Graduate Program in Interpreting and Translation Studies

MA in Intercultural Services in Healthcare

A new career path arising from the rising need for culturally competent administrators and comprehensive diversity strategies in healthcare.

This track is the first such specialization in the U.S., preparing graduates to enter managerial positions in culture-sensitive healthcare delivery areas such as bilingual employment, patient relations, translation/interpreting services and health communications.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations established that 66 percent of sentinel events in healthcare are caused by deficient communication. As a result, as of January 1, 2011, it implemented accreditation standards to advance effective communication and cultural competence, requiring medical institutions receiving federal funds to provide language services to patients with limited English proficiency.  

In order to satisfy new regulations and adapt to an increasingly multi-cultural environment, healthcare institutions need to hire not only qualified interpreters but also trained personnel for culture-sensitive positions at managerial levels.

Our graduates will be prepared to                                                                            

  • identify and address ethnic, linguistic and socio-cultural healthcare issues
  • ensure hiring of qualified and competent interpreters, translator, and bilingual staff
  • educate personnel about current federal regulations
  • improve patient care quality by integrating evidence-based practices of intercultural healthcare delivery into the work process
  • help reduce tragic and costly sentinel events.

Language requirements
This track is non-language specific and is taught in English.  Foreign language competency
is desirable but not required.

Duration and course requirements                       
This is a full-time (35 credit hour), intense, two-semester course of studies that runs from the end of August until mid-May. In addition to the coursework, an internship and an applied research project will allow students to make a rigorous connection between the practical experience in the workplace and their more theoretical experience in the classroom.

Core Courses (29 hrs)   

  • Intercultural Communication (COM 650, 3 hrs)
  • Health Communication (COM 655, 3 hrs)
  • Applied Interpreting Studies (TIS 731, 3 hrs)
  • U.S. Heritage Speakers and Bilingualism (TIS 734, 3 hrs)
  • Language Use and Technology (LIN 680, 3 hrs)
  • Localization and Terminology (LIN 683, 3 hrs)
  • Healthcare Landscape (MGT 5783, 3 hrs)
  • Organizational Behavior (MGT 8110, 3 hrs)
  • Internship (TIS 684, 1hr)
  • Applied Research Project (TIS 785, 4 hrs)

Elective Courses - two from the following (6hrs)

  • Applied Translation Studies (TIS 733, 3 hrs)
  • Discourse Organization and Interpreting (TIS 735, 3 hrs)
  • Sociolinguistics and Dialectology (LIN 610, 3 hrs)
  • Special Topics: Medical-Scientific Translation (SPN 629, 3 hrs)
  • Special Topics: Audiovisual Translation (SPN 629, 3 hrs)
  • Special Topics: Legal Translation (SPN 629, 3 hrs)
  • Spanish for Medical Professions (language specific) (SPN 685, 3 hrs)
  • Spanish-English Interpreting (language specific) (SPN 682, 3 hrs)

Note: not all elective courses are offered every semester