M.A. in Interpretation: Interpreting Research
The concentration in Interpreting Research 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 methods. 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 small-scale 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 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. |
- 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
- Goals statements in ASL and written English:
- professional goals related to interpreting and/or translation;
- research interests around a topic in interpreting or translation;
- how the applicant plans to contribute to Deaf and/or DeafBlind communities at Gallaudet;
- description of the applicant’s understanding of social justice movements and how they relate to interpreting/translation work.
- Sample of academic paper or written response to provided prompt
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)
| INT707 | Structure of Language for Interpreters: American Sign Language and English | 3 |
| INT726 | Fundamentals of Interpreting | 3 |
| INT795 | Special Topics | |
Semester II (Spring)
| INT720 | Discourse Analysis for Interpreters | 3 |
| INT750 | Research Methods in Interpretation | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Semester III (Fall)
| INT701 | History of Interpreting | 3 |
| INT777 | Guided Research Project I | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Candidacy paper
Semester IV (Spring)
| INT778 | Guided Research Project II | 3 |
Program Outcomes
Demonstrate the sociocultural proficiency necessary to perform effectively in a broad range of translation and interpreting assignments
Apply critical thinking and knowledge of theories and research in the translation and interpreting field to ethical decision-making.
Articulate and apply one’s conceptualization of equivalence in interpreting in terms of theory.
Integrate social justice concepts and principles in interpreting and translation work with members of various communities in the field.
Design and execute a small-scale research project on a topic identified as relevant and timely to the field of signed language translation and interpreting.