M.A. in Interpretation: Interpreting Research
The concentration in Interpreting Research is designed to educate Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing persons who have demonstrated competence in interpreting and who wish to further their education and knowledge with an advanced degree. This degree is designed to respond to the professional development needs of professional interpreters and interpreter educators. The program provides a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to interpretation instruction. Education focuses on current academic knowledge in areas that include discourse analysis, comparative ASL and English for interpreters, analysis of interactions, and research. The first three areas of knowledge will also provide foundational knowledge and skills for conducting research. This degree includes an overview research course followed by two semesters of guided research courses in which students conduct original research with the goal of producing a solid study in publishable form. With this experience, graduates can continue their investigative interests through further education and study. This degree also prepares students to enter the Ph.D. in Interpretation program. The program follows a one year full-time format consisting of three semesters or a two-year part-time format consisting of four semesters. The program requires the completion of 30 credit hours of coursework.
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.
| 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)
| 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)
| INT 750 | Research Methods in Interpretation | 3 |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | Elective | 3 |
Semester III (Fall)
| INT 777 | Guided Research Project I | 3 |
| | Elective | 3 |
Candidacy paper
Semester IV (Spring)
Typical Program of Study (One Year - Full-time Only)
Semester I (Summer conducted ONLINE)
| 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)
| 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)
| INT 778 | Guided Research Project II | 3 |
| | Elective | 3 |
| | Elective | 3 |
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to employ academic, professional, and world knowledge in the choices and decisions they make while interpreting.
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to support and justify the use of points of view representing multi-cultural approaches in the work of interpretation.
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to evaluate their own competencies for interpreting in relation to a variety of interpreting settings and participants in interpreted interactions.
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to effectively interpret face-to-face encounters in dialogic settings with a variety of participants
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to effectively interpret face-to-face encounters in monologic settings with a variety of participants.
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to evaluate professional standards, practices, and ethics, not limited to the tenets of the Code of Professional Conduct, for use in their interpreting practice.
Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to appraise theoretical knowledge of interpretation studies in their interpreting practice, analyses, and research questions.
Graduates of the Interpretation Program will be able to effectively design and carry out all phases of small-scale research.