Curriculum

The aim of the four-year BA program is to produce graduates who have advanced linguistic knowledge in Turkish and English, an in-depth understanding of the culture and institutions of both languages, are equipped with theoretical and critical skills as well as practical skills in the field of translation and interpreting, know at least one additional foreign language to a level at which they can translate from that language, and who are familiar with the subject matter and terminology of fields such as social sciences, political sciences, economics, literature and history.
 
In the fourth year of the undergraduate program, students specialize in either written translation or interpreting. Specialization in interpreting depends on students’ performance in interpreting courses completed by the end of the third year and their success in a screening exam administered at the end of that year. To be eligible for this exam, students must achieve a minimum weighted average grade of BB in courses INT202, INT301, and INT318. In calculating this average, INT202 and INT301 each carry a weight of 25%, while INT318 carries a weight of 50%. Students who meet these requirements may take the screening exam only once.
 
Students can use the Schedule Planner on ÖBİKAS/BUIS or this template to track their progress in the program, but are advised that these are facilitative tools only. Students are responsible for ensuring that all requirements in the program have been met, for which they should reference the latest official program in the Boğaziçi University Undergraduate Programs Catalogue.
 
First Semester
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HIST 105 / HUM 101 Making of the Mod. World I / Cultural Encounters I
* HUM / HIST electives are any two of HIST 105, HIST 106, HUM 101, HUM 102 Courses
 3 4 5 6
SOC/ PSY/PHİL 101 Int. to Sociology / Int. to Psychology / Int. to Philosophy 3 3 4 8
TR 109 Intro. to Transl. & Transl. Studies I
Introduction to functionalist and descriptive translation theories. Translation practice with operative and informative texts.
 3 3 6 6
TR 111 Rhetoric & Composition for Translators
Familiarization with the rhetorical styles used in diverse text-types and discourses. Improvement of language skills required for translation, interpreting and academic work through practice and assignments. Emphasis on appropriate use of English in both written and verbal communication. Discussion of grammatical, lexical and stylistic problems in writing. Consideration of pronunciation and prosody, as well as non-verbal aspects of public speaking, including audience analysis, body language, and overcoming stage fright.
 4 4 7 7
16
17
27
32
Second Semester
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HIST 106 / HUM 102 Making of the Mod. World II / Cultural Encounters II
A comparative exploration of the political, social and economic worlds of the three major Islamic empires of the early modern age; the Renaissance and the Reformation; the making of the absolutist states of Europe; science and commerce; the English Revolution and the Enlightenment; the American, French and Russian Revolutions of the modern age; the Industrial Revolution; nationalism and imperialism; World Wars I and II; the decline and transformation of China, Japan, India, the Ottoman world, Iran and Egypt in the modern age. Weekly discussion sessions and the study of audio- visual materials required.
 3 4 5 6
LING 101 Int. to Lang. and Ling. I
An introductory course to the study of language focusing on the properties of natural languages and aiming to familiarize the student with linguistic terminology and the concepts underlying these terms.
3 3 7 7
TR 106 Research Paper Writing in TS
Discussion and practice of the main stages in the preparation of a research paper in the field of translation studies. Areas of research. Identifying a suitable topic in translation studies, and developing an approach to this topic. Conducting research in the library, on the Internet, and in the field. Evaluating, deploying and documenting sources. Structuring the paper. Conventions and problems of academic English. Formatting the paper.
 3 3 5 5
TR 108 Turkish for Translators
Special emphasis on correct and refined Turkish usage, anticipating the needs of prospective translators. Practice in essay writing and in rewriting of Turkish texts in the form of intralingual translation. Correcting common mistakes in Turkish. Summarizing English newspaper articles in Turkish. Introduction to new Turkish coinages - cultural and scientific terms and concepts.
3 3 4 4
TR 110 Intro. to Transl. & Transl. Studies II
Further discussion of translation theories focusing on concepts such as shifts of expression, equivalence, translatability, acceptability and adequacy. Translation practice with expressive texts. Brief history of translation.
 3 3 6 6
18
19
32
33
Third Semester
Credit ECTS
-- -- Science Elective
***Science Elective: Subject to departmental approval, to be taken as a science elective.
 3 3 6 6
ENGL 105 Intro. to Literary Forms I 3 3 6 6
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
TR -- Departmental Elective
 3 3 5 5
TR 203 IT for Translators
Introduction to information technologies developed for translators and language professionals. Focus on major language-related technologies and their historical development. Basic training for the most widely-used software applications, with a special emphasis on word processors and translation memory software. Discussion on benefits, uses and limitations of existing technologies. Ethical issues. Overview of current research.
3 3 4 4
TR 215 Tech. Translation
Practice with texts related to science, technology, law, and medicine. Basic terminology. Theoretical approaches to technical translation.
3 3 4 4
18
18
30
30
Fourth Semester
Credit ECTS
-- -- ***Science Elective
***Science Elective: Subject to departmental approval, to be taken as a science elective.
 3 3 6 6
ENGL 106 Intro. to Literary Forms II 3 3 6 6
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HSS -- ****HSS Elective
**** HSS Elective: Subject to departmental approval, to be taken as a complementary elective.
 3 3 5 5
INT 202 Intro. to Interpreting
Introduction to the main types and contexts of interpreting. Initial steps in developing basic skills and techniques in interpreting. Emphasis on on-sight and bilateral interpreting between Turkish and English. Practice with authentic conference material. Exposure to research tools and terminology from different fields. Laboratory.
3 3 5 5
TR -- Departmental Elective 3 3 5 5
18
18
32
32
Fifth Semester
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HTR 311 Hist. of Turk. Rep. I
A general survey of Turkish history from about the mid-19th century until World War II with a particular focus on the early Republican era. A comparative and analytical account of Westernization and Ottoman reform attempts, the struggle for constitution, the economic and social transformations, diplomacy and foreign policy, World War I, the rise of Turkish nationalism, the National Struggle, Kemalist social, economic and cultural reforms in the 1920s and 1930s with special emphasis on the Kemalist principles.
 2 2 3 3
INT 301 Intro. to Consec. Int.
Introduction to consecutive interpreting. Theoretical approaches. Expansion of speech based on notes. Training in comprehension, note-taking and memory skills in both English and Turkish. Specialized vocabulary in various fields through the study of authentic conference texts. Laboratory.
 3 3 5 5
POLS 101 Intro. to Political Sc.
Introduction to the study of politics. Terminology and methodology of political science. Government and administration. Executive, legislative, and judiciary. Governance, political participation, political actors, government structures and processes. Basic concepts of political theory, comparative politics and international relations.
3 3 6 6
TR -- Departmental Elective 3 3 5 5
TR 301 Theories of Translation
Theories and current issues in Translation Studies. Approaches specific to the cultural paradigm. Emphasis on context, situation and power relations in translation.
 3 3 6 6
17
17
30
30
Sixth Semester
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HSS -- HSS Elective
**** HSS Elective: Subject to departmental approval, to be taken as a complementary elective.
 3 3 5 5
HTR 312 Hist. of Turk. Rep. II
A general survey of Turkish history from the beginning of World War II until the present. A comparative and analytical account of party-politics, social movements and mobilizations; different interpretations of Kemalism, the problems of urbanization, industrialization, and immigration; cultural and ideological changes, Turkey's foreign policy and an overall assessment of Turkey's standing in light of national and international developments.
 2 2 3 3
TR 314 Literary Translation
Text analysis, with different approaches suited to the nature and structure of the text to be translated, followed by actual translation and translation criticism. Practice with different genres, figures of speech and stylistic elements.
3 3 5 5
TR 316 Translation Criticism
Critical exploration of published translations, cultivating an awareness based on theoretical readings rather than error identification and prescriptivism.
3 3 5 5
TR 318 Seminar
Overview of the main fields of translation practice and research, with special focus on the areas of specialization offered in the final year.
1 1 3 3
TR/INT -- Departmental Elective 3 3 5 5
18
18
31
31
Seventh Semester
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HSS -- ****HSS Elective 3 3 5 5
TR -- Departmental Elect. 3 3 5 5
TR -- Departmental Elective 3 3 5 5
TR 401 Contemporary Issues in Translation & Translation Studies
Readings in contemporary translation theories. Emphasis on recent trends in Translation Studies including interdisciplinarity, sociology of translation, deconstruction and translation. Links between translation and the publishing world. Translation ethics.
1 1 3 3
TR 427 Translation Project Design
Preliminary work for TR 428 (Translation Project). Selection of topic or source text. Preparation of outline and text analysis.
1 1 3 3
UNR -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 4 4
17
17
30
30
Eighth Semester
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
HSS -- ****HSS Elective 3 3 5 5
TR -- Departmental Elective 3 3 5 5
TR -- Departmental Elective
Please see Academic > Undergraduate > Elective Courses for a list of departmental electives currently offered.
 3 3 5 5
TR 428 Translation Project
English-Turkish and/or Turkish-English translation of a text of substantial length, or a scholarly research project on a topic related to translation, supervised by a faculty member.
 3 3 6 6
UNR -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 4 4
18
18
30
30
Seventh Semester (Interpreting)
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
INT 415 Simultan. Interpret. I
Training for students who specialize in conference interpreting. Intensive practice in booths, with audio recordings of authentic conference material on a variety of subjects such as economics, marketing, international politics, medicine and law. Introduction to different usages of English and Turkish. Laboratory.
 3 3 5 5
INT 417 Consecutive Interpreting
A continuation of INT 301 with emphasis on improving note-taking for students who specialize in conference interpreting. Introduction of subject matter at a more challenging level. Laboratory.
 3 3 4 4
INT 419 Interpreting Project Design
Preliminary work for INT 420 (Project in Interpreting). Selection of a topic for research in Interpreting, or a source text for translation. Preparation of outline and text analysis.
 1 1 3 3
TR 401 Contemp. Iss. in Transl. and Transl.St. 1 1 3 3
UNR -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 5 5
UNR -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 5 5
17
17
30
30
Eighth Semester (Interpreting)
Credit ECTS
FR/SPA/GER/JP Language Elective 3 3 5 5
INT 412 Simultaneous Interpret. Prac. in Conf. Situations
Acquisition of professional skills in actual conference situations. Off-campus training under the instructor's supervision.
 3 3 5 5
INT 416 Simultan. Interpret. II
Training for students who specialize in conference interpreting. Advanced practice in booths, with audio recordings of authentic material on current topics, and at off-campus conferences. Laboratory.
 3 3 5 5
INT 418 Theoretical Approaches to Interpreting Practice
Study of theoretical approaches to interpreting. Examination of the strengths and shortcomings of different paradigms (cognitive, socio-cultural, and physiological as well as those related to translation theory). Exercises in interpreting, followed by a critical assessment of both the process and the product according to the different paradigms.
 3 3 5 5
INT 420 Project in Interpreting
English-Turkish and/or Turkish-English translation of a recorded conference text, or a text on interpreting (each of substantial length), or a scholarly research project on a topic related to interpreting, supervised by a faculty member.
3 3 5 5
UNR -- Unrestricted Elective 3 3 5 5
18
18
30
30
ECTS ECTS 2
140
142
242
248

 

* HUM / HIST electives: Any two of HIST 105, HIST 106, HUM 101, HUM 102 Courses
 
** Language Elective: 24 credits in a maximum of three languages other than Turkish and English. Choice of language(s) subject to departmental approval.
 
*** Science Elective: Subject to departmental approval.
 
**** HSS Elective: Subject to departmental approval, to be taken as a complementary elective.