Arabic Translation Certificate

Arabic Translation Certificate logo

Arabic is one of the six official languages designated by the United Nations. The United States government acknowledges the importance of studying Arabic and has expressed such acknowledgement by adding Arabic to its Critical Languages program. The Arabic Translation Certificate would enable non-native speakers, heritage learners, and native speakers not only to improve their command of Arabic language, but also to achieve a professional level of using both dialect and standard Arabic in translation.

Students can combine their majors with a translation certificate in fields such as healthcare and medicine, engineering, science, business, media, political science, social sciences, and humanities. A professional in any of those fields may have a better hiring opportunity if they also prove they can serve their employers as translators as well.

Given the demographics of the Detroit Metro-Area, with the highest concentration of Arabic and Arab-American communities, interest in a translation certificate from among U-M students and the Detroit and Dearborn communities is growing. This is already evident in the use of Arabic in government documents, as basic as driver’s exams. Learners who obtain the Arabic Translation Certificate have a good chance of working at government agencies, such as the state department, in addition to the Arab American National Museum, local schools, banks and private businesses, translation offices, legal and immigration services, health care, tourism, to name a few of local opportunities, not to mention international possibilities as well. As a leading Michigan institution located at the heart of an Arab-American hub, the University of Michigan-Dearborn is set to pioneer translation certification.

In order to serve students and the community better, the Arabic Translation Certificate offers a certificate for undergraduate degree-seeking students, non-degree students and post-degree students. The post-degree certificate component addresses the needs of college graduates, native speakers of Arabic, and community members seeking a post-degree professional certificate.

Information about the Certificate