Spanish-English Translation, AA

Room: B-Building, B-234

Phone: (718) 482-5640

About

The Spanish/English Translation major aims to provide career ladders for students with a basic knowledge of both English and Spanish by providing the skills required for advancement as trained translators and interpreters. The program also provides a foundation in both languages for students desiring to pursue careers in language teaching, copy editing, social, legal, medical and government services, homeland security, international business or diplomacy involving bilingual/bicultural professional skills.

Are You Interested In...

  • Providing bilingual assistance for Latinx community members using your language skills in Spanish and English?
  • Communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds?
  • Learning about language and how it is structured and used?
  • Learning about different language registers (social/professional/academic) and the contexts in which they are used?
  • Working with books, dictionaries and specialized translation websites?
  • Developing your interpersonal and communication skills?
  • Are you interested in going abroad after college?
  • Are you interested in public service?

Skills You Will Learn

  • Translation and interpretation skills
  • Professional and academic proficiency in both English and Spanish languages and cultures
  • Understanding of bilingualism and regional linguistic variations, as well as language registers.
  • Familiarity with Hispanic, Latinx, Chicanx, Anglo, and global cultures
  • Critical thinking and problem solving abilities when translating difficult texts with complex structure and several translation possibilities

What makes this major unique?

The focus of the option is to provide the grammatical, vocabulary, cultural contexts and differentiation of registers in literary, legal, medical, business, and academic fields that students will need to succeed when transferring to four-year colleges where they will study translation/interpretation theory and practice as well as both simultaneous and consecutive oral interpretation in order to become certified translators/interpreters. This major is specifically focused on grammar, spelling, registers, vocabulary variations and technical vocabulary in Spanish and English, and the correct interpretation of texts to be translated. While cultural and historical literacy are necessary for correct translation and interpretation, this major focuses on language skills in Spanish and English, thus differing from both the Latin American and International Studies options.

Career Possibilities

Career trajectories for bi- or multilingual speakers vary depending on proficiency level. See this chart produced by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages for detailed information on career paths.

  • Court Interpreter
  • Entry-level Business/Retail/Healthcare/Other in need of bilingual speakers
  • Teacher at private school
  • Social Services/Government Services
  • Homeland Security
  • International Business
  • Copy Editor/Journalism
  • Publishing/Literary Translator
  • Film & TV Translator
  • Advertising
  • College Professor
  • International Organizations
  • State Department/Foreign Service Officer
  • Film & TV Translator
  • UN Interpreter

Transfer Possibilities

  • Hunter – BA in Spanish (Concentration in Spanish-English/English-Spanish Translation and Interpretation)
  • Brooklyn College – BA in Spanish
  • BA in Latin American Studies
  • BA in Journalism
  • BA in International Studies
  • BA in Comparative Literature
  • BA in Chicanx/Latinx Studies
  • BS/Certification in Bilingual Education

Degree Requirements

A. REQUIRED CORE: 12 Credits

English: 6 credits

  • ENG101 English Composition I – 3 credits
    (or ENA101 depending on placement)
  • ENG102 Writing through Literature – 3 credits


Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credits
Select one of the following courses:

  • MAT107 Mathematics and the Modern World
  • MAT123 Modern Problem Solving (Depending on placement)
  • MAT115 College Algebra and Trigonometry
  • MAT117 Algebra and Trigonometry (depending on placement)
  • MAT119 Statistics with Elementary Algebra (depending on placement)
  • MAT120 Elementary Statistics


Life & Physical Sciences: 3 credits
Select one of the following courses:

  • SCB101 Topics in Biological Sciences
  • SCB206 Introduction to Neuroscience
  • SCC101 Topics in Chemistry
  • SCC102 Chemistry of Photography
  • SCP101 Topics in Physics
  • SCP105 Life in the Universe
  • SCP140 Topics in Astronomy


B. FLEXIBLE CORE: 18 credits
Select one course from each of the five flexible core categories and one additional course from any flexible core category. To complete the degree requirements for the Flexible Core, students are advised to select courses from the recommended course selections listed in the program handbook.

  • World Cultures and Global Issues
  • U.S. Experience in its Diversity
  • Creative Expression
  • Individual and Society
  • Scientific World
Courses Credits
LIF101 First Year Seminar for Liberal Arts: Social Science and Humanities 3
Humanities: 3 Credits
HUC106 Public Speaking 3
Social Science: 3 Credits
Select one of the following courses:
SSA101 Cultural Anthropology
SSA120 People & Cultures of the Caribbean
SSP101 US Policies & Power
Education & Language Acquisition: 21 Credits
ELS200 Latin American Literature I 3
ELS209 Spanish Grammar and Usage 3
ELS204 Latin American Civilizations 3
ELS210 Advanced Spanish Composition 3
ELL101 Introduction to Language 3
ENG/ELL110 English Grammar and Syntax 3
Select one of the following courses:
ELN101 Introduction to Bilingualism
ELN194 The Puerto Rican Community Minority Group Experience

Graduate in Two Years!

Review your Degree Map to stay on track.

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