Romance Languages & Literatures

Your command of language could place you in a high school classroom, using smartboards to teach grammar and leading discussions on literature. Or, you might find yourself in a courtroom providing simultaneous interpretation for a legal proceeding, or at a desk using specialized software to translate technical manuals.

Most graduates start as newly certified teachers or as general translators for an agency. Career progression often involves specialization. A translator might become a certified medical interpreter, while a teacher could advance to a department head. Experienced interpreters and translators often go freelance, building their own client base and setting higher rates. While teaching demand is steady, the interpreter and translator path is currently seeing more growth.

Software and AI are changing this work. Automated tools now handle much of the basic, repetitive translation, so your career will focus on what they can’t do: interpreting cultural nuance in a business negotiation, ensuring accuracy in high-stakes medical situations, or adapting creative marketing copy. You’ll learn to leverage AI as a powerful assistant, focusing your expertise where human judgment remains essential.