Course Offerings

Core Courses (15 credits)

Practice Seminars (18 credits)

Practical courses include various seminars which can cover general or specialized subject matters. It is required to take 18 credits in Practice Seminars. It is recommended to take general seminars before specialized seminars.

Elective Courses (12 credits)

A total of 12 credits in elective courses are required. These credits are divided between free and directed elective courses as follows:

1. Six credits in any graduate-level elective course taken at the Río Piedras Campus or at any campus of the University of Puerto Rico educational system, except for Greek and Latin courses, which can be at the undergraduate level.
2. Three credits in a practice seminar with a target language that is not the student's mother tongue.
3. Three credits in a Syntax or Writing course in a language that is not the student's mother tongue.

Thesis and comprehensive examination

TRAD 6001 Localization
Credits: 3
Localization includes the translation and adaptation of electronic media such as websites, computer programs, and video games to other linguistic and cultural markets. This advanced course explores technical aspects in the field of localization and accessibility.

TRAD 6006 Computer Tools for Translators
Credits: 3
This course will provide students with an overview of the computer technologies currently being used and/or developed in the field of translation. Areas of study will include a range of computer-based applications and tools, translator workstations, online research tools, glossary programs, voice recognition systems and translation related research on the Internet currently available or to be developed in the future. Students will be encouraged to use online glossaries and be trained in the compilation of their own glossaries. Use of various professional applications in MS Word will be fostered, so as to assist students in the professional presentation of translation work, as well as in the translation or editing process. Students will be given a practical introduction to FAMT (fully automated machine translation), as well as CAT or Computer-Assisted Translation programs. The course is intended to give students the basic tools needed for translators to succeed in a rapidly changing technological environment. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6007 Translation of Informative Journalistic Texts
Credits: 3
Seminar on translation of informative journalistic texts from English to Spanish. Includes discussion of the functions of newspaper journalism, journalistic style, and types of journalistic texts. Practice will be given in the translation of news articles, in-depth reports and interviews on a variety of topics and of different journalistic styles.

TRAD 6008 Translation of Interpretative Journalistic Texts
Credits: 3
Seminar on translation of interpretative journalistic texts from English to Spanish. Includes discussion of the functions of newspaper journalism, journalistic style, and types of interpretative journalistic texts. Students will translate editorials, reviews, and columns on a variety of topics and of different journalistic styles. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6010 Introduction to Community Interpreting
Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the profession and contexts of the community interpreter. It offers students a general exposure to the professional requirements, standards, practices and ethical dilemmas of the community interpreter. Community interpreting encompasses a wide variety of interpreting that facilitates community services in educational, social, medical, and in some countries, legal or court. This course focuses on the professional aspects, standards and ethics, and preparation of the community interpreter. The course also affords students an opportunity to understand and practice some of the most common interpreting modalities utilized in this profession: sight translation and consecutive. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6011 Translation and Media
Credits: 3
Practice seminar on translation of various texts relating to the rapidly changing world of the media. The texts focus on journalism (news and opinion articles and essays), online media (from scholarly sites to blogs), advertising, and television and film (dubbing and subtitling). Discussions also focus on the role of the translator/translation in the media from both a theoretical and practical standpoint, as well as how the media tend to view and utilize translation. Specific issues pertaining to localization/transcreation, and the related emerging industry (particularly regarding language service providers), will also be discussed. Students will learn to make professional presentation of translations, with relevant translation technology tools, especially regarding appropriate style and formatting. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6012 Intermediate Practice Seminar on Translation
Credits: 3
Intermediate practice seminar on translation where students will translate diverse types of texts of moderate difficulty. Students will learn to identify and solve the textual and extratextual difficulties posed by the various text types and will learn to perform the proper research according to the text type. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6013 Audiovisual Translation
Credits: 3
This practical course on Audiovisual Translation focuses on accessibility of audiovisual products. Students will use subtitling tools while developing key skills for translating and subtitling movies for typical audiences as well as for audiences with special needs, such as deaf and hard-of-hearing. This course also includes a practical audio description component for the blind and people with visual difficulties. The course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6014 Translation of Gastronomic Texts
Credits: 3
Translation of text related to cooking and gastronomy: recipes, menus, gastronomic reviews, utensils, techniques, ingredients, gastronomy and cooking websites and blogs. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6015 Translation of Literary Texts
Credits: 3
Practice seminar on literary translation. Students will provide translations in a range of literary texts. Readings in literary and critical theory will be provided. Students will learn to assess potential source-text difficulties and will have the opportunity to work individually and in teams to solve them. The course will deal with the following core issues: theoretical issues relating to the notions of translatability, domestication and foreignization, and the translator’s imprint/remainder; genre-related issues (poetry, narrative prose, essay, drama, etc.); literary, biographical and historical context of the source text; stylistic and grammatical analysis of texts; translation of figurative language; aesthetic considerations. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6021 Translation for Museums
Credits: 3
Practical seminar organized to provide students with practice in translating texts within a specific translation industry niche: translation for museums and cultural institutions (with a focus on translation of historical and visually oriented texts). Students will be presented with the real challenges of working within this field and will deal with specific industry demands in terms of style, register, terminology, as well as related issues such as intertextuality and transcreation. Specific problems, such as rendering of images/concepts or objects as text, visualization and visual literacy, intercultural translation, translation and identity, and translating museum materials without corresponding images, will be discussed. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6100 Seminar: Translation into English
Credits: 3
Translation of journalistic and literary texts from Spanish into English.

TRAD 6102 Introduction to Liaison and Consecutive Interpreting for B Language
Credits: 3
Practical introductory course on liaison and consecutive interpreting techniques in B language using intermediate level speeches. Using interpreting exercises, students will practice and learn to resolve common problems regarding this interpreting mode.

TRAD 6105 Translation Theory and Practice
Credits: 3
A study of the basic translation theory and various translation techniques.

TRAD 6108 Seminar: Business Translation, Spanish into English
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Permission of the advisor or director.
Translation from Spanish into English of business documents, such as letters, memos, notices, announcements, calls for bids, and contracts.

TRAD 6185 Translation of French Newspapers and Magazines
Credits: 3
French into Spanish translation of texts published in various French periodicals, such as Le Monde, Le Point, Le Figaro, Le Canard Enchaîné, Sciences et Avenir, Courrier International, etc.

TRAD 6200 Criticism of Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: At least one practical seminar.
Critical analysis of published translations (into either English or Spanish), emphasizing the semantic and pragmatic levels of language.

TRAD 6215 Scientific and Technical Translation
Credits: 3
Scientific and technical translation encompasses a variety of subjects and disciplines, including medicine, industrial machinery, the automotive industry, computers, telecommunications, engineering, and science. In this practical, intermediate-to-advanced course students will tackle instruction manuals, technical reports, equipment specifications, systems descriptions, journal articles, and specialized papers on a range of scientific and technical subjects. Various text types will be studied, including informative texts, conferences, abstracts, patents, regulations, textbooks, as well as other specialized texts pertaining to science and technology.

TRAD 6300 Literary Translation
Credits: 3
A seminar and workshop course in which the various techniques of literary translation are taught using representative authors of the several genres and literary epochs of English and American literature. Deals with the theater and the essay.

TRAD 6305 Great Authors and Translation
Credits: 3
Reading of essays on the subject of translation written by prominent authors who are or were themselves translators. Translations by great authors will be analyzed.

TRAD 6400 Seminar: Translation into Spanish
Credits: 3
Careful consideration of alternative translations and possibilities of composite translation.

TRAD 6407 Seminar: French-Spanish Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: BA in French or equivalent knowledge.
Exercises of increasing difficulty, using pragmatic texts (descriptions, narrations, dialogue). Simultaneously, a brief comparative study of relevant morphological, grammatical, and syntactical aspects.

TRAD 6408 Seminar: French-Spanish Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6407
Translation of French literature into Spanish.

TRAD 6409 Seminar: Practice in Translation
Credits: 3
Translation, criticism of translation, re-translation. Texts mainly related to the philosophy of language.

TRAD 6410 Seminar: Practice in Translation
Credits: 3
Translation of literary texts from English into Spanish.

TRAD 6413 Seminar: French-English Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Advanced French course or permission of the professor; good command of English and French.
Study of the translation techniques and theories from French into English, using passages representative of different genres, including orientation in reference works and criticism of existing translations.

TRAD 6430 Seminar: Independent Studies
Credits: 3
The main objective is the practice of literary composition in English, but the student may request an area of individual interest, under the guidance of the instructor.

TRAD 6435 Seminar: Independent Studies
Credits: 3
Translation of general essays and reports using the computer; emphasis on the pragmatic aspects of language.

TRAD 6436 Seminar: Independent Studies
Credits: 3
Translation of essays and literary criticism, emphasizing the semantic level of language.

TRAD 6437 Seminar: Independent Studies
Credits: 3
Translation of texts of logic and philosophy dealing with linguistic problems.

TRAD 6438 Comparative Analysis of the Morphology and Syntax of Spanish and English
Credits: 3
The structure of words and sentences. Morphological and syntactic functional units. Descriptive theory and its practical application in Spanish and English exercises. Both languages will be used in the course.

TRAD 6451 Spanish Syntax I
Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the study of the syntactic structures of modern Spanish. Based on a descriptive, rather than normative grammar, the course focuses on the definition, structure and function of nominative sintagmas. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6452 Spanish Syntax II
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6451
The course focuses on the structure of verbal syntagmas. Sentence classification according to various criteria, identification and analysis of verb modifiers, simple and compound sentences are studied.

TRAD 6453 Writing and Style I
Credits: 3
In this course, the rules governing standard written contemporary Spanish are examined, explained, and applied. The course focuses on orthographic, morphosyntactic, lexical, and semantic correctness of written texts. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6454 Writing and Style II
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6453
The second part of the Spanish writing course introduces the student to writing models and encourages the creation of written texts. The course presents and explains the stages of written communication: the production, selection and organization of ideas. The various ways of generating ideas are explained and put into practice; exercises in selecting, eliminating and focusing ideas are done as a means to achieve a clear, concise, coherent, and effective text. Descriptive, narrative and expository texts are analyzed and created.

TRAD 6455 Contemporary Translation Theories
Credits: 3
This course discusses the main translation theories and their application to translation..

TRAD 6457 English Syntax
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: BA with major in English or the equivalent level of competence.
This course is designed for students who are interested in understanding the syntactic structure of Modern English. While the material presented is not tied to any particular grammatical model, it provides an understanding of constituent structure. During this course the student will become familiar with the key concepts and tools of syntactic analysis, such as the features of word class categories and the use of tree diagrams. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6459 Principles of Semantics and Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: A course in grammar or the equivalent
This is a basic course in Semantics. It is designed to provide students with knowledge about the study of meaning, to be applied in the translation process.

TRAD 6465 Internship in Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: TRAD 6452 12 credits in practice seminars, a grade point average of 3.5.
Supervised practical experience in translation. The student may also perform other tasks related to the profession of translation, such as document writing and editing, and project management.

TRAD 6467 Introduction to Terminology
Credits: 3
Introduction to Terminology and its relation to Translation. The terminology of diverse fields (such as environment, economy, information technology, law, art, etc.) is studied through the analysis of various texts. Terminological standardization, research methods and record making is discussed.

TRAD 6500 English to Spanish Translation Seminar
Credits: 3
Exercises in translating simple texts on the basis of which the theoretical principles of translation are pointed out.

TRAD 6501 English to Spanish Medical Translation I
Credits: 3
Theory and practice translation seminar in which Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes, anatomic position, and the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary systems are studied. Sight translation and written translation exercises using paper as well as on-line medical dictionaries, Internet resources and other reference works.

TRAD 6502 English to Spanish Medical Translation II
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6501
Theory and practice translation seminar covering the systems not included in the first part of the course. Sight translation and written translation exercises of specialized texts, such as product information materials, medical reports and articles on various subjects published in specialized journals. Paper as well as on-line medical dictionaries and glossaries, and other reference works will be used.

TRAD 6505 Sight Translation
Credits: 3
Translation of various texts on first reading. Emphasis on text analysis, budgeting of time, and decision-making in translation, while assuring correctness and fidelity. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6526 Seminar: English Composition
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6454
This course offers weekly practice in the writing of critical essays about translation, using a number of classic types: definition, division and classification, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, process, personal narrative, persuasive argument. All grammar and stylistic errors are explained. A longer final essay requires bibliography of background research. After peer assessment, a corrected, perfectly formatted version is expected.

TRAD 6535 Research in Translation
Credits: 3
Basic research methods for translation. The use and selection of bibliographical and non-bibliographical sources.

TRAD 6600 Seminar: Translation into Spanish
Credits: 3
Translation of essays and similar texts into Spanish, under the supervision of the instructor; discussion of various aspects and alternatives of the translation in question. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6601 English to Spanish Business Translation I
Credits: 3
Translation of documents commonly used in business transactions, such as letters, notices of meetings, corporate resolutions, bank resolutions, certificates of incorporation, stock certificates, regulations, financial statements, ongoing guarantees, incorporation papers, prospectus, lien agreements, using paper as well as on-line dictionaries and glossaries, and other reference works.

TRAD 6602 English to Spanish Business Translation II
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6601
Translation of documents commonly used in business transactions, such as leases, calls for bids, tenders to contract, specifications and other related documents, insurance policies, MSDS and other industry-specific documents, using paper as well as on-line dictionaries and glossaries, and other reference works.

TRAD 6610 Literary Translation
Credits: 3
A seminar and workshop course in which the various techniques of literary translation are taught using representative authors of the several genres and literary epochs of English and American literature.

TRAD 6620 Seminar: Practice in Translation
Credits: 3
Translation of miscellaneous texts considering the accuracy of lexical equivalence. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6640 Seminar: Translation into English
Credits: 3
Translation and revision of the stylistic and pragmatic aspects of the language into which material is being translated (English).

TRAD 6650 Seminar: Independent Studies
Credits: 3
Translation and revision of the stylistic and pragmatic aspects of the language into which material is being translated (Spanish).

TRAD 6660 Seminar: Translation into English
Credits: 3
Translation and revision of linguistic and stylistic suitability (into English). This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6670 Seminar: Independent Studies
Credits: 3
Translation and revision of linguistic and stylistic suitability (into Spanish).

TRAD 6680 Seminar: Translation into English
Credits: 3
Translation from Spanish into English of essays and specialized studies.

TRAD 6690 Legal Translation
Credits: 3
The specialized language of the different areas of law; English-Spanish terminological equivalencies in legal procedures.

TRAD 6700 Seminar: Translation into Spanish
Credits: 3
Translation and criticism of translation of texts of normal complexity.

TRAD 6705 Problems in Legal Translation
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: TRAD 6690
The student will increase his or her acquaintance with the specialized language of the various fields of law, and with the terminological equivalence of legal discourse between English and Spanish.

TRAD 6800 Seminar: Translation into English
Credits: 3
Careful consideration of alternative translations and possibilities of composite translation.

TRAD 6895 Master’s Thesis
Credits: 0
Prerequisite: Completion of all credits required for the degree.
Preparation of a translation under the supervision of a faculty member. The completed thesis, once defended, is the final requirement for the degree. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6896 Thesis Continued
Credits: 0
Prerequisite: TRAD 6895
Continuation of the thesis for the master’s degree. This course will be taught on-site, online or in a combination of both modalities (hybrid).

TRAD 6900 Seminar: Translation into English
Credits: 3
Translation of relatively difficult essays and articles (from a linguistic point of view) from Spanish into English.

TRAD 6990 New Trends and Practices in Translation
Credits: varies
Theoretical and practical seminar of variable subject and credit on the most recent topics ant tendencies in the study and practice of translation. The course will cover outstanding theoretical aspects of the new tendencies in translation both as an academic discipline and a professional practice. It will include practical translation exercises the student will be able to repeat the course with different topics up to a maximum of 6 credits. This course will be offered in presential, hybrid and online modalities.

TRAD 6995 The Art of Translation: Foundations and Methods
Credits: varies
This is the theoretical and practical seminar of variable subject and credit that explores how the field of translation and professional translators can best respond to opportunities and challenges in the contemporary field of translation. The course examines specific resources for approaching translation as an art and craft, identifying ways in which skills and knowledge that scholars recognize as useful for translators can be developed through innovation and variation in method. Examples of these resources include knowledge about trends in regional and international markets, strategies of business management and research in the areas of culture and society. Method will be contextualized in terms of specific subfields of translation and/or practical exercises. The student can repeat the course with different topics up to a maximum of 6 credits. This course will be offered in presential, hybrid and online modalities.