Want to turn your language skills into a translation or interpreting career? Whether you are interested in business translation, medical translation, conference interpreting, legal translation, literary translation, transcreation, or localization, the online Master's (MS) in Translation & Interpreting offered by the NYU SPS Center for Publishing & Applied Liberal Arts prepares you for a wide range of translation and interpreting careers, from localization to project management. This 36-credit, fully online program provides students with the best of both worlds—the convenience and flexibility of learning on your own terms and at your own pace, while benefiting from a rigorous curriculum, a variety of elective courses tailored to your interests, and the prestige of earning your master’s degree at NYU, one of the world's most respected universities.
Master's in Translation and Interpreting Online
100% ONLINE STUDY
Degree Advantages
- Fully online format with opportunities to engage with faculty members and students at regular intervals
- Curriculum that allows students to study translation from any language into English
- Covers both written translation and the best practices of oral interpreting
- Elective courses that customize your learning experience
- Prepares students for the American Translators Association (ATA) Certification Exam, a language industry-recognized credential
- Taught by faculty members who are professional experts in their fields
- Full-and part-time study options
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
You can find the full curriculum details for this program on this page of the University Bulletin. All other content, including this web page is for informational purposes only.
Applicants to the MS in Translation and Interpreting should consult these Test Instructions for assessing language readiness.
Information Sessions
Artificial Intelligence in Translation & Interpreting
Does AI threaten our jobs as language professionals, or instead increase our opportunities for the future? NPR’s Planet Money recently published an article exploring this very issue, titled "If AI is so good, why are there still so many jobs for translators?" Take a look at the article and then join us for a lively discussion about AI for translators and interpreters. Come with questions and take away a better understanding of how the NYU Master’s in Translation & Interpreting embraces the teaching of new and timely translation technologies and techniques.
Attendees will receive a waiver of the $150 application fee to NYU School of Professional Studies.
Discover NYU SPS: Graduate Admissions Information Session
Join an online session to learn more about our graduate degree programs, including the Master’s in Translation and Interpreting. Our admissions team will give you insights into the NYU SPS experience, share details about the application process, and offer tips for creating a successful application. Current students will also share their personal experiences, providing a firsthand perspective on life as an SPS student.
7:00 PM until 8:00 PM EDT
7:00 PM until 8:00 PM EST
7:00 PM until 8:00 PM EST
Who Should Consider Earning the MS in Translation & Interpreting?
Whether you are interested in pursuing a full-time position with a language services provider or prefer the flexibility of a freelance translation and interpreting career, the MS in Translation & Interpreting will prepare you for a professional path in the translation industry, which is growing faster than many other fields. The online program provides students with the professional growth and cutting-edge translation and interpreting skills to work anywhere in the world. In a 2023 survey, we found that 100% of recent MS in Translation & Interpreting graduates reported being employed within six months of graduation.
Become a Language Professional
Faculty members who teach in the online MS in Translation & Interpreting program share their deep expertise with students from around the world. The comprehensive online program focuses on the specialized skills required for translation and interpreting, while thesis advisers provide guidance to students on the subtle nuances of Spanish-to-English translation, Chinese-to-English translation, Arabic-to-English translation, and numerous other language pairs.
Choose From a Wide Range of Elective Courses in Emerging Fields
The online MS in Translation & Interpreting program affords a solid core in theory and practice, terminology, and technology. In addition, the degree's elective courses provide students with the knowledge and tools to succeed in fields such as legal translation, literary translation, transcreation, website localization, machine translation, and financial translation and will provide tremendous flexibility in your translating and interpreting career.
Build a Portfolio of Projects That Demonstrates Your Translation and Interpretation Skills
The online MS in Translation & Interpreting is designed to ensure that you walk away with a comprehensive portfolio of translation projects that truly demonstrate your translation and interpreting skills to prospective employers, organizations, and clients. Your portfolio can be tailored to the area of specialization you choose—from medical translation, literary translation, and legal translation, to transcreation, financial translation, and localization of software and websites.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Master's degree in translation and interpreting?
A master's degree in translation and interpreting is a graduate-level academic program designed to provide students and working professionals with advanced training in the fields of translation and interpreting. The New York University SPS MS in Translation and Interpreting online program is intended for students with proficiency in at least one language in addition to English and who seek to develop specialized skill sets in translating written texts and interpreting spoken communication.
What can you do with a Master’s (MS) in Translation and Interpreting?
Once you've completed your MS in Translation & Interpreting, available jobs range from translation and localization to publishing and project management. Whether in law, finance, advertising, or intergovernmental agencies, the great need for translators is creating rewarding freelance and employment opportunities.
What languages are in high demand for translators?
Translators are in high demand across many languages given the global market for these professionals. The MS in Translation & Interpreting is open to applicants who wish to study translation from any language into English. The curriculum features terminology, research, revision, technology, and professionalization skills along with language-specific guidance.
Do translators need a Master’s degree?
Having a Master’s degree sets you apart and shortens the path to success in this rewarding career. Almost half of translators and interpreters surveyed by the American Translators Association hold master’s degrees. The MS in Translation & Interpreting program prepares its students for dynamic careers as highly skilled translators and language specialists.
How can I prepare for the ATA Certification Exam through this program?
Many of our students take the American Translators Association (ATA) Certification Exam, which is a 3-hour test-based credential and an advantageous addition to your resume. By the end of the MS in Translation & Interpreting program, graduates translate at a level that meets the ILR skill descriptions for professional performance.
What is the difference between translation and interpreting?
Translators work with written texts, while interpreters work with the spoken word. Students benefit from exposure to both practices, even though most professionals specialize in either translation or interpreting. In this program, students will master advanced strategies for translating complex documents and gain a foundation in the principles of interpreting.
How can I finance my degree? Are financial aid or scholarships available?
Options for financing the MS in Translation & Interpreting degree include Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, private loan options, employer or veterans’ benefits, and New York University payment plans. We encourage students to explore the NYU SPS resources page on Graduate Financial Aid to find more information on financial aid and scholarships.
How does the MS in Translation and Interpreting at NYU differ from other programs?
The Master of Science in Translation and Interpreting at New York University was the first program to offer students a fully online degree in this discipline and has done so since 2012. We are also the only program to offer translation from any source language into English. Students will receive language-specific guidance in independent studies and the thesis project. We also designed the curriculum with the understanding that many translators and interpreters work in multiple language pairs. Our focus is on core skills in research, terminology, revision, technology, and professionalization to support translation from any language, along with the widest range of electives available.
What are the admission requirements for this online MS in Translation and Interpreting?
The NYU SPS Admissions team carefully weighs each component of your application during the admissions review process to evaluate your ability to benefit from and contribute to the dynamic learning environment and the challenging curriculum that the NYU School of Professional Studies offers. Visit the NYU SPS Graduate Application Requirements and Deadlines page for additional information about our admission requirements. Applicants to the MS in Translation and Interpreting should also take the ACTFL Proficiency Test.
How long does it take to complete the online MS in Translation and Interpreting?
The NYU SPS MS in Translation and Interpreting program usually takes three semesters to complete as a full-time student and two to four years to complete as a part-time student.
Is it worth doing a Master of Science in Translation and Interpreting?
A Master’s degree is the gold standard credential in the language professions. The decision to pursue a Master of Science in Translation and Interpreting depends on your career goals and interests. Meet with professionals in the field and current students to gather insights and learn how completing an online graduate program in translation and interpreting can help you fulfill your aspirations.
Can translators make a lot of money?
Translators' wages vary depending on several factors such as the specialization in which they work and their experience, work structure (freelance vs. salaried), and clientele. For example, salaried professionals working in advertising or computer systems design make $91,390 to $106,540 per year on average, while those working in elementary schools or local government make $56,490 to $63,680 per year on average according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Freelance language professionals can make into the six figures, according to the American Translators Association.
What language is most in demand for translation?
The demand for translation services can vary depending on factors such as geographic location, industries, and global economic trends. However, certain languages are consistently in high demand due to their widespread use in international business, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic are examples of in-demand languages for translation services. Translators in other languages can specialize and succeed as well. The NYU SPS program has trained students in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and many others, including languages of lesser diffusion.
Will artificial intelligence replace translators?
While AI technologies have made significant advancements in the digital age, they are not likely to replace human translators any time soon. This is because, unlike a professional human translator, AI struggles with nuance, cultural understanding, humor, and creative expression. The future of translation and the language services industry is likely a collaborative one, with human translators and AI working together to provide accurately translated content. The NYU MS in Translation & Interpreting program has integrated AI throughout the curriculum, including in particular the Core courses in Translation Technologies and The Language Professions and electives from Transcreation and Marketing Translation to Patent Translation to Post-Editing Machine Translation. The teaching of up-to-date technologies, including AI, is a key component of our program’s learning outcomes. We also hold events about AI in the Professions.
Is being a translator a stressful job?
Our faculty and students report that translation careers are joyful, creative, and rewarding. Being a translator can be challenging, and the level of stress varies like any job, but translation is ultimately a fulfilling career that leverages your multilingual skills. Since many translators and interpreters are self-employed, you will also have options to take control of your career. The NYU Master’s program in Translation & Interpreting helps students track toward freelance or full-time employment based on your personal situation and preferences.
How do I start a career in translation?
To start a career in translation, it's crucial to be fluent in at least two languages. From there, you can obtain a formal education to build your foundation and establish yourself as a professional in the field.
How many years does it take to become a translator?
The time it takes to become a translator can vary. Many translators start their profession by earning a bachelor's degree in any field and then pursue a Master’s degree in Translation & Interpreting to dive into a specialization of their interest.
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