Translation and Interpreting at UTEP
The Department of Chicano Studies, Languages, and Linguistics offers a Minor in Translation and Interpreting (Spanish-English only). This minor is designed to complement any academic major and to provide qualified students with the opportunity to acquire skills and experience in translation and interpreting. It may be taken as a minor to satisfy the BA degree requirements of the College of Liberal Arts. Students with this minor will receive instruction in the theory and practice of translation, to include text analysis, effective and systematic utilization of available resource materials, including parallel texts, and working in teams. If students opt to take interpreting classes, they will be introduced to the basic concepts of consecutive and simultaneous interpreting.
The Minor in Translation and Interpreting prepares students to go on to pursue advanced degrees in the fields. The pursuit of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in translation and interpreting has become necessary for future practitioners, researchers, and teachers to be able to compete in a rapidly growing and changing discipline. UTEP provides students with a competitive edge in comparison with other programs of its type in that it offers experience in theory and practice, including research methods, as a basis for future studies.
The Minor in Translation and Interpreting also helps students to enter the workforce after graduation: Successful completion of the minor demonstrates the development of effective bilingual writing skills, and helps students to advance in almost any career in today's globalized world.
Our curriculum includes practice with Wordfast translation tools, courtesy of Wordfast LLC and Yves Champollion.
Courses in Translation and Interpreting
TRAN 3359 Introduction to Translation and Interpreting (3-0)
Introduction to the basic principles of translation and interpreting, with special emphasis on theory and the many facets of practice, including analyzing texts, understanding the modes of interpreting, conducting effective and systematic research, working in teams, and professional ethics. English and Spanish only. Prerequisites: SPAN 2302 or SPAN 2304 or department placement and ENGL 1312 or ESOL 1312. Prerequisites should have been completed within the past five years, and with a recommended minimum grade of "C."
TRAN 4380 Legal Translation (3-0)
Introduction to written genres particular to the field of law, and to the professional context of the legal translator. Exposure to specialized vocabulary, and comparative analysis of legal writing in Spanish and English. Continued focus on basic principles of translation, with special emphasis on theory and the many facets of practice, including analyzing texts, conducting effective and systematic research, and working in teams. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4381 Translation in Business (3-0)
Focus on the translation of genres particular to communication in business, i.e. documents embedded in the context of buying and selling products. Continued focus on basic principles of translation, with special emphasis on theory and the many facets of practice, such as analyzing texts, conducting systematic and effective research, and working in teams. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval
TRAN 4382 Media Translation (3-0)
This course focuses on media translation, including audiovisual, electronic, and print. Continued focus on basic principles of translation, with special emphasis on theory and the many facets of practice, including analyzing texts, conducting effective and systematic research, and working in teams. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4383 Literary Translation (3-0)
An introduction to the theory and practice of translating literature, emphasizing short fiction, the essay, and poetry. Comparative study of the role of essential rehtorical devices in Spanish and English. Students will have the opportunity to analyze reliable models (published translations) as well as to generate their own original versions of various works. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4385 Translation in Healthcare (3-0)
Introduction to written genres particular to the healthcare setting, and to the professional context of the healthcare translator. Provides an overview of the role of language, literacy, and communication in the health and wellness of Latino populations in the United States. Topics include: growth of the Latino population in the U.S., health disparities, health literacy, language-related policies and regulations, language barriers, and the effective translation of healthcare documents. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4386 Intermediate Interpreting (3-0)
This course builds on introduction to interpreting concepts, with half of the course being focused on the consecutive mode of interpretation and the other, simultaneous. Emphasis is placed on SHORT consecutive and simultaneous interpretation typically practiced in the field of community, healthcare, and legal interpreting. Overall, the complexity of the content is intermediate. The class is taught in Spanish and English. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4388 Advanced Interpreting (3-0)
This course builds on the intermediate interpreting concepts, with half of the course being focused on the consecutive mode of interpretation and the other, simultaneous. Emphasis is placed on LONG consecutive and simultaneous interpretation typically practiced in the fields of legal, liasion/business, and conference interpreting. Overall, the complexity of the content is advanced. Prerequisite: TRAN 4386 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4389 Topics in Translation and Interpreting (3-0)
Selected topics in translation and/or interpreting. May be taken twice for credit if the topic varies. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C) or departmental approval.
TRAN 4390 Senior Project in Translation and Interpreting (3-0)
Taken during the last semester of enrollment in the Translation and Interpreting Minor. Students are assigned a translation or interpreting project, in some cases with a service learning component. A final project report is submitted which reflects the practical skills aquired over previous semesters. Note: Students who wish to work on an interpreting project should have completed TRAN 4386 and TRAN 4388. Prerequisite: TRAN 3359 (recommended minimum grade of C), at least two TRAN courses, and departmental approval.
For information about the requirements of the Minor in Translation and Interpreting Studies, please consult the UTEP Catalog.
Contact
For more information, please contact Ms. Valeria Delmar (vbarraza2@utep.edu).
