Spanish for Healthcare, Certificate

Program Description

A certificate in Spanish for Healthcare will benefit the students of Penn State Berks who wish to enhance their speaking, reading, writing, and translating skills to use as professionals in various Healthcare and Human Services fields. This certificate will complement Penn State Berks' Spanish minor, several other existing bachelor's degrees throughout Penn State, and Continuing Education programs. The certificate in Spanish for Healthcare may be started and/or completed at Penn State Berks or any other Penn State location offering these courses. The certificate can be completed in conjunction with a major or minor in Spanish, but will be available to all students, regardless of whether they are in a major, minor, associate degree, 2+2 program, or are non-degree seeking students. Upon completing the certificate in Spanish for Healthcare, given that students begin the four-course sequence with at least a 12-credit proficiency level, they 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 identity.

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 services, international relations, and many others.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You enjoy learning about cultures and languages.
• You are interested in being able to use the Spanish language for your future job.
• You have a major related to global or international studies, communication, education, or languages.
• Your major is related to human services, science, or healthcare.
• You have some experience learning Spanish but need more instruction to use it in the real world.
• You are a native, heritage, or bilingual speaker of Spanish and want to refine your communication skills.
• You enjoy thinking between languages or learning new ones.
• You are passionate about equal access to healthcare.

Program Requirements

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

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

Maria C. Fellie
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Gaige 315
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6449
mcf46@psu.edu

Contact

Berks

DIVISION OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Gaige 315
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6449
BKSpanish@psu.edu

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