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In the Kansas City area, there is an urgent need for formal training to improve the number of qualified foreign language interpreters, particularly in the judicial and health care settings.
Our program will prepare functionally-bilingual students to work as entry-level interpreters in health care and legal contexts.
Visit the MoSCORES website for information on MCC's programs, including length, credit hours, and wage and employment data. Search Metropolitan Community College. Note: The historical data listed is informational and can vary based on the number of credit hours students earn, local wage conditions and other factors.
Many MCC students plan to transfer. Whatever your transfer destination, we'll work to make sure your credits move easily. That's why we're experts at it.
We've worked out specific transfer agreements with many four-year colleges and universities, so make sure you speak with an academic advisor before enrolling, particularly since transfer agreements can change based on curriculum revisions.
Learn more about MCC's seamless transfer
The certificate program is 20 credit hours and can be completed in one year. Two classes are offered in the fall and spring semesters and an internship in the summer. (Classes meet for eight weeks, two evenings a week for approximately 3 hours.)
The internship is under the supervision of a professional interpreter who will aid the student in using the skills and applying the knowledge gained from previous semesters.
The MCC-Maple Woods program accommodates many languages by spending some class time on theoretical and practical topics relevant to all interpreting students.
English is the language spoken in class during this part of class time. For the remainder of the course, students are broken up into groups based on language pairs to practice their proficiency as interpreters.
The class size is limited to 28 students.
"I think that this program, more than any other, turned me from just a bilingual person into a well-equipped and highly trained interpreter."
"This program really opened my eyes to the difference between being bilingual and interpreting professionally. It takes a lot of hard work to interpret on a professional and quality level, but if you love language and helping people, then it is definitely worth it."
"Great program. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in interpreting."
"A valuable growth experience."
"Fantastic teachers will prepare you for the field."
"Instructors provide you with real-life experiences and knowledge."
"Before I began MCC- Maple Woods Foreign Language Interpreting program, I was already working in the field of medical interpreting. This program enriched and widened my knowledge about the interpreting career in the medical and legal field. After completing this program, I feel more confident accepting assignments in the court system, social services, and education field."
"My instructors were very well qualified and inspired me to continue to pursue this career which I have found rewarding and fulfilling."
Apply to MCC today!