Global Community Engagement

GS 4010 Global Society: Structures and Stakeholders (4 Credits)

This course provides students with an introduction to the major actors, structures, and issues in contemporary global society. Moving beyond a state-centric view of the global landscape, the course considers the values, interests, and ideas of a variety of stakeholders—including businesses, corporations, institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and grass-roots initiatives—in order to assess some of the ways in which these actors both compete and cooperate for opportunities and resources. Students will apply relevant concepts to their own personal and professional experiences so as to gain a better understanding of how global issues and actors at a variety of levels impact their work and how their work constitutes an important part of global society.

GS 4020 Culture, Identity, and Power (4 Credits)

In a rapidly globalizing world, culture and identity are increasingly recognized as having profound implications for professional success across a range of industries and practices. An understanding and appreciation of difference are central to effective professional interactions and progress. This course presents approaches for thinking about intersecting dynamics of culture, identity, and power in professional environments, and for mitigating cultural and identity-based conflict in the workplace and beyond.

GS 4030 Working Internationally (4 Credits)

Working Internationally is designed for those looking to broaden their personal and professional pursuits in global settings, whether at-home or abroad. This course covers both qualitative and practical considerations. Students will explore the benefits and challenges of working internationally with a focus on cross-cultural communication and management. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, assignments, and group discussions students will develop skills and strategies for building successful relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds. Additionally, the logistical nuances of working abroad will be addressed. Upon completion of the course, students will have a better understanding of how to navigate cultural differences, explore international opportunities, and work effectively in a global environment.

GS 4040 Managing Across Cultures (4 Credits)

This course addresses the impact of culture on management and organizational processes as well as provides students with approaches to engaging effectively in globalized organizational and multicultural contexts. Additionally, the course enables students to distinguish between differences in diversity and culture. They will analyze the impact of global issues and events on the management process in different times and places and evaluate managerial practices in different cultures and institutional environments. The impact of cultural intelligence in organizational citizenship and performance is also addressed. The course will aim to provide opportunities for the practical implementation of the concepts covered.

GS 4050 Diversity and Organizational Structure (4 Credits)

A company is only as good as its culture. It is not only the responsibility of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) leader to create an inclusive and diverse culture. People managers and employees play a vital role in DEI's success. This course helps students understand ways to make their organizations more engaging and dynamic by discussing the different processes that impact thought and interaction between people. Students will also consider how to bring advocates of DEI together in their organizations. They will analyze and apply best DEI practices from a variety of perspectives by learning the essential pillars of a strong DEI plan. They will also learn critical definitions, apply interventions that override errors in judgment and decision making, dissect inclusion and belonging among work groups and think through the change management and communication aspects of DEI.

GS 4060 Communication and Cultural Memory (4 Credits)

The ability to communicate effectively with employees, stakeholders, and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds requires an understanding of the cultural memories, experiences, and values of everyone involved. The culturally-inflected meanings attached to historical events such as 9/11, the Civil Rights Movement, the Holocaust, and colonialism profoundly influence how people imagine the world and their role in it. This course focuses on the impact of cultural memory on identity, looking in particular at the implications for effective professional communication across an array of organizational contexts. Students will gain an understanding of how history comes to be contested and changed, creating diversity in cultural memories that must be taken into account in professional communication.

GS 4130 Gender and Social Justice: Sex and Power in Global Perspective (4 Credits)

This course provides students with a critical understanding of gender and sexuality in relation to social and institutional processes, particularly as they impact professional interactions and conduct. Issues such as inequalities in the labor force, low wage work and poverty, work/family conflict, and domestic work will be addressed. The course will take an intersectional approach to analyzing gender and sexuality in the workplace and beyond.

GS 4140 Contemporary Racial and Ethnic Relations (4 Credits)

This course provides students with ways of assessing the effects of race and ethnicity in professional settings. Topics addressed will include forms of prejudice and discrimination, manifestations of privilege and inequality, and the intersection of race and ethnicity with other markers of identity. Students will analyze social and institutional practices that foster inclusivity and the implications of such practices on workplace equity and social justice.

GS 4150 Global Trade: The Intersection of Main Street and the World (4 Credits)

Trade is often characterized in terms of economic flows—the exchange of goods and services across borders and the electronic transfer of funds worldwide, as well as associated taxes, tariffs, labor, and production costs in different parts of the world. Yet trade also involves the exchange of ideas, cultures, languages, and people, all of which have profound implications for doing business worldwide. This course addresses trade in its different manifestations and explores the impact of trade on work in a variety of contexts. Students will approach trade from a holistic perspective to analyze its connections to globalization and their own work environments.

GS 4160 Politics and Social Media (4 Credits)

As social media becomes an increasingly prevalent means of distributing information, advertising products and services, and communicating with stakeholders, questions arise regarding the politics and ethics that inform its use. What are the potential consequences of using platforms such as Twitter to disseminate political ideologies? How has the use of LinkedIn affected workplace politics and changed the ways in which professionals network? Does professional success require the use of social media, or does its presence in certain contexts do more harm than good? This course will address these questions and others while providing students with lenses through which to view the intersection of social media and politics in the workplace and beyond.

GS 4200 Globalization and Global Citizenship (4 Credits)

Over the past century the world has witnessed unprecedented developments in communication, technology, and mobility. These have enabled the rapid exchange of money, people, materials, ideas, and cultures across national borders. With these changes have come questions about the roles and responsibilities of individuals, companies, and organizations within this increasingly complex and interconnected global society. Globalization is often used as a buzzword for this ever-evolving context, although its meaning is sometimes unclear. This course clarifies the nature of globalization by introducing students to fundamental concepts of global citizenship, focusing in particular on relationships between the local and the global, and on the necessity of developing a cosmopolitan perspective in order to be more successful in an increasingly globalizing workplace.

GS 4210 The Force of Faith: Religion in the Global Workplace (4 Credits)

This course examines the role of religion in the global workplace, addressing issues involved in working with clients, stakeholders, and employees from diverse religious backgrounds with the aim of increasing students’ awareness of their own attitudes toward religious beliefs and professional responsibilities. Students will develop an understanding of the ways in which different religious beliefs impact conceptions of professional communication and conduct, in addition to exploring relationships between religious faiths and business ethics.

GS 4300 Foundations of Translation: The Role of the Professional Translator (4 Credits)

This course examines fundamental translation ideas and theories through assigned readings, lectures, and class discussions. It explores the links between linguistic and cultural factors and their relevance to translation. The course covers the different aspects of translation, surveys translation tools and reference materials, discusses professional roles of translators, analyzes the public perception of the profession, and examines standard business practices and professional codes of ethics. It also introduces the actual practice of translation through realistic exercises.

GS 4301 Written & Sight Translation for Translators & Interpreters (4 Credits)

This is an introductory course for translators and interpreters covering a variety of registers: commercial, journalistic, legal, literary, medical, and technical. Students learn to apply text analysis, text typology, and contrastive analysis of their working languages to identify, analyze, and resolve translation/interpretation problems while independently developing an efficient and rational approach to the process of translation or interpretation. In addition, course assignments include practice and graded exercises in translation and sight translation, utilizing authentic texts drawn from an extensive variety of text categories that include, but are not limited to, current events, general political economy, general legal documents, and scientific and technical topics for general audiences. Language-specific.

GS 4302 Computer Aided Translation (CAT): An Introduction to Software for Translators (4 Credits)

In this course, students examine the various technologies and software used by professional translators. Students will explore the differences between Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) and Machine Translation (MT) and become familiar with the concept of Translation Memory (TM), especially how TM differs from term bases and glossaries. Students will also learn the main features of a professional translation tool and use them in conjunction with QA functionalities, as well as practicing how to revise translation drafts in a consistent work-flow.

GS 4303 Community Engaged Learning in Practice (4 Credits)

This community engaged learning course provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained through their Global Community Engagement coursework to a real-world issue or problem. Students will learn best practices for engaging with communities both global and local, and will develop skills necessary to work effectively in diverse contexts. Equipped with an academic foundation, students will have significant latitude to sketch out a project of their choosing, with the professor’s approval.

GS 4304 Introduction to Legal Translation (4 Credits)

Because a legal document bears legal liabilities, the translation of a legal document has the same legal effect as the original. As a result, the requirements for accuracy in legal translation (meaning, tone, and style) are quite high. This course provides an overview of the nature of legal translation and an introduction to the principles of comparative law, such as how to research legal issues in the countries of the language pair. The concepts of equivalence and zero equivalence are analyzed. Participants translate different types of agreements; certificates; and affidavits, as well as a wide array of documents focusing on probate, family, poverty, and criminal law. Students are given assignments on the research approach, steps, and skills needed to tackle a legal translation project from start to finish. Fundamental legal translation theory is emphasized at the beginning of the course and conveyed in the form of assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, and independent research. Language specific. Prerequisites: GS 4301 and admission to the Master of Liberal Studies in Global Affairs with a Translation Studies specialty of the Certificate of Advanced Study in Translation Studies.

GS 4305 Localization and Translation of Software and Web Pages (4 Credits)

This course provides students with a general overview of the field of web page translation and an introduction to software localization. Class topics range from technical discussions on computer architecture to tips for managing localization projects. Students gain a thorough understanding of the basic components of a localization project (web, software, online help, and documentation) and insight into the larger context of software/web localization and internationalization processes. Using real-life examples and hands-on exercises, students explore the cultural, technical, and organizational challenges in the adaptation of culturally sensitive elements. Language generic. Prerequisites: GS 4301 and admission to the Master of Liberal Studies in Global Affairs with a Translation Studies specialty of the Certificate of Advanced Study in Translation Studies.

GS 4306 Translation of Medical Texts for the Health Care Industry (4 Credits)

This course covers medical terminology involving patient education, medical research, drug development, the human body and systems, major diseases, as well as the most common injuries. Students translate documents used in general medical practice and are introduced to the common roots, prefixes and suffixes in medical terminology. Translation skills are reinforced by analyzing different levels of difficulty in medical texts, by translating, and by addressing requests for editing and rewriting translated materials for patient populations and audiences of different education levels. Students practice translating medical office correspondence, informational brochures, patient letters, discharge information, hospital intake questionnaires, living wills, patient outreach/educational materials, instructions for taking medications, laboratory tests, and medical disability reports, among others. Language-specific. Prerequisites: GS 4301.

GS 4307 Translation Project Management (4 Credits)

This course gives students the opportunity to address both translation and non-translation related issues associated with planning, executing, controlling, and delivering a final translation for a client (either direct or as an agency). Particular focus is given to hands-on practice of the various communications between the parties. The course outlines an effective project management methodology that can be applied to large or small translation/localization projects. Language generic. Prerequisites: GS 4301 and admission to the Master of Liberal Studies in Global Affairs with a Translation Studies specialty of the Certificate of Advanced Study in Translation Studies.

GS 4311 The Language Services Business for Translators & Interpreters (4 Credits)

Translation and interpretation are professions that typically require their practitioners to set up businesses on their own. This course addresses the key issues involved in being an independent contractor in the language industry, including how to acquire clients, how to price professional language services, how to estimate different types of service, and how to manage different client relationships, from government entities to private individuals. The course also analyzes the differences between working directly for clients and working with translation agencies or as a staff translator or interpreter, where it is crucial to know how to work on a team with other language professionals and content experts. The course also covers basic standard business practices in the language industry and business codes of ethics.

GS 4312 Research for Translation & Interpretation (4 Credits)

Not so long ago, the only way for translators to conduct research for their assignments was to consult the reference works they happened to own, or (if they lived near a good library), go to the library and hope what they needed was available there. The Internet changed all that, revolutionizing the translation and interpretation professions. Now translators and interpreters have at their disposal a seemingly bottomless well of information. At the same time, the research skills needed for translation and interpretation also have changed. This course teaches students how to conduct research using a variety of online tools, how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information, how to take advantage of the research tools made available by libraries, and in particular how to leverage the various types of resources offered by different types of libraries. Language-generic.

GS 4313 Translation for the Publishing Industry (4 Credits)

Most professional translators work outside the publishing industry: they work as freelancers or staff translators in business, technical, medical, legal translation--or in some other translation specialization. But when people outside our industry think of translators, it is likely they think of book translators, i.e., translators who work for the publishing industry. Working as a translator for the publishing industry may be rewarding, but in many respects it is different from the kind of work most translators are accustomed to. This course will explore such themes as the difference between working on book-length projects and shorter projects, and the difference between translations performed as "work done for hire" and copyrighted translations. It will look at publishing contracts, and at the difference between translating non-fiction and fiction works. It will also survey the most prominent theories of translation, past and present, to see how they apply to the translation of literature. Language-specific.

GS 4314 Translation & Interpretation for Law Enforcement (4 Credits)

This course explores the scope and nature of translating and interpreting in a law enforcement context, including the kinds of documents a translator is likely to encounter and how an interpreter interacts with both law enforcement professionals and members of the public who lack fluency in English. Language-specific.

GS 4315 Interpreting for Health Care (4 Credits)

In this course, students analyze and learn to apply the correct interpreting mode for different healthcare situations. They develop personalized introductions for use in interpreted sessions to provide a framework for interpretation that is clear to both providers and patients. Students learn to apply the medical code of ethics to different interpreting situations. Selecting from a list of various medical specialties, students create interpreting role plays with classmates that include appropriate introductions, interpreting modes, and terminology in both Spanish and English to simulate real-life interpretation situations. This course cultivates many of the skills needed to pass medical interpreter examinations and helps to prepare students for work as professional healthcare interpreters.

GS 4701 Topics in Global Community Engagement (4 Credits)

The content of this course varies each time it is offered. Specific course content is detailed on quarterly schedule. Depending on the subject matter, students may be required to have completed prerequisite courses.

GS 4800 The Puerto Rican Paradox: Challenges and Opportunities in Uncertain Times (4 Credits)

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a tropical paradise boasting vibrant communities, rich cultures, and abundant natural resources. Once coined a “natural jewelry box” by the BBC, Puerto Rico offers sparkling turquoise waters, bioluminescent bays, lush mountainous terrain, and colorful colonial architecture. It is also plagued by a debilitating debt crisis, political corruption, and a crumbling infrastructure, which, particularly in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria, have caused many residents to flee the island in search of better opportunities and more stable living conditions. In this course, students will examine the paradox that is Puerto Rico. Drawing from literature on culture, history, power, and politics, students will research a topic of their choosing, with the professor’s approval. They will then work with local communities in Puerto Rico on a project of mutual interest and importance, culminating in an approach or proposal for addressing the issue(s) at hand. Students will be required to spend 5 days on-site in Puerto Rico, plus any necessary travel time. This course will give students broad exposure to the history and culture of Puerto Rico, in addition to a nuanced understanding of a specific industry, issue, or problem. It will additionally highlight the power, privilege, and oppression that exists in our own backyards on this U.S. Commonwealth island.

GS 4901 Capstone Project (4 Credits)

The Capstone Project provides students the opportunity to research a topic, problem, or issue within their field of study, and work individually with a Capstone advisor. Similar in weight to a thesis, but more flexible, this final project will synthesize and apply core concepts acquired from the program. The student will select an appropriate Capstone advisor who is knowledgeable in the field of study to work closely with and whom can guide the research project. Evaluation will be focused on the quality and professionalism of applied research and writing; critical and creative thinking; problem-solving skills; knowledge of research design, method, and implementation; and contribution to the field and topic of study. Please see the Capstone Guidelines for additional details. Prerequisites: A Capstone Proposal that has been approved by both the Capstone Advisor and the Academic Director, acceptance as a degree candidate, completion of at least 40 quarter-hours (including all core courses) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

GS 4902 Capstone Seminar (4 Credits)

The Capstone Seminar is a graduate seminar in which students utilize the knowledge and skills gained through the degree program to create a culminating work that critically addresses a problem in their degree field of study. The students produce a Capstone of 7000-8000 words that presents a position on a relevant problem, supports the position with professional and academic literature, analyzes and tests the proposed solution, and discusses the findings as related to the field of study. The seminar is dependent upon quality, collegial discussion, and feedback of students’ research and work products, under the facilitation of a faculty member. The course structure guides the students through the process of independent, secondary research and writing of a Capstone. No primary research is allowed. Students generate the course content through ongoing discussion and peer feedback on the Capstone process and individual topic areas under investigation. Students professionally and academically communicate through written work and oral presentation. Students must have: Acceptance as a degree candidate, completion of at least 40 quarter-hours (including all core courses) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Students must complete the Capstone Seminar in one quarter; no incomplete grades are assigned.

GS 4904 Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar (4 Credits)

The Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar is a graduate seminar in which students utilize the knowledge and skills gained through the degree program to create a culminating work that critically addresses a problem or issue in the degree field of study. Members of the class will include students from various UCOL programs, representing multiple topics of study. On campus offerings of this course include required online components. The student produces a paper of 7000-8000 words that presents a position on a relevant problem or issue, supports the position with professional and academic work in the field, analyzes and tests the paper position, and discusses the role of the findings within the field of study. Students professionally and academically communicate their findings through written work and oral presentations. The seminar is dependent upon active and collegial discussion and critique of student research and work under the facilitation of a faculty member, and it is governed by the quality of participation and contributions of the students. Students must have: Acceptance as a degree candidate, completion of at least 40 quarter-hours (including all core courses) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Students must complete the Capstone Seminar in one quarter; no incomplete grades are assigned.

GS 4905 Graduate Social Research Methods (4 Credits)

This course provides graduate students with a basic background in the methods of research in the social sciences. In our information-rich society, organizations and institutions have become more aware of the value of research data for informing critical decisions. As leaders in their organizations, graduates should have a knowledge base that allows them to critically examine basic research in the social sciences and to understand the methods involved in generating research results. They should understand the value of research to their organizations, be able to identify opportunities to gather information through research that will benefit those organizations, and participate in the ethical design of basic studies to gather that critical information. Students will develop and write a research proposal around a specific research question informed by a review of the literature.

GS 4980 Internship (0-4 Credits)

The internship is designed to offer students a purposeful experience in a practical, industry related setting. The internship is an individualized learning experience and a training plan is created for each student in conjunction with the internship site to provide experiences related to the skills and knowledge covered in the certificate and master's programs.

GS 4991 Independent Study (1-5 Credits)

This is an advanced course for students wishing to pursue an independent course of study. The student must be accepted in a degree program, have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or better, obtained the approval of the department director, and have completed the Independent Study form and filed the form with all appropriate offices before registering for the independent study. Independent Study is offered only on a credit basis and only for degree candidates.