Program Mission

The objectives of the BA in Translation and Interpretation Program are to meet the increasing demand for skilled translators and interpreters in various sectors of the regional and wider economy.

By implementing the most current techniques in translation and interpretation, the program will prepare its students to pursue advanced studies in the field as well as providing them with the necessary foundations to begin their careers in business and industry and other institutions and organizations. Moreover, the BA in Translation and Interpretation curriculum is designed to place the fullest emphasis on translation while simultaneously providing students with the vital cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge necessary for successful and comprehensive translation skills. In addition to English and Turkish, the program aims to incorporate a third language which will offer a wider scope of opportunities for students as well as meeting the cosmopolitan demands of future employers. The program's further objectives are to provide students with foundational experience in simultaneous translation and chuchotage or 'whispering techniques' of translation.

Opportunities Offered

Only the most highly specialized and experienced professionals, many of whom are already in place at EMU, will facilitate the BA in Translation and Interpretation. The program's initial reading list includes the most contemporary materials and ideas available to the discipline. The planned technical facilities, including language and translation laboratories, internships, and experience-through-practice techniques are all focused towards enhancing students' success including the use of technical equipment for simultaneous translation. EMU's existing state-of-the-art campus and facilities will also be mobilized to ensure an overall quality educational experience for students in the BA in Translation and Interpretation.

Distinguishing Attributes

The philosophy underlying the BA in Translation and Interpretation is to integrate essential intercultural and interdisciplinary knowledge, inseparable from language acquisition, with the technical understanding of language. This integration will ultimately be oriented towards the practical craft of translation and interpreting. In this sense, students enrolled in the BA in Translation and Interpretation will have the unique advantage of a more holistic and inclusive understanding of language in addition to linguistic-technical skills. It is this partnership of the practical, the cultural, and the theoretical- intellectual which makes the BA in Translation and Interpretation unique. It will be the first of its kind in the region to introduce this integration thereby situating the program in the vanguard of translation studies and establishing itself as the model for all other programs in the region.

Job Opportunities

The career prospects for students with a BA in Translation and Interpretation are wide. It provides students with a solid entry into the private sector such as business and industry, government service careers, tourism, the media sector, publishing, and medical, legal, and science fields. This option would lead to the consolidation of experience through practice. Students will also be prepared to advance to more specialized levels, degrees, and qualifications enabling them to pursue careers with more prestigious international agencies and organizations.

Quality of Graduates

Students successfully graduating with a BA in Translation and Interpretation will benefit from the multicultural and interdisciplinary nature of the program. In this sense, they will be proficient in at least three languages; have a thorough knowledge of translation and interpretation skills and practices; experience in the use of technology as well as acquiring a comprehensive and necessary background in the intellectual and cultural framework that is vital for any professional translator to meet the demands of an increasingly international environment.