Master of Arts in Interpretation

Gallaudet University is the only university in the world that offers both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in ASL-English Interpretation, centered around the department's state of the art interactive interpretation laboratory. Gallaudet provides a unique opportunity for interpretation majors to live, study, and interact with Deaf people from the United States and around the world.

The program is designed to prepare interpreters and researchers who will provide exemplary services and become leaders in the field. The masters program offers two concentrations, Combined Interpreting Practice and Research (CIPR) and Interpreting Research (IR). The concentrations are available for Deaf, hard-of- hearing, and hearing people who meet the University's Graduate School and Department of Interpretation admission requirements. Some of our classes have remote access, i.e. class attendance can be via videoconferencing technology and the program does offer some traditional asynchronous online courses. This does not apply for all of our classes, as some of the skills classes require a physical presence in the classroom. We are not an online program, and all courses are taught in ASL. 

Early application is encouraged for applicants to be considered for financial aid and to ensure that spots are available.  

If you are unsure that you meet the requirements for the MA program, please contact the MA coordinator before you apply.

Student Learning Outcomes

Following are the student learning outcomes (SLOs) for the MA in Interpretation Program.

  1. Graduates of the MA in Interpretation Program will be able to employ academic, professional, and world knowledge to the choices and decisions they make while interpreting.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Graduates of the Interpretation Program will be able to effectively design and carry out all phases of small-scale research

Doctor of Philosophy in Translation and Interpreting Studies

The Department of Interpretation and Translation offers a Ph.D. degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies with a focus on ASL-English interpretation and translation. This program is available for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students who are certified, experienced interpreters and who meet the University's Graduate School and Department of Interpretation and Translation’s admission requirements.

A critical mission of the Department of Interpretation and Translation is to create and share research about signed language interpreting and translation for the advancement of these practices. Students and faculty are engaged in a number of interrelated research and program initiatives.

Ultimately, the doctoral program produces scholars prepared to research, teach, and become exemplary leaders in the field of Signed Language Translation and Interpreting Studies. Coursework addresses Translation and Interpreting studies from cross-disciplinary lenses and different theoretical frames. Students have the opportunity to learn and teach in interpreting classrooms and labs and experience how the Gallaudet University and Department of Interpretation and Translation missions are put into practice in our B.A. and M.A. in Interpretation programs. Completion of a dissertation that involves original research is required.

The Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies is designed around two and a half years of full-time coursework plus dissertation research. Part-time study is available as an option. The length of time to complete the degree varies with each individual student, but the program typically takes between four to seven years to complete.

There are several required components and academic benchmarks needed to finish the degree. In addition to completing all coursework, students must successfully pass the candidacy exam, the qualifying paper, and the comprehensive exam. Also, a doctoral assistantship where students work with department faculty to support teaching and research efforts is required for the first three semesters of the program.

Two types of internships are offered as part of the program of study – research internships and teaching internships. In research internships, students work on all aspects of the research cycle with data-based interpreting or translation projects run by experienced scholars from around the world. Teaching internships are completed in the undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the Department of Interpretation and Translation. During the fourth and fifth semesters of full-time study, students must engage in a two-semester on-campus teaching residency.

Classes offered by the department are taught in ASL by noted scholars. Faculty maintain active teaching, researching, and interpreting/translation practices. We offer synchronous, remote possibilities within traditional courses; however, we are not an online or distance-learning program.

Applicants must have previous graduate studies in translation, interpreting, or a closely related field. Graduation from the MAI program at Gallaudet meets this requirement. Evidence of professional certification as an interpreter at the time of application is also required, along with the equivalent of at least three years of full-time interpreting experience; however, at least five years of full-time interpreting experience is encouraged.

Gallaudet provides a unique opportunity for doctoral students to live, study, and interact with Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing people from across the country and around the world.

If you are unsure that you meet the requirements for the PhD program, please contact the PhD coordinator before you apply.

Student Learning Outcomes

Following are the student learning outcomes (SLOs) for the Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies Program.

  1. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies will demonstrate critical thinking skills in the reading, discussion, analysis, and writing of the core constructs and claims within the interdisciplinary field of Interpreting and Translation Studies.
  2. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies will apply theoretical, academic, professional, and world knowledge of Translation and Interpreting Studies to research and pedagogy.
  3. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies will justify multi-cultural approaches to interpretation and/or translation by demonstrating effective practice within their scholarly and pedagogical work.
  4. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies. will demonstrate theoretical and applied knowledge to pedagogical issues in Translation and Interpreting Studies.
  5. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies will effectively design, carry out, and defend all phases of independent research projects, including original dissertation research on interpretation and/or translation.
Ph.D. Translation and Interpreting Studies
MAI: CIPR
MAI: IR
Department Courses