CERTIFICATE IN TRANSLATION
Undergraduate Certificate in Translation
Earn MSU’s Undergraduate Certificate in Translation while building practical skills that add value to almost any career path.
Build on your French or Spanish coursework with translation practice, emerging technology and hands-on experience, and earn a 10-credit credential that appears on your transcript.
The certificate combines classroom learning with an experiential opportunity. You’ll explore how effective translation carries meaning, tone and cultural context across languages; work thoughtfully with translation technologies, including artificial intelligence; and apply what you learn in a professional or community setting.
The certificate is open to MSU students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs who meet the course prerequisites.
Already pursuing a French or Spanish major or minor? With program approval, French or Spanish courses may count toward both the certificate and your degree. This means many students need only ROM 240 and a one-credit experiential component. If those credits keep your semester total between 12 and 18, they are covered by MSU’s block tuition at no additional tuition cost.
Why earn the certificate?
Language proficiency is valuable. The ability to translate thoughtfully — with attention to people, purpose, culture and technology — makes it even more versatile.
- Gain foundational knowledge for future study or work in translation and interpreting.
- Develop translation skills that complement careers in health care, education, business, marketing and communications, public service, nonprofits, media, travel and tourism, and other fields.
- Strengthen intercultural competence and your ability to communicate with different audiences.
- Build technical fluency by using AI and other translation tools while learning to assess accuracy, nuance, bias and context.
- Diversify your resume and demonstrate that you can contribute in multilingual and cross-cultural environments.
What you’ll learn
- Core approaches to translation theory and practice
- How context, culture, tone and audience shape translation decisions
- How to evaluate, revise and improve machine- and AI-assisted translations
- Professional practices, workflows and tools used in translation projects
- How to reflect on and present your work through an experiential portfolio
Certificate requirements
Complete 10 credits: one foundational course, two courses in either the French or Spanish track, and one experiential learning credit.
ROM 240: Fundamentals in Translation Theory and Practice (offered in fall semesters) 3 Credits
FRN 420: French for Professional Uses + one 400-level FRN elective based on your interests (6 Credits)
SPN 452: Topics in Spanish Language I + one 400-level SPN elective based on your interests
6 Credits
UGS 292: Experiential Learning in Undergraduate Studies, or an approved internship/related experience with a portfolio
1 Credit
Choose either the French track or the Spanish track; you do not complete both. All course prerequisites apply. With approval from the departments and colleges involved, certificate courses may also fulfill bachelor’s degree requirements.
Put your skills to work
The one-credit experiential component gives you a chance to use language and translation skills in a setting connected to your interests. Depending on availability and approval, an experience could take place on campus, in the Lansing community, virtually or through study abroad or study away.
Possible experiences may include the MSU Translation Center, MSU Extension/4-H, the Global Remote Internship Program, a refugee-serving organization, Cristo Rey Community Center, a language-immersion school or another approved organization. A current job that includes translation responsibilities also may qualify. Students complete a portfolio to document and reflect on their work.
Plan your experience with the program: Contact Professor Tony Grubbs before beginning an internship, volunteer role or work-based project to confirm that it will meet the certificate requirement.
Translation in the age of AI
AI can produce a translation quickly. Effective translators still need to determine whether the result is accurate, appropriate and meaningful for the people who will use it. In this certificate, you’ll learn to work critically with AI and other translation technologies — not simply accept their first output. You’ll build the human judgment needed to recognize missing context, cultural nuance, bias, tone and errors.
Who should apply?
The certificate is a strong fit for:
- French and Francophone Studies or Spanish majors and minors who want to add a practical credential to their degree
- MSU bachelor’s degree students with the French or Spanish proficiency needed to meet course prerequisites
- Students interested in translation, interpreting, multilingual communication or careers that serve multilingual communities
- Students who want hands-on experience using language skills beyond the classroom
Plan the certificate with your advisor
Course prerequisites apply, and using certificate courses toward bachelor’s degree requirements requires program approval. Consult your academic advisor to confirm how the certificate fits your degree plan. Students with questions about tuition or financial aid should contact Spartan One-Stop.
Apply
Ready to make more of your language skills? Apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Translation.
Questions about the certificate or experiential component? Contact Professor Tony Grubbs at grubbsa@msu.edu.
Fall Semester 2026 Timeline
Application process opens: September 7
Application process closes: October 30
Review of applications: October 31
Notification of acceptance: By November 16
Frequently asked questions
No. This is an academic undergraduate certificate that appears on your MSU transcript and provides foundational preparation in translation. Professional certification is a separate credential that may require additional education, experience and assessment.
No. The certificate is open to students enrolled in MSU bachelor’s degree programs who meet the course prerequisites. French and Spanish majors and minors may be especially close to completing the requirements.
The certificate requires 10 credits: ROM 240 (3 credits), two courses in either the French or Spanish track (6 credits), and an approved experiential learning component (1 credit).
Possibly. With approval from the departments and colleges involved, courses used for the certificate may also satisfy bachelor’s degree requirements. Confirm your plan with an academic advisor.
With program approval, French or Spanish courses may count toward both the certificate and your degree. This means many students need only ROM 240 and a one-credit experiential component. If those credits keep your semester total between 12 and 18, they are covered by MSU’s block tuition at no additional tuition cost. Confirm your plan with an advisor and Spartan One-Stop.
Complete UGS 292 or an approved translation-related internship or experience in an on-campus, community, virtual, study abroad or study away setting, along with a portfolio. Contact Professor Grubbs to approve your plan before you begin.
ROM 240 is offered in fall semesters.
Related opportunities
Continue building your translation experience and professional network:
- MSU Translation Center — translationcenter.msu.edu | translat@msu.edu
- MSU Translation Club — Instagram: @msutranslate | msutranslation@gmail.com
Please contact Professor Tony Grubbs (grubbsa@msu.edu) with inquiries.
Also check out
MSU Translation Center translat@msu.edu
MSU Translation Club (IG: @msutranslate); msutranslation@gmail.com
