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 have other minority groups. Knowledge of Spanish for health professionals has become a necessity in the health and human services workplace.
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.
Program Requirements
Students take four out of the following five courses. All students must take SPA 318.
- SPA 201 Medical Spanish
- SPA 210 Spanish IV - Latino America
- SPA 301 Spanish Conversation
- SPA 318 Advanced Spanish for Health Professionals
- SPA 410 Theory & Practice of Translation
Registration and Payment Policy
Registrations will be processed upon receipt of payment. Payment is due in full (tuition and fees) in order to be enrolled in any course.
Important: By registering for any of the course offerings, you assume responsibility for all related tuition, registration fees, lab fees, and book fees. You also agree to our refund and cancellation policy.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
See University Policy.
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive your Certificate in Spanish and Latino Cultures for Health Professionals from Southern Connecticut State University. This is a one-time certification. You do not need to get re-certified every year.
Auditing the Program
Audit status is a reasonable alternative for a student who wants to take a particular course, but does not have the proper background. Students who audit a course pay the same tuition and fees they would if they opted for a grade; however, they receive no academic grade or grade points, and the course may not be included in the 12 credits needed for full-time status. Although no final grade is submitted, students do have the right to take exams, write papers, and have them evaluated.
Students may register as auditors or change from credit to audit any time before the end of the third week of classes; however, the deadline for changing back to a traditional grade is the end of the period for adding or dropping courses. Prior to auditing, students must discuss with the instructor the criteria for a successful audit and receive the written approval of the instructor. Forms for this purpose are available in the Registrar's Office and must be returned to the Registrar's Office by the deadline.
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 form their high school counselor to be admitted. These students earn high school credit for completing course work.
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 in 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.