Translation and Interpretation Major: Spanish-English

The closely related fields of translation and interpreting are becoming increasingly important in today’s society. With the growing importance of Spanish, the need for qualified interpreters and translators continues to rise. The translation and interpreting program at Northwestern College has been developed to equip the student with the necessary knowledge, tools and abilities to become a competent medical and legal interpreter and translator.

Successful professional interpreters and translators have a wide range of knowledge in many subject areas. As such, a liberal arts education is key to future success in the field, and interpreting and translation students are encouraged to take additional courses in different subject areas. Furthermore, the nine specific courses in translation and interpretation are designed to give the necessary theoretical platform for successful translation and interpreting. As students advance through the program, they will learn to apply the theoretical principles as well as the knowledge acquired in other Liberal Arts courses in order to achieve superior translation and interpreting outcomes.

The translation and interpreting major is intended for incoming bilingual students (those students who are seeking to improve their knowledge of Spanish should enroll in the Spanish major) and requires a minimum of four semesters to complete. During one year the program focuses on legal interpreting, and during the other year the focus will be on medical interpreting. The overall goal of the program is to prepare students to successfully complete a medical and/or legal certification exam.

Not only is it one of a handful of programs at the baccalaureate level in the United States, the Northwestern program has also invested in the necessary training resources for its students. For the residential students participating in the program, the college has a dedicated interpreting laboratory with 13 professional interpreting booths, an interpreting booth as part of the college’s main venue for many public events, as well as portable equipment.

Student Learning Goals:

Upon successfully attaining a B.A. in Translation and Interpretation, as student will:

1. Students will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to pass the written legal certification exam.
2. Students will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to pass the verbal legal certification exam.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to pass the written medical certification exam.
4. Students will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to pass the verbal medical certification exam.
5. Students will be able to articulate how their faith and beliefs impact everything they do, including translation and interpreting.