A four-year program that develops advanced bilingual/multilingual communication, intercultural analysis, and professional practice across written translation, oral interpreting, and the comparative study of world literatures. The curriculum is benchmarked to recognized international frameworks for languages and for translator/interpreter competences.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Graduates will be able to:
Analyse and produce accurate, purpose-fit translations across genres, demonstrating mastery of text analysis, terminology management, and revision.
Perform consecutive and simultaneous interpreting ethically and effectively, applying note-taking, memory, and delivery strategies in professional settings.
Use industry technologies (CAT tools, terminology databases, QA checkers) and apply post-editing practices where appropriate to standards.
Compare literary traditions across languages, periods, and media; situate texts in historical and global contexts; and craft research-driven literary arguments.
Communicate at advanced levels (CEFR) in English and at least one additional working language, demonstrating intercultural competence and professional ethics.
Apply relevant professional standards and quality frameworks (e.g., ISO 17100 for translation; ISO 23155 for conference interpreting).
Pathways Available
Translation Track (literary, technical, legal, audiovisual/localization) aligned with ISO 17100 processes and competencies.
Interpreting Track (community, healthcare, court, conference) aligned with ISO 23155 and ISO 21998 (healthcare).
Comparative Literature Track (world literature, theory, transnational studies) grounded in the discipline’s scope as defined by ACLA/QAA.
Combined Options: minor in a second/third language; elective focus in localization & post-editing (ISO 18587).
Program Goals
Deliver practice-based training informed by international subject benchmarks in languages and literatures and by translator/interpreter competence frameworks.
Equip graduates to meet professional standards and to pursue external certifications where relevant (e.g., ATA for translators; court/conference interpreting pathways).
Develop culturally responsive scholars who can compare, interpret, and mediate texts and discourses across languages and societies.
Possible Career Options
Translator (literary, technical, legal, medical, localization), Interpreter (community/medical/court/conference), Subtitler/Audio-describer, Localization/Language-QA specialist, Terminologist, Editorial roles, Communications/NGO roles, Graduate study (MA/PhD). The U.S. Occupational Outlook Handbook details roles and employment trends for interpreters and translators.
Curriculum & Structure (4 years / 8 semesters)
Year 1
Academic Writing for Multilinguals; Introduction to Translation; Introduction to Interpreting; World Literatures I; Language B Enhancement I; Digital Literacy for Language Professionals.
LO focus: foundational text analysis; basic transfer strategies; oral delivery basics; close reading; CEFR-aligned language development.
Year 2
Comparative Literary Theory; Contrastive Linguistics; Terminology & Corpus Methods; Consecutive Interpreting I; Specialized Translation I (general/technical); Language B Enhancement II.
LO focus: theoretical frameworks; glossary building; note-taking; domain research; revision practices to ISO 17100.
Year 3 (choose your track + shared electives)
Translation Track: Specialized Translation II (legal/medical); Audiovisual Translation & Subtitling; CAT Tools & QA; Editing & Revision Workshop; Post-editing of MT.
Interpreting Track: Consecutive II; Simultaneous I; Ethics & Standards (ISO 23155/21998); Community & Healthcare Interpreting Lab; Court Interpreting Intro.
Comparative Literature Track: World Literatures II; Comparative Approaches (genre, theme, movement); Literature & Translation; Research Methods in the Humanities.
LO focus (all): independent project design; professional tools and standards; advanced domain competence.
Year 4
Capstone: Translation Portfolio or Interpreting Practicum or Comparative Literature Thesis; Professional Ethics & Entrepreneurship; Internship (publishing/LSP/NGO/courts/arts).
LO focus: deliverables to professional/academic standards (ISO 17100, ISO 23155; QAA LCS outcomes), reflective practice, and career readiness.
Design reference points: QAA Languages, Cultures & Societies benchmark; EMT competence framework (translation); ISO 17100 (translation), ISO 23155 (conference interpreting), ISO 21998 (healthcare interpreting), ISO 18587 (MT post-editing).
Assessment Methods
Translation projects and annotated portfolios; interpreting labs with recorded performance and rubrics; terminology dossiers; research essays and oral defenses; reflective journals; internships/field evaluations. These methods align with international subject benchmarks (QAA LCS), competence frameworks (EMT), and professional process/quality standards (ISO 17100/23155/21998/18587).
Entry Requirements
Academic: High-school diploma (or recognized equivalent) with strong preparation in languages and literature.
Language Proficiency:
English: normally CEFR C1 (or higher).
Working Language B: CEFR B2–C1 depending on track (higher for interpreting). The CEFR defines A1–C2 proficiency levels used internationally.
We accept widely recognized tests. As guidance only (publishers’ mappings): IELTS bands commonly associated with B2≈5.5–6.5 / C1≈7.0–8.0; TOEFL iBT CEFR mappings available from ETS. Institutions often set B2 minimum for moderate language demands and C1 for high-demand programs. (Final cut-scores are set by the university.)
Recognitions, Certifications & Awards to Target
Professional standards / certifications (institution & graduates):
ISO 17100:2015 (translation services — processes/resources/quality).
ISO 23155:2022 (conference interpreting — requirements & recommendations).
ISO 21998:2020 (healthcare interpreting).
ISO 18587:2017 (post-editing of machine-translation output).
ATA Certification (U.S.) for translators; the exam is a rigorous, proctored assessment recognized across the industry.
Court/Conference interpreting pathways (e.g., U.S. Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination info).
External student & graduate awards/competitions (examples):
ALTA National Translation Awards (NTA) (poetry & prose).
PEN America Translation Prizes (prose; poetry).
MLA Aldo & Jeanne Scaglione Prizes (literary work; scholarly study translation).
UN St. Jerome Translation Contest (student & professional categories).
ITI (UK) Awards recognizing excellence in translation/interpreting.
(Optional in-house honors we can create): AACTD Excellence in Translation Medal, AACTD Outstanding Interpreter Award, AACTD Comparative Literature Research Prize (internal university awards to showcase capstones and theses).
Why Our Approach Is Credible
Our learning outcomes, curriculum shape, assessment methods, and quality goals are explicitly aligned with:
CEFR (language proficiency descriptors),
QAA subject benchmarks for Languages/Cultures/Societies and English,
EMT competence framework for translator training, and
ISO standards governing translation and interpreting services.
These are widely used reference points for program design and professional readiness.
