Interpreting Major - Bachelor of Arts
Want a career as an interpreter? In the Interpreting major you learn to recognise cross-cultural implications for interpreting, and the ethical and professional responsibilities of an interpreter.
Interpreting is so much more than just repeating someone’s words in a different language. A good interpreter can understand nuances and cultural appropriateness, and convey levels of formality across a range of professions and industries. The challenge is to do justice to every situation.
You practise interpreting consecutively and simultaneously between English and another language. You explore the effects of intonation and the use of idioms in spoken English. Throughout your studies you also become familiar with interpreting for legal, healthcare or business settings. These skills will serve you well in our increasingly multicultural local and global communities.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
Start date: 2023
- Download our Culture & Society programme guide [PDF, 5.2 MB]
Throughout your three years of studies you develop a sound understanding of interpreting, as well as effective communication, critical thinking and other transferable skills you'll need for your future career.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Academic Communication
Choose one of:
- CLSY508 Pathways to Academic Success
- COMM570 Academic Communication: Conventions and Expectations
- COMM590 Learning in a Digital World
Culture and Society
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Choose one of:
- CHIN501 Introduction to Chinese I
- CHIN502 Introduction to Chinese II
- CHIN504 Write Chinese I
- CHIN511 Speak Chinese I
- CLSY502 Intercultural Competence
- ENGL500 Contemporary Language Studies
- ENGL501 Critical Media Studies
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- JAPA512 Write Japanese I
- KORE500 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture I
- KORE501 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture II
- MAOR500 Introduction to Conversational Māori
- MAOR501 Beginners Māori Language I
- MAOR502 Beginners Māori Language II
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
- TIKA501 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience A
- TIKA502 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience B
Choose one of:
- CLSY500 Culture and Society
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- HIST503 Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle and Resistance in Aotearoa and South Africa
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
Knowledge and Inquiry
Choose one of:
Interpreting courses
Level 5 courses
Complete the following course:
- ENGL501 Critical Media Studies
Level 6 courses
Complete the following courses:
- COMM651 WeSpeak: Pronunciation, Phonology and Effective Communication
- TRIN603 Interpreter Role, Ethics and Practice
- TRIN604 Societal Context for Interpreting and Translation
Level 7 courses
Complete the following courses:
- TRIN702 Advanced Interpretation Legal Studies
- TRIN704 Advanced Interpretation Health Studies
And two of:
- TRIN701 Principles and Practice of Translation and Interpreting
- TRIN705 Advanced Health Interpreting
- TRIN708 Advanced Legal Interpreting
Workplace experience
Workplace experience is an important part of your degree, and the Work Integrated Learning course is the final part of your degree. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice. It's a great way to get industry experience while still being able to get feedback from AUT lecturers, and for many of our students this workplace experience also leads to a job offer.
You could also take the Foundations in Research course to prepare you for postgraduate study.
- Legal interpreting for government and local authorities
- Health interpreting for various health sector organisations
- Freelance interpreting work
- Foreign affairs and border control
- Movie voiceovers
- Language Line (telephone interpreting)
- Refugee and migrant services
- International business conventions or conferences
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Prepares you for interpreting careers in medical, legal and business settings
- Suitable if you already speak two languages
- Workplace experience in your final semester
- Bilingual
- A communicator
- A great listener
- Having an ear for detail
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.