Master’s Thesis

Objectives

The main objective of the Master’s thesis is to allow the students to investigate further into the field with the goal of acquiring competencies that allow them to:

  • Apply and integrate the theory acquired and their capacity to resolve problems in new, multidisciplinary, or even broader environments, applying their expertise in interlinguistic and intercultural mediation in multicultural environments, acting within the parameters of the professional code of ethics as well as communicating their conclusions and continuing their education in agreement with their own values of peace and democracy.
  • Dominate specific aspects of empirical investigation
  • Be capable of completing a concrete investigation about a topic related to the topics of the MA, getting data and supporting it to extract general and specific conclusions about the chosen topic.

Organization and Development

Students should write a Master’s thesis that is 70 to 80 pages in length (35,000 to 40,000 words), not including the Annexes, about a topic related to Public Service Interpreting and Translation. Topics can include (but are not limited to): the search and analysis of materials translated into different languages using a theoretical frame, the analysis of conversations between service providers and users, a critical analysis of different types of communication, the development of specific materials, etc.

The thesis should have a fundamentally practical character, and shoul be based in empirical research. It should therefore be correctly structured, original, and current, or use previous studies to develop new results.

Procedure:

The student should propose a topic; the topic must be approved by an advisor that will be assigned according to the chosen topic. The proposal must  include a written summary with the objectives, methodology, materials that will be used, as well as bibliography available and necessary. The structure of the thesis should include a method of analysis which will be based in theory. In turn, the theory should include references to works by other authors that should later be applied to the method of analysis. The use of Information Technology and Communication is recommended to carry out research activities (Internet, forums, e-mail, materials available in online platforms, internet resources, etc.)

The thesis must be submitted at the beginning of June or September and the defense will typically occur at the end of June/first week of July or September.

Furthermore, to complete the thesis portion of the MA  an oral defense/presentation before a tribunal made up of three professors from the program is mandatory after the approval of the written thesis.

More information:  a document with instructions will be available at the beginning of onsite classes in the student’s online platform.

Evaluation of the Master’s thesis

The Master’s thesis is evaluated and marked by the assigned professors, who work or have experience in the field related to the chosen subject. Aspects such as: originality, definition of proposed objectives, structure and methodology, use of current and pertinent bibliographic resources, format and style, contribution and relevance of results, and suggestions for the future, will all be taken into account. The professor will highlight which points in the thesis should be improved upon.

The correction and evaluation of the  thesis will take into account the two obligatory phases required to pass this portion of the MA program:

  • Submission and approval of written thesis
  • Oral defense/exposition of approved oral thesis

More information: a document with instructions will be available at the beginning of onsite classes in the student’s online platform.