Program Requirements

Certificate in Interpreting

Total credits required: 18 for one specialization, 24 for two specializations

Required Core Courses: 9 credits
TrIn 3001 Introduction to Translation (3 cr.) – Bilingual class [prereq. approved writing samples for your strongest language (“A” language) and second language (“B” language)]
TrIn 3101 Introduction to Interpreting (3 cr.) – Taught in English
TrIn 3102 Consecutive Interpreting (3 cr.) – Bilingual class [prereq. TrIn 3101]

Health Care Interpreting Specialization Core Courses: 6 credits
TrIn 1201 Fundamentals of Health Care for Interpreters (3 cr.) – Taught in English
TrIn 4201 Interpreting in Health Care Settings (3 cr.) – Bilingual class [prereq. TrIn 3102 and 1201]

AND / OR

Legal Interpreting Specialization Core Courses: 6 credits
TrIn 1301 American Law for Interpreters (3 cr.) – Taught in English
TrIn 4301 Interpreting in Legal Settings (3 cr.) – Bilingual class [prereq. TrIn 3102 and 1301]

Electives for Both Specializations (choose one)
Ling 1701 Language and Society (4 cr.) – Taught in English
Ling 3001/5001 Introduction to Linguistics (4 cr.) – Taught in English
Span 3107  Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Linguistics --Taught in Spanish (3 cr.)
Comm 3411 Small Group Communication (3 cr.)
Comm 3451W Intercultural Communication (3 cr.)

All courses in the certificate must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Core courses must be taken for a letter grade (on the A/F grading basis). Elective courses may be taken on the A/F grading basis or the S/N grading basis. The cumulative gpa for all certificate courses must be a 2.00 or better.

For more information about these courses visit Course descriptions.

For more information on courses at Rochester visit the Rochester Web site.

NOTE:  Core courses, specialization courses, and elective course must be taken for a letter grade.

Planning Your Program of Study

It can take between nearly two and four years to complete the Certificate in Interpreting. This depends on whether you choose to take more than one course per semester when this is possible or, indeed, to take a break between courses. We advise you to take one course per semester to complete the Certificate in six semesters (one and a half years). This is an appropriate workload and allows you time to improve your skills effectively. Please follow the links below to plan your studies. You can choose either the Legal or Health Care specialization (or both). Be careful to choose the right planner for the year you will start the Certificate. This will either be in an even year (2006/2008/2010/etc.) or an odd year (2007/2009/2011/etc.).

Completion Requirements

  • 2.0 or better cumulative GPA

  • All courses in the certificate must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Core courses must be taken for a letter grade (on the A/F grading basis). Elective courses may be taken on the A/F grading basis or the S/N grading basis. The cumulative gpa for all certificate courses must be a 2.00 or better.

  • All 18 required credits must be completed for one specialization OR all 24 required credits must be completed for two specializations
  • Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) for your second language (“B” language) with a score of Advanced-Low or better

To be awarded a certificate, you must submit an Application for Undergraduate Degree form online. NOTE:  The words Degree and Certificate are used interchangeably on the form .  It is important for you to check the deadlines if you want to graduate in a specific term.