Southern's Certificate in Spanish and Latino Cultures for Health Professionals is a 12-credit sequence of courses designed to prepare current and future professionals to serve Spanish-speaking clients in a clinical setting by developing functional and technical Spanish language skills and cultural awareness about U.S. Latinos. Students may begin the program in any semester and complete the program in one year or less, depending on the number of courses taken at any given time.
This certificate program is ideal for a wide range of health and human service-related professionals, including nurses, doctors, EMTs, social workers, speech pathologists, psychologists, and counselors. The program is the only course of study of its kind being offered in the Northeast to meet these current and future workforce needs.
Students who complete the program will:
- Develop awareness about the critical intersection between language proficiency, cultural dexterity, and the health and human services professions, particularly among Spanish-speaking patients and their providers in the U.S.
- Develop proficiency in basic, intermediate, and advanced medical terminology in Spanish; medical interpreting and translation skills; and cultural fluency to help health and human service professionals better serve their Spanish-speaking clients.
- Create cultural understanding to use when serving Spanish-speaking clients.
- Develop conversational skills useful to hold sustained, meaningful, and accurate conversations with patients.
The purpose of this program is to ensure that there is a critical mass of health and human services professionals within the Connecticut workforce to serve the Spanish-speaking population.
Latinos, Connecticut’s largest minority group, comprise 14.7 percent of our state population. Historically, Latinos have tended to maintain stronger ties to their culture and language than other minority groups. Knowledge of Spanish for health professionals has become a necessity in the health and human services workplace.
Prerequisite Requirements
- Education Requirements: Applicants must have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- High School Students: Students must be in their senior year and have a letter of recommendation from their high school counselor to be admitted. These students earn high school credit for completing coursework.
- Language Proficiency Requirements: Students must have completed two semesters of elementary Spanish at an accredited institution of higher learning or three years of secondary school Spanish, or a placement exam. Work with the coordinator of the program to determine placement and to work out an approved course of study.
FAQ
Q: Can I transfer to a class or two?
A: No. Courses cannot be transferred in, but two of the four courses can be waived via examination (see question below on waiving coursework).
Q: When does enrollment close?
A: Enrollment in a class may be blocked in the following two situations:
The class is at capacity. Since there is no waitlist at SCSU, you will work closely with the coordinator ahead of time to ensure you can enroll in the courses you need.
The class has already met for the first week of class meetings. Students are expected to enroll and attend no later than the second week of class meetings, before the add/drop period is over.
Q: If I have significant background in Spanish, can I waive some of the coursework?
A: Yes, you can waive SPA 201 and SPA 210 if you prove high enough proficiency levels on the STAMP test. To waive SPA 201 with credit, you must demonstrate a proficiency level of intermediate-low on the STAMP test. To waive SPA 210, you must prove a proficiency level of intermediate-mid on the STAMP test.
School / College
College of Arts & Sciences
Department
World Languages and Literatures
Contact
Dr. Luisa Piemontese