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University of Charleston, SC – Interpreting Program

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About the Program

Program Description

A recent census update has reported that 1 of every 7 persons in the United States is Hispanic, a record number of nearly 45.5 million persons. Currently,Hispanics are recognized as the largest minority in the country, comprising approximately 15.1% of the total population. Nearly every state is experiencingthe effects of this increase, especially in legal settings. Federal, state and municipal courts throughout the nation are facing a severe shortage of qualified interpreters. Legal interpreters are also in high demand in all areas of law enforcement, administrative hearings and community service agencies. Additionally, attorneys regularly seek qualified interpreters to assist them incommunicating effectively with Hispanic clients of limited English proficiency. In light of current and future needs for professionally trained interpreters, employment opportunities for individuals with these unique skills will continue to flourish during this and future decades.

Development of this program was made possible by a major grant awarded to the College of Charleston by the State Justice Institute. An advisory board of judges, court administrators and professional interpreters, together with a number of consultants, provided guided input during the initial development of the curriculum.

Commendation of Excellence awarded to the Program for Legal Interpreting: “The program fills a very real void of great importance for people who have difficulty with a legal system that is very new to them, not only in South Carolina, but indeedthroughout the nation.”

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, November 2001

The College of Charleston offers the following Graduate Programs in Bilingual Interpreting:

· Masters Degree in Bilingual Legal Interpreting

· Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Legal Interpreting

· Graduate Certificate in Medical Interpreting

Masters Degree in Bilingual Legal Interpreting

The Masters of Arts in Bilingual Interpreting for English-Spanish continues to be the only graduate program in the United States that offers students the opportunity to receive the education and training of a professional degree-holding interpreter. The program is a comprehensive, sequenced, and integrated series of courses designed to provide the student with the theoretical foundation, performance competencies, and research skills required of a graduate entering this growingprofession. The curriculum consists of 11 courses (36 credits) that can be completed in three academic semesters and one summer session.

Fall 2009

(4) courses

Express 1: INTR 515 – FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERPRETING

Express 1: INTR 502 – PROCESS AND PROCEDURES OF CRIMINAL LAW

Express 2: INTR 601 – FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITTEN AND SIGHT TRANSLATION

Express 2: INTR 602 – PROCESS AND PROCEDURES IN CIVIL LAW

SPRING 2010

(4) courses

Express 1: INTR 606 – LEGAL LANGUAGE

Express 1: INTR 615 – CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING I

Express 2: INTR 511 – SPANISH IN THE U.S.

-or-

Express 2: INTR 510 – LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Express 2: INTR 626 – SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING I

SUMMER I 2010

(2 Courses)

INTR 616 – CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING II

INTR 627 – SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING II

FALL 2010

(1) course

INTR 725 – INTERNSHIP

TOTAL CREDITS: 36

Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Legal Interpreting

The certificate program is comprised of existing courses within the present Masters program that will offer students with diverse backgrounds and experience the opportunity to acquire the foundational skills in legal interpreting in an abbreviated time frame.

FALL 2009

(2) courses

Express 1: INTR 515 – FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERPRETING

Express 2: INTR 601 – FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITTEN ANDSIGHT TRANSLATION

SPRING 2010

(2) courses

Express 1: INTR 615 – CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING I

Express 2: INTR 626 – SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING I

TOTAL CREDITS: 12

Graduate Certificate in Medical Interpreting

(2) courses – 6 credit hours

Express 1: INTR 515 – Fundamentals of Interpreting

Express 2: INTR 601 – Fundamentals of Written and Sight Translation

Spring 2010

(2) courses – 6 credit hours

Express 1: INTR 607 – Language and Culture in Healthcare

Express 2: INTR 615 – Consecutive Interpreting I

TOTAL CREDITS for Medical Interpreting Certificate:12

Costs

Masters Degree in Bilingual Legal Interpreting - $33,004

Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Legal Interpreting - $11,276

Graduate Certificate in Medical Interpreting - $11,276

Editor notes

The interesting proposal of the University of Charleston covers two of the most difficult areas within the interpreting profession, Medical and Legal, as well as the basis of both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. It is an excellent coursefor those aspiring to become interpreters.