 | International applicants should also submit a writing sample in English. |
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Critically examine translations based on objective and subjective criteria.
- Translate text types of moderate difficulty in various domains from the source language into English.
- Copy/edit their own work and that of others.
- Articulate and defend translation choices based on a basic understanding of translation studies.
- Identify distinguishing features of different text types that are meaningful for the translation act.
- Research the subject matter of a text in appropriate resources.
- Perform tasks at Intermediate High and Advanced Low levels of proficiency using the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Proficiency in ACTFL terms is understood to describe a range of qualities rather than an absolute norm and will vary according to task type, language function, topic and skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing).
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to vary the register (formality level) of their speech.
- Read somewhat longer and more complex prose that have been written for native speakers and not edited or adapted for students. They will be able to read a wide variety of text types such as poems, plays, novels, magazine articles, newspaper articles, brochures, pamphlets, menus and letters. Some texts they will understand completely; for others, they will be able to grasp the main idea and some or most details.
- Compose routine social correspondence, take notes, write cohesive summaries and resumes, as well as narratives and descriptions in the target language.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| TRST 60001 | GRADUATE RESEARCH AND WRITING IN TRANSLATION STUDIES | 3 |
| TRST 60009 | DOCUMENTS IN MULTILINGUAL CONTEXTS | 2 |
| TRST 60010 | THEORY OF TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING | 2 |
| TRST 60011 | TERMINOLOGY AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| TRST 60012 | SOFTWARE LOCALIZATION | 3 |
| Major Electives 1 | 9 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 14 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 36 | |
| 1 | Students may choose any graduate-level translation-related course in the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies or other departments as appropriate and with prior approval from the graduate coordinator or from an advisor. |
Arabic Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| ARAB 67010 | PRACTICE OF ARABIC TRANSLATION | 2 |
| ARAB 67240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| ARAB 67250 | COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | 3 |
| ARAB 67251 | SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| ARAB 67979 | TRANSLATION CASE STUDY | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 14 | |
French Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| FR 63010 | THE PRACTICE OF FRENCH TRANSLATION | 2 |
| FR 63240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| FR 63250 | COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | 3 |
| FR 63251 | SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| FR 63979 | CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 14 | |
German Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| GER 61010 | THE PRACTICE OF GERMAN TRANSLATION | 2 |
| GER 61240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| GER 61250 | COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | 3 |
| GER 61251 | SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| GER 61979 | CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 14 | |
Japanese Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| JAPN 65010 | THE PRACTICE OF JAPANESE TRANSLATION | 2 |
| JAPN 65240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| JAPN 65250 | COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | 3 |
| JAPN 65251 | SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| JAPN 65979 | CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 14 | |
Russian Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| RUSS 62010 | THE PRACTICE OF RUSSIAN TRANSLATION | 2 |
| RUSS 62240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| RUSS 62250 | COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | 3 |
| RUSS 62251 | SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| RUSS 62979 | CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 14 | |
Spanish Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| SPAN 68010 | THE PRACTICE OF SPANISH TRANSLATION | 2 |
| SPAN 68240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| SPAN 68250 | COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | 3 |
| SPAN 68251 | SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | 3 |
| SPAN 68979 | CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 14 | |
Dual Degree with M.B.A. degree in Business Administration
Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.A. degree in Translation and the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.
The Dual Degree with a M.B.A. degree in Business Administration and the M.A. degree in Translation is for students with a sufficient level of proficiency in a foreign language who wish to integrate a graduate business education with advanced translation training. This program is suitable for those whose career goals include assuming middle or executive management positions in international business or language industry enterprises or those interested in starting their own business in the language services industry.
Dual Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| ACCT 63037 | FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 2 |
| ACCT 63038 | MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 2 |
| ECON 62021 | GLOBAL CONDITIONS AND MACROECONOMICS POLICY | 2 |
| ECON 62022 | MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS | 2 |
| FIN 66050 | LAW AND ETHICS | 2 |
| FIN 66060 | MANAGERIAL FINANCE | 2 |
| MIS 64005 | ANALYTICS FOR DECISION MAKING | 2 |
| MIS 64041 | OPERATIONS, SERVICE AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| MIS 64158 | LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL ASSESSMENT | 2 |
| MIS 64185 | BUSINESS STRATEGY 1 | 3 |
| MIS 68051 | BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I | 1 |
| MKTG 65051 | MARKETING MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| TRST 60001 | GRADUATE RESEARCH AND WRITING IN TRANSLATION STUDIES | 3 |
| TRST 60010 | THEORY OF TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING | 2 |
| TRST 60011 | TERMINOLOGY AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN TRANSLATION | 3 |
| TRST 60012 | SOFTWARE LOCALIZATION | 3 |
| Second Language, Culture or other approved courses (3 credit hours if a culture or appropriate language course is used for International Elective below) | 3-6 | |
| International Electives | ||
| Translation, choose from the folllowing: | 2 | |
| THE PRACTICE OF FRENCH TRANSLATION | ||
| THE PRACTICE OF GERMAN TRANSLATION | ||
| THE PRACTICE OF JAPANESE TRANSLATION | ||
| THE PRACTICE OF RUSSIAN TRANSLATION | ||
| THE PRACTICE OF SPANISH TRANSLATION | ||
| Commercial, Legal and Diplomatic Translation, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | ||
| COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | ||
| COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | ||
| COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | ||
| COMMERCIAL, LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC TRANSLATION | ||
| Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | ||
| SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | ||
| SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | ||
| SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | ||
| SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL TRANSLATION | ||
| Case Study in Translation, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | ||
| CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | ||
| CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | ||
| CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | ||
| CASE STUDY IN TRANSLATION | ||
| Additional Business or Translation Electives, choose from the following: | 12 | |
| GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY | ||
or TRST 60012 | SOFTWARE LOCALIZATION | |
| HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | ||
or TRST 60013 | LANGUAGE PROJECT MANAGEMENT | |
MCLS elective 2 | ||
Business electives | ||
International elective (either unit) | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 61 | |
| 1 | Or approved substitute including study abroad |
| 2 | Minimum 3 credits must be taken from MCLS |
Graduation Requirements
- Students in the M.A. Translation and M.B.A dual degree program must earn a total of 61-64 credit hours. There is a minimum requirement of 31-33 credit hours from the M.B.A. program and 30-33 credit hours from the M.A. in Translation. A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained.
- The M.B.A. program should be initiated before 12 credit hours in the M.A. Translation program have been completed. The M.A. in Translation is awarded upon completion of the requirements of that degree. The M.B.A. is awarded upon completion of the joint M.B.A./M.A. Translation degree program.
- Actual offerings and schedules vary from year to year and MCLS and COBA jointly provide a pre-approved recommended course of study. Students who wish to take a different course of study need to obtain separate approvals from the MCLS and COBA graduate coordinators.