Translation and Interpretation Studies
Spanish/English - English/Spanish

This program is designed to prepare students in two professional fields:
• Translation, the written transfer from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English, and
• Interpretation, the oral transfer from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English
The program is for linguistically-proficient individuals of different backgrounds who are pursuing a B.A. degree
and wish to study the communication of written and spoken meaning across two languages. This program of study is designed to prepare students for careers as translators and interpreters in fields such as publishing, business, law, international affairs, science, mass media, medicine, education, and travel, as well as to provide a solid liberal arts foundation for the Master’s and Ph.D. degrees.

Program Requirements

Major -
• 36 credits of courses in Spanish, consisting of the following components:
• knowledge of linguistic structures and development of writing skills
• lexical and cultural enrichment
• development of translation and interpretation skills
• One or more internships

Minor -
• 12 credits of courses in English, chosen in consultation with the major advisor

Prerequisites
• Completion of English 120 plus 15 credits of course work toward satisfaction of Hunter College’s General Education Requirement, with a grade of B or better in each course
• Spanish 211 or Spanish 270, or the equivalent
• Advanced-level ability in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in both Spanish and English as determined by departmental proficiency examinations or by receiving departmental permission
• Basic computer literacy and skills

Course Descriptions

1. Linguistic Structures and Advanced Writing (9 hr., 9 cr.)

SPAN 311: The Structure of Modern Spanish, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 211 or SPAN 270, or permission of major advisor. Descriptive study of the structure of the Spanish language. Morphosyntactical analysis.

SPAN 312: Advanced Spanish Writing, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 311.Applying morphosyntactical patterns through intensive composition. Exploration of various writing forms.

SPAN 313: Spanish Stylistics, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 312.Practice of Spanish writing through stylistic analysis of
narrative structures and the relationship of text and context.

2. Lexical and Cultural Enrichment (12 hr., 12 cr.)

SPAN 341: Introduction to Hispanic Literature I, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 311. Basic interpretive, research skills and text analysis through study of key works of Spanish and Hispanic American authors.

SPAN 342: Introduction to Hispanic Literature II, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 341; Coreq. SPAN 312. Continuation of SPAN 341 with special emphasis on literary history. Note: Two additional 3 cr. courses in contemporary Spanish or Spanish American culture, narrative or essay above SPAN 342, or approved courses taught in Spanish in the Department of Africana and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies

3. Translation and Interpretation (15 hr., 15 cr.)

SPAN 380: Introduction to Translation and Interpretation Studies, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 311 and 312.
Provides an introduction to basic concepts and techniques of translation and interpretation and develops a systematic approach to resolving language transference problems.

Two courses from SPAN 381, 382, 383 or 384 chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

SPAN 381: Translation from Spanish into English, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 380.

Develops proficiency in translating from Spanish into English. The student will work with a variety of general Spanish texts and develop skills for analyzing and rendering them accurately into English. In addition, s/he will examine the best ways to handle idiomatic expressions, tenses and other complex grammatical structures. S/he will become familiar with the relevant terminology and theoretical issues, as well as learn how to select and evaluate dictionaries and other research materials.

SPAN 382: Consecutive Interpretation Spanish- English/English-Spanish, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 380.
An overview of the principles of consecutive interpretation.

SPAN 383: Translation from English into Spanish, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 380.
Reinforces the basic principles of translation taught in SPAN 380 with more advanced texts, and adds a special emphasis on style and the specific demands of certain categories of texts, as well as theoretical discussion regarding choices in translation.

SPAN 384: Simultaneous Interpretation Spanish-English /English-Spanish, 3 hr., 3 cr.;Prereq. SPAN 380, 382.Designed so that the students may begin working directly on the skills, protocol and practice of simultaneous interpretation, analyze in detail its processes, and review the settings in which it is used.

One or more of the courses under the SPAN 390 heading:

SPAN 390: Translation and Interpretation for the Professions, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq.: varies by course.
This series of courses will focus each semester on a different professional area, such as legal, medical, business, technical-scientific, social, and literary translation.

One or more of the following, chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

SPAN 391: Internship in Translation, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq.
SPAN 381 – 384, 390.
Students who have completed the 390 sequence of courses and have maintained an average of B+ or better are encouraged to take advantage of this internship. It consists of 70 hours of practical work in translation for a financial institution, law firm, translation agency, the United Nations, or other organization. In addition, the student must attend regularly scheduled meetings with the professor supervising the internship in order to discuss issues and problems in the real world of professional translation.

SPAN 392: Internship in Interpretation, 3 hr., 3 cr.; Prereq. SPAN 381 – 384, 390.
Students who have completed the 390 sequence of courses and have maintained an average of B+ or better are encouraged to take advantage of this internship to train them in real-world interpreting skills in the context of court interpreting, parliamentary procedure, diplomatic etiquette, conference organization, etc. This internship consists of 70 hours of practical work in interpretation as well as frequent meetings with the professor supervising the internship in order to discuss issues and problems in the real world of professional interpretation.

Minor in English Language Arts (12 credits)

At least two courses from among the following, chosen in consultation with the major advisor. 6 hr., 6 cr.:
ENGL 201, 218, 301, 308, 309, 331.

At least one course in contemporary U.S. literature written in English, in consultation with the major advisor.

No more than one course may be chosen from a list of approved courses taught outside the department. See the major advisor.

Program Coordinator:
Maria Cornelio
Department of Romance Languages
1342 West Building
68th Street at Lexington Avenue
maria.cornelio@hunter.cuny.edu
Tel. 212-772-5134