German + Translation & Interpreting Studies
What is the Integrated Five-Year Program?
German students who decide early in their college careers that they would like to pursue an MA in German-English Translation may complete the German BA and MA in Translation & Interpreting Studies (TIS) in five years. This unique integrated degree allows students to complete both a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Masters of Arts in Language, Literature, and Translation in 5 years instead of 6.
Students enroll in undergraduate courses in years 1 – 3, and in year 4, they begin courses for their graduate degree. Students follow rigorous, targeted studies so they can enter their chosen profession sooner, shaving off one year of undergraduate tuition.
Ideal candidates for this accelerated path enter college with advanced German language skills and begin taking upper-level German classes during their freshman year.
What can I do with this degree?
Career opportunities abound; the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a much faster than average growth for jobs in translation. The degree opens up careers in language services entrepreneurship, government foreign service, teaching, the travel industry, technology & information management, or research.
With advanced German-language skills, deep understanding of German-speaking cultures, and critical knowledge of the methods and techniques used in the translation profession, students are well-prepared for the language services industry. The program prepares students for employment or doctoral studies in the growing field of German to English translation and interpreting.
Am I eligible? How can I enroll?
Contact German Program Advisor Dr. Jonathan Wipplinger to see if this program is a good fit and if it’s possible. It is best to enter UWM in the first year knowing you want to be in the integrated program.
Students must meet the following requirements for admission to the Graduate School, to begin graduate studies in year 4 if accepted: at least 90 undergraduate credits; all undergraduate General Education Requirements (GER); and most credits required for the German BA.
What are the program requirements?
Individual plans of study will vary depending on coursework completed, electives desired, etc. See the study plan for an example of required coursework, but always check with L&S student advising for complete advice on degree requirements.
Requirements
| Total Credits | At least 131 credits: 36 L&S credits at the 300-level or higher. Double-counting at least 9 hours of undergraduate and graduate credits means that five-year-degree students must take a total of 131 credit hours for both their BA and their MA, rather than 150 if doing each program separately (120 + 30). |
|---|---|
| English Proficiency and UWM Oral and Written Communication (OWC) GER | English 102 and one OWC-B course |
| Math Proficiency & UWM Quantitative Literacy (QL) GER | Math 102, 103, 105, or 108 (QL-A) and a QL-B course |
| Foreign Language Requirement | Successful completion of the fourth semester of college work or equivalent in one language other than English. |
| Humanities GER | 12 credits |
| Social Sciences GER | 12 credits |
| Natural Sciences GER | 12 credits, 3 must include a lab (NS+) |
| International Requirement | 9 credits |
| Arts GER | 3 credits |
| Cultural Diversity GER | 3 credits, usually with a Humanities or Social Sciences course |
| Program Requirements |
|
This sample plan shows one possible pathway to earning the combined BA/MA in five years. This plan does not replace the advice of your advisor. Students are cautioned to meet regularly with their advisor to create a personalized plan that matches their particular circumstances.
Sample Study Plan
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
GERMAN 204 German in Your Field and Beyond (generates 11 retro credits) |
3 | ||
|
L&S Natural Science |
3-5 | ||
|
L&S Social Science |
3 | ||
|
ENGLISH 101 Introduction to College Writing |
3 | ||
|
Arts GER |
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
GERMAN 331
German Grammar in Practice |
3 |
TRNSLTN 201
Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies (HU) |
3 |
L&S Natural Sciences |
3 |
ENGLISH 102
College Writing and Research |
3 |
MATH 103
Contemporary Applications of Mathematics (QL-A) or MATH 105 Introduction to College Algebra |
3 |
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
GERMAN 332 Presentation and Composition |
3 | ||
|
GERMAN 333 Texts and Contexts |
3 | ||
|
L&S Natural Sciences Lab |
3 | ||
|
L&S Social Science |
3 | ||
|
QL-B / formal reasoning course |
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
GERMAN 334
Introduction to German Studies |
3 |
L&S Natural Sciences |
3 |
L&S Social Sciences |
3 |
German elective |
3 |
OWC-B course |
3 |
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
L&S Humanities/Cultural Diversity, not German |
3 | ||
|
L&S Social Sciences |
3 | ||
|
German elective 300, 400 or 500 level |
3 | ||
|
German elective 300, 400 or 500 level |
3 | ||
|
German elective 300, 400 or 500 level |
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
L&S Humanities/Cultural Diversity, not German |
3 |
L&S upper-level elective |
3 |
GERMAN 681
(or GERMAN 671, or GERMAN 672) |
3 |
German elective 300, 400 or 500 level |
3 |
GERMAN 643
(or GERMAN 645, 647, 649) |
3 |
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
TRNSLTN 708 Introduction to Translation: German to English |
3 | ||
|
Elective |
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
TRNSLTN 718
Seminar in Advanced German Translation |
3 |
TRNSLTN 726
Computer-Assisted Translation |
3 |
| Year 5 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
TRNSLTN 730 Internship in Translation/Interpreting |
3 | ||
|
TRNSLTN 820 Translation Theory |
3 | ||
|
Trnsltn Industry Elective |
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
TRNSLTN 709
Seminar in Literary and Cultural Translation |
3 |
TRNSLTN 710
Comparative Systems for Translation |
3 |
Trnsltn Industry Elective |
3 |
| Key | |
|---|---|
| (A) Arts GER | (Int’l) International |
| (HU) Humanities | (QL-A) Quantitative Literacy A |
| (NS) Natural Science | (QL-B) Quantitative Literacy B |
| (SS) Social Science | (OWC-A) Oral and Written Communication A |
| (CD) Cultural Diversity GER | (OWC-B) Oral and Written Communication B |