Licenciatura (in Paraguay)

English translation: Licenciatura (licentiate degree)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:Licenciatura (in Paraguay)
English translation:Licenciatura (licentiate degree)
Entered by: Sinead Nicholas

17:55 Apr 15, 2016
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Education / Pedagogy / Licenciatura in Paraguay
Spanish term or phrase: Licenciatura (in Paraguay)
From a grade transcript from Universidad de Asuncion, Paraguay. For a student presumably coming to the U.S.
Sentence is:

Que estudiante, XXXXX, ingreso a esta universidad habiendo dado exámenes del plan de estudios en la carrera de LICENCIATURA EN XXXXX.

My understanding is that a "licenciatura" in Latin America is slightly more than a Bachelor's Degree equivalent in the U.S., so to translate it as a Bachelor's Degree is short changing the student. Does anyone out there know if Paraguay is different from other Latin American countries in this respect?

I do not want to misrepresent.
Many thanks!
Sinead Nicholas
United States
Licenciatura (licentiate degree)
Explanation:
Phil is right; there have been many questions on this term in the past. It's also true that different approaches have been recommended. So I feel it's always worth re-emphasising what I believe to be the correct approach.

It is a common misconception that your job as a translator is to find the equivalent degree in the US or any other country. It is not. You're not qualified to do so. That is the job of evaluators. Your job is simply to translate the term. A licenciatura is a licenciatura; it is not a bachelor's degree. If this person wants to have his/her qualification recognised, those with the skills to do so will decide on the equivalence. And of course the best way to ensure that you do not short-change this person by choosing the wrong equivalence is not to go down that path at all. I repeat, it is not your responsibility and you are not qualified to do so.

There does not seem to be any fundamental difference between the licenciatura in Paraguay and in other Latin American countries, such as Argentina for example. The number of years of study varies according to the subject (usually four to six years), as it does in other countries.

A licenciatura in English is called a licentiate degree. Anyone responsible for degree equivalents in US higher education institutions knows what it is. What you should do, in my opinion, is to put the Spanish term and then add this English translation in parentheses. And leave it at that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licentiate

I recommend reading Yolanda Broad's reference entry here:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/french_to_english/education_pedago...
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 15:53
Grading comment
Thank you Charles. This is what I had until a proofreader told me I was wrong and that it should be a Bachelor's degree.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4Licenciatura (licentiate degree)
Charles Davis
4Licentiate
Uvierode Woglo
3undergraduate studies
jude dabo


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
undergraduate studies


Explanation:
hope it helps

jude dabo
Local time: 14:53
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Licenciatura (licentiate degree)


Explanation:
Phil is right; there have been many questions on this term in the past. It's also true that different approaches have been recommended. So I feel it's always worth re-emphasising what I believe to be the correct approach.

It is a common misconception that your job as a translator is to find the equivalent degree in the US or any other country. It is not. You're not qualified to do so. That is the job of evaluators. Your job is simply to translate the term. A licenciatura is a licenciatura; it is not a bachelor's degree. If this person wants to have his/her qualification recognised, those with the skills to do so will decide on the equivalence. And of course the best way to ensure that you do not short-change this person by choosing the wrong equivalence is not to go down that path at all. I repeat, it is not your responsibility and you are not qualified to do so.

There does not seem to be any fundamental difference between the licenciatura in Paraguay and in other Latin American countries, such as Argentina for example. The number of years of study varies according to the subject (usually four to six years), as it does in other countries.

A licenciatura in English is called a licentiate degree. Anyone responsible for degree equivalents in US higher education institutions knows what it is. What you should do, in my opinion, is to put the Spanish term and then add this English translation in parentheses. And leave it at that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licentiate

I recommend reading Yolanda Broad's reference entry here:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/french_to_english/education_pedago...

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 15:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 676
Grading comment
Thank you Charles. This is what I had until a proofreader told me I was wrong and that it should be a Bachelor's degree.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales
37 mins
  -> Thanks, Liz :)

agree  philgoddard
58 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil!

agree  lorenab23: Yes, worth re-emphasisng every time!
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Lorena :)

agree  neilmac: A [expletive deleted] degree. Next...
11 hrs
  -> The amount of time that has been wasted on this! Cheers, Neil ;)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Licentiate


Explanation:
I don't know if the system in Paraguay is the same in Brazil, where I live, but my wife and I discussed this term with a professional from the field of education today and he explained that 'Licenciatura' is like a Bachelor's Degree, except that it is awarded to someone who, on concluding the course, is granted the License to Teach. Below is a link to the 'Online Guide to Educational Systems Around the World'


    https://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/ges/brazil.pdf
Uvierode Woglo
Brazil
Local time: 11:53
Native speaker of: English
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