Master of Arts in Translation (English/Arabic/English)
The Master of Arts in Translation (English/Arabic/English) (MATRA) is a rigorous and innovative degree program offered by the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies. Designed to meet the growing global demand for highly skilled translators, the MATRA program addresses the pivotal role of intercultural communication in today’s interconnected world, and the integral links between language, culture and technology.
Combining academic excellence with practical relevance, the MATRA program equips students with advanced competencies in translation between English and Arabic. It integrates a broad spectrum of professional skills within a solid theoretical framework, enabling students to critically analyze translation challenges, adopt reflective practice and apply effective problem-solving strategies.
One of the distinctive features of the program is its emphasis on technological literacy. Students receive in-depth training in terminology management, machine translation (MT), and emerging generative AI (GAI) tools—skills essential for success in contemporary translation workflows. Additionally, the program addresses language engineering, quality assessment and media translation, positioning graduates at the forefront of industry developments.
The program’s interdisciplinary approach, innovative curriculum and strong grounding in both theory and practice make it uniquely suited for aspiring translators and interpreters seeking to thrive in diverse fields such as diplomacy, business, media, law, science and international relations. With a dynamic focus on current and future trends, MATRA graduates are well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the global translation and localization industries.
Program Mission
The MATRA program aims to develop skilled, ethical and technologically proficient translators who are equipped to bridge linguistic and cultural divides between English and Arabic, and to contribute meaningfully to global communication across diverse professional domains.
To fulfill its mission, the MATRA degree program aims to:
- foster graduates' expertise in advanced translation techniques and practices in both Arabic and English
- equip students with the analytical tools to diagnose, address and resolve translation challenges while cultivating a reflective, critical approach to the craft
- deepen students' linguistic proficiency in Arabic and English, with a focus on how these languages intersect with translation theory and practice
- expose students to the evolving relevant technologies in media translation and GAI tools for translation production and evaluation
- empower students to confidently meet the translation demands across diverse sectors, including business, media, science, international relations, law and journalism
- strengthen students' understanding of relevant research methodologies and academic writing standards in the field of translation studies
Graduates of the MATRA program will be prepared to:
- exhibit proficiency in translating between Arabic and English
- critically engage with and apply translation theories to effectively produce and evaluate translation work
- utilize their linguistic knowledge of Arabic and English to enhance translation accuracy and quality
- integrate relevant technologies such as GAI tools seamlessly into their translation practice
- demonstrate expertise in translating specialized content across fields such as business, media, science, international relations, law and journalism
- implement appropriate research methodologies in accordance with academic writing standards in the field of translation studies
In addition to meeting the university’s general requirements for graduate admission, non-native Arabic speakers must hold a BA in Arabic.
Applicants with a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.50 (or its equivalent) and a GPA of 2.50 (or its equivalent) in 300- and 400-level courses related to the program, along with at least three years of relevant practical experience in translation and/or interpreting, may be considered for conditional admission.
For details, refer to the AUS Graduate Catalog.
AUS undergraduate students may pursue a MATRA degree simultaneously by registering for a maximum of six credit hours of MATRA courses. The master’s level courses may be counted towards meeting the graduation requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
For more details, refer to the Accelerated Master’s Program in the Academic Policies and Regulations section of the AUS Undergraduate Catalog.
Students in the MATRA degree program are offered two options: a thesis option and a course option. To graduate with the MATRA degree, students must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credit hours inclusive of a research thesis (for students pursuing the thesis option), with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 as follows:
Thesis Option
- 12 credit hours of required courses
- a minimum of 12 credit hours of elective courses
- six credit hours of Master’s Thesis
Course Option
- 12 credit hours of required courses
- a minimum of 18 credit hours of elective courses
Students must successfully complete the degree requirements within five years from the time of initial enrollment in the program.
For details, refer to the AUS Graduate Catalog.
(12 credit hours)
- TRA 500 Principles and Strategies of Translation (3 credits)
- TRA 510 Research Methods and Academic Writing (3 credits)
- TRA 520 Translating for the Media (3 credits)
- TRA 570 AI and Translation Quality Assessment (3 credits)
- TRA 630 Practicum (0 credits)*
- TRA 699 Master’s Thesis (3 credits) (only for students in the thesis option)
*Note: The practicum requirement (TRA 630) can be waived for students with relevant and documented professional experience in translation and/or interpreting, subject to the approval.
(12–18 credit hours)
Students in the thesis option must successfully complete a minimum of four elective courses totaling a minimum of 12 credit hours whereas, those pursuing the course option must successfully complete a minimum of six elective courses for a minimum of 18 credit hours from the following list of courses:
- TRA 503 Theoretical Models of Translation
- TRA 512 Terminology, Arabicization and the Translator
- TRA 530 Mediation for the Community
- TRA 540 Technology and Localization in Translation
- TRA 550 Corpus Linguistics and Translation
- TRA 557 Translation of Administrative and Legal documents
- TRA 558 Contrastive Linguistics and Translation
- TRA 560 Audiovisual Translation
- TRA 580 Translating Quranic Pragmatics
- TRA 594/596 Special Topic courses in translation
- TRA 610 Intercultural Communication and Translation
Additionally, students may take up to two elective courses from other relevant programs that contribute to the program learning outcomes.
For more information, please refer to the AUS Graduate Catalog.
The master’s thesis must be prepared under the close supervision of the thesis faculty supervisor on a topic within translation/interpreting studies or an extended translation and a commentary, chosen in consultation with the faculty supervisor.
For more information on the master’s thesis and registration details, please refer to Master’s Thesis, Professional Project and Dissertation under the Academic Policies and Regulations section of the AUS Graduate Catalog.
