Academic training in translation and interpreting available for 12 languages takes into account current trends and developments in the translation industry
9 January 2023
Starting in the 2023 summer semester, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) will be offering the newly designed Translation Bachelor's degree program at its Germersheim campus. The program will provide students with qualifications not only in written translation but also in interpreting, two of the core skills taught at the Faculty of Translation Studies, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies based in Germersheim in the south of Rhineland-Palatinate. The three-year program has been developed taking into consideration recent developments in the field of translation and interpreting – with regard to digitalization and new language technologies, for example – and will provide graduates with a qualification for career entry.
Students can choose from a range of 12 languages that include Arabic, German (as a foreign language), English, French, Italian, Modern Greek, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. No previous knowledge of the languages chosen is necessary, except in the case of English, German (as a foreign language), and French. The initial objectives of the program will be to develop and improve the students' corresponding foreign language skills. Further topics to be dealt with include translation technologies and processes, multilingual communication, media and target group-focused text production as well as basics of academic research including concepts, methodologies and core questions of linguistics and cultural studies.
Career orientation during the program
The new Translation degree program will prepare students for their subsequent careers and is geared towards well-defined professional profiles. Internships, which help students establish initial contacts and experience in the world of work, can be credited as academic achievements. Subsequent areas of employment for graduates may include translation project management, marketing and social media for international businesses as well as the production of multi-language texts for businesses and organizations. Furthermore, the Translation Bachelor’s degree qualifies for enrolling in a subsequent Master's degree course in translation and interpreting.