Requirements
Admissions Procedures
Applicants for the M.A. in Interpretation must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information and a checklist of application requirements. Detailed program information and course descriptions are also available under the 'Overview' and 'Courses' tabs.
| DEADLINE | DATE |
|---|
| First Date for Consideration of Application: |
January 15th |
| Last Date for Completed Application: |
March 15th or until all possible slots are filled. Students are accepted on a rolling basis. |
Program Specific Requirements
- Official transcript of all college work
- TOEFL score (international applicants)
- Three letters of reference - one letter should be from a consumer citing competence in interpreting
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Valid certification from RID (CSC, NIC, CI/CT, CDI), NAD (III, IV, or V), AVLIC (COI), or documented equivalent for international applicants
- ASLPI result of 4 or higher for ASL users
- ASLPI result of 3 or higher for international students who are non-ASL users
- Portfolio of unrehearsed interpreting samples in applicants' working languages
- One additional goals statement relating to ethics and professional practice
Graduation Requirements
Qualifying Paper
During the final year of coursework, all students must successfully complete a research-based paper. This paper will represent a substantial data-based research project related to interpretation. The research should address an important problem of manageable scope in the chosen field of study, and should make a significant contribution to the profession's theory or practice. The literature review for this research will be submitted separately for evaluation as a qualifying paper.
Typical Program of Study (Two Years)
Semester I (Fall)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 701
History of Interpreting 3
INT 707
Structure of Language for Interpreters: American Sign Language and English 3
INT 720
Discourse Analysis for Interpreters 3
INT 726
Fundamentals of Interpreting 3
Semester II (Spring)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 750
Research Methods in Interpretation 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Semester III (Fall)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 777
Guided Research Project I 3
Elective 3
Candidacy paper
Semester IV (Spring)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 778
Guided Research Project II 3
Typical Program of Study (One Year - Full-time Only)
Semester I (Summer conducted ONLINE)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 701
History of Interpreting 3
INT 707
Structure of Language for Interpreters: American Sign Language and English 3
INT 750
Research Methods in Interpretation 3
Semester II (Fall)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 720
Discourse Analysis for Interpreters 3
INT 726
Fundamentals of Interpreting 3
INT 777
Guided Research Project I 3
Elective 3
Candidacy paper
Semester III (Spring)
CODETITLECREDITS
INT 778
Guided Research Project II 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Courses
INT 701 - History of Interpreting (3)
This course focuses on the historical progression of the emerging professional and academic field of interpreting. Beginning with early perceptions of interpreters in both signed and spoken languages, the course includes topics such as the impact of translation research and practice on interpretation, issues of equivalency and accuracy, definitions, approaches to research, professional organizations, working conditions, international perspectives, and working with oppressed groups of people.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.A. in Interpretation program or permission of the instructor.
INT 707 - Structure of Language for Interpreters: American Sign Language and English (3)
This course is an introduction to the linguistic structures of ASL and English for interpreters. Topics include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics, as well as depiction, bilingualism, language acquisition, and language variation. Students will identify and analyze linguistic features in their own and other peoples' linguistic use, and apply this information and skill to translating and interpreting work.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.A. in Interpretation program or permission of the instructor.
INT 720 - Discourse Analysis for Interpreters (3)
This course is a broad introduction to the study of language and communication by focusing on discourse analysis. During the course students will analyze language use in spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL) so that features of language use rise to the level of explicit awareness. Students collect, transcribe, and analyze various speech activities while reading and discussing theoretical notions underlying language use. Elements to be analyzed and discussed include but are not limited to: structure, cohesion, coherence, involvement and prosody.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.A. in Interpretation program or permission of the instructor.
INT 726 - Fundamentals of Interpreting (3)
This course focuses on the foundation skills required for effective translation and interpretation. The course includes critical analysis and application 1) for systematically analyzing interactions and texts in order to ascertain how meaning is co-constructed and where meaning lies, and 2) of understanding and developing the cognitive skills for translating and interpreting. Students will be introduced to and practice intralingual translation and interpretation, text analysis techniques through main point abstraction, summarization, paraphrasing and restructuring a message while retaining its meaning. Students will address theoretical constructs of translation and interpretation, as well as application of strategies and techniques required for effective interpretation. This class focuses on interactive settings with both face-to-face and monologic discourse for Deaf, Deaf/Blind, and non-deaf interpreters.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.A. in Interpretation program or permission of the instructor.
INT 750 - Research Methods in Interpretation (3)
The course surveys both quantitative and qualitative research methods that have been successfully applied to the analysis of interpretation. Building from previous coursework, the course emphasizes the development of research design and implementation skills through a variety of activities including the critical analysis of research articles and the preparation of a guided research project examining some aspects of interpretation, conduct a literature review, gather data, perform analyses of the data, prepare a formal written report, and present findings in ASL. Either replication studies or original work may be accepted and students will be required to include abstracts, follow style guidelines, and to prepare their final paper as they would a submission to a refereed journal.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the M.A. in Interpretation program or permission of the instructor.
INT 777 - Guided Research Project I (3)
This course is the first course of the two courses, which will provide students with experience in gathering and analyzing interpretation data. In this course, students will select their methodology, conduct a literature review, gather data, and perform analyses of the data. Either replication studies or original work may be accepted and students will be required to include abstracts, follow style guidelines in preparation of their work for submitting it to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.
Prerequisites: INT 750, conceptual component qualifying exam pass
INT 778 - Guided Research Project II (3)
This course is sequential to INT 777 Guided Research Project I. In this course, students will continue their work from INT 777 Guided Research Project I by completing their analyses of the data, preparing a final written report, and presenting their findings in ASL. Students will be required to include an abstract, follow style guidelines, and prepare their final paper for publication to submit to a peer-reviewed journal.
Prerequisites: INT 777
