Spanish for Healthcare, Certificate

Plan Code: SPHLTH_UCT

Program Description

A Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare will benefit the students of Penn State who wish to enhance their speaking, reading, writing, and translating skills to use as professionals in healthcare, human services, and other professional fields. This certificate complements the Spanish minor and major, many other existing degree programs throughout Penn State, and Continuing Education programs. The Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare may be started and/or completed at any Penn State location offering the required courses. The Certificate is available to all students, regardless of whether they are in a major, minor, associate degree, 2+2 program, C.E. program, or are non-degree-seeking students. Upon completing the Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare, given that the four-course sequence is started with at least a 12-credit proficiency level, students should be able to: 1) Communicate (speak, read, write) in Spanish in healthcare settings at an intermediate to advanced level (depending on each student's background) and translate basic (non-specialized) documents accurately; 2) Employ knowledge of specialized healthcare terminology and services relevant to their particular fields; and 3) Recognize cultural practice, apply cultural knowledge, and practice cultural humility in healthcare settings, while considering regional differences in Hispanic cultures and cultural identities.

What is Spanish for Healthcare?

Spanish for Healthcare is a growing field that aims to increase your competence in using the Spanish language (speaking, writing, reading, translating) while working in a variety of healthcare and human services professions. Learning how to use Spanish on a professional level can complement a broad range of disciplines such as education, health sciences, human/social services, business, communication, international relations, and many others.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You enjoy learning about world cultures and languages.
  • You want to use Spanish in your future profession.
  • Your major is related to international studies, communication, education, business, human/social services, science, or healthcare.
  • You have some experience with Spanish, but need more training to use it professionally.
  • You are a native, heritage, or bilingual speaker of Spanish and want to refine your communication skills.
  • You are passionate about equal access to healthcare services.

Program Requirements

To earn an undergraduate certificate in Spanish for Healthcare, a minimum of 12 credits is required.

Required Courses
SPAN 100BIntermediate Grammar and Composition for Students in Medical-Related Fields3
SPAN 200Intensive Grammar and Composition3
or SPAN 301 Intensive Grammar and Composition for Spanish Bilinguals
SPAN 300BAdvanced Grammar and composition for Students in Medical-related Fields3
SPAN 412Translation3

Non-Course Requirements:

A student may seek this certificate in any degree program or as a non-degree student, as long as they meet the prerequisites. All four courses of the certificate must be completed with a "C" grade or higher. There is no time limit for completing the certificate. Course substitutions are not anticipated, but may be proposed to the certificate head for review. Penn State requires that at least two-thirds (2/3) of the courses be exact to the certificate requirements. At least 2/3 of the credits used to complete a certificate must be earned at Penn State. All students must add the certificate program in LionPATH and must notify the program chair when they have completed the certificate requirements.

Certificate Learning Objectives

  • Students who complete the program will be able to recognize cultural practice, apply cultural knowledge, and practice cultural humility in healthcare settings, while considering regional differences in Hispanic cultures and cultural identity.
  • Students who complete the program will be able to employ knowledge of specialized healthcare terminology in Spanish and services relevant to their particular fields.
  • Students who complete the program will be able to speak, read, write in, and translate to/from Spanish in healthcare settings at an intermediate to advanced level (depending on each student's background).

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Berks

Rosario Torres
Associate Professor of Spanish
P.O. Box 7009, Gaige 314
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6408
BKSpanish@psu.edu

Contact

Berks

BERKS SPANISH PROGRAM
P.O. Box 7009
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6408
BKSpanish@psu.edu

https://berks.psu.edu/certificate-spanish-healthcare