Interpretation & Translation, Human Services Interpretation/Translation Concentration, AS

The Interpretation & Translation program prepares functionally bilingual students for entry-level employment in the rapidly expanding language Interpretation & Translation field or for transfer to a four-year degree program in translation/interpretation studies, world languages or applied linguistics. At the completion of the program, students will be able to provide basic interpreting and translation service between English and their other language(s) in general contexts, as well as in at least one specialty area: business, education, healthcare, human services or judicial. The program is designed for students who wish to add Interpretation & Translation skills to their current set of job skills, as well as those students who wish to prepare themselves for the certification exams and further academic studies that are necessary to become professional interpreters and translators.

Students in the program complete general education core requirements, required general courses in interpretation/translation and one of the following concentrations in interpretation/translation: business, education, healthcare, human services or judicial. All students complete an internship under the supervision of a professional interpreter/ translator, during which they use the skills and apply the knowledge gained in the classroom. Interested applicants who hold a prior college degree may seek one of the following Certificates of Specialization: Interpretation & Translation- Business, Interpretation & Translation-Education, Interpretation & Translation-Healthcare, Interpretation & Translation-Human Services or Interpretation & Translation-Judiciary. Students who have finished either the Interpretation & Translation AS degree or one of the Interpretation & Translation certificates can enroll in a second or subsequent Interpretation & Translation certificate program.

A program chairperson and a program counselor are available to assist students with educational and career planning. All of the Interpretation & Translation courses are offered online.

Graduates of the Interpretation & Translation program may find employment in the courts, law enforcement agencies, healthcare institutions, social services agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses. The program also prepares students for certification exams or for further studies in the field.

For more information about the Interpretation & Translation program, please visit our website at www.dmacc.edu/programs/itr.

Location: Urban

Selected courses in this program may be offered at other campuses or through distance learning.

Program Entry Requirements

1. Complete an application for admission.
2. Satisfy the assessment requirement.
3. Complete the ITR online program information orientation including the survey.
4. Provide evidence of proficiency in English with one of the following:
   1. ACT score on the English subtest of 19 or above
   2. A minimum COMPASS writing score of 70
   3. Completion of ENG 105 with a grade of “C” or better
   4. TOEFL score of 173 on the computer test or 500 on the paper test
   5. Completion of two years of college study with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (or equivalent) at an institution where English is the medium of instruction
   6. Other evidence demonstrating English proficiency may be approved by the program chairperson
5. Show proficiency in a second language with one of the following:
   1. Evidence of completion of high school in a country where the language is spoken
   2. Two years of college study with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (or equivalent) at an institution in a country where the language is spoken
   3. Completion of a college minor in the second language with a minimum grade of “C” for all courses taken in the second language
   4. Proficiency may be demonstrated with other evidence, but must be approved by the program chairperson
6. Students will need computer skills to be successful in the program. If students do not have these skills, completion of CSC 110  or BCA 212  is strongly recommended.

Students in the Business ITR, Human services ITR and Judiciary ITR programs start in the Fall semester of ODD-NUMBERED years; students in the education ITR and Healthcare ITR programs start in the Fall semester of EVEN-NUMBERED years. Close contact with an academic advisor is strongly recommended for planning, because many courses are only offered once every two years.

Graduation Requirements

To earn an Interpretation & Translation AS degree, a student must complete the standard core requirements for the degree, plus the Interpretation & Translation required courses and options, maintain a 2.0 grade point average and receive a grade of “C” or above in all ITR coursework.