The Spanish for Healthcare Professions certificate prepares students to communicate effectively in Spanish within healthcare and related fields. Through coursework in language, culture, and interdisciplinary perspectives on health, students develop linguistic proficiency, cultural competence, and professional knowledge to engage with Spanish-speaking patients and communities.

Certificate Goals

Students completing the Spanish for Healthcare Professions certificate will be able to:

• communicate effectively with Spanish speakers in routine, simple medical contexts, including patient registration, medical interviews, and health education,
• comprehend medical documents, instructions, and patient histories in Spanish,
• recognize and address language barriers and health disparities affecting Spanish-speaking communities while understanding and respecting the cultural knowledge and practices these communities bring to healthcare, and integrate this awareness into patient care and professional interactions with cultural humility and respect,
• apply interdisciplinary perspectives to develop a deeper understanding of health, illness, and healthcare systems, enriching the ability to engage with Spanish-speaking patients in a holistic and informed manner.

Certificate Requirements: Six Courses

• SPA15-274 Spanish for Healthcare Professions
• SPA15-284 Culture and Health in Hispanic Communities
• One option from:
  • Academic Internship: SPA15-943 or SPA15-944
  • Study Abroad: an approved Health Studies-related study abroad program in a Spanish-speaking country
• Three courses from:
  • BIO50-173 Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Biology & BIO50-171 Inquiries in Biology or BIO50-181 Investigations in Biology
  • BIO50-183 Evolutionary and Ecological Foundations of Biology & BIO50-171 Inquiries in Biology, or BIO50-181 Investigations in Biology
  • CLA07-434 Greek and Latin in Scientific Terminology
  • HIS16-014 Disease, Health, and Medicine in World History
  • HIS16-274 Reproductive Histories in Latin America
  • KIN48-112 Explorations in Kinesiology
  • KIN48-123 Human Structure and Function & KIN48-121 Structural Kinesiology Lab
  • KIN48-234 Health and Fitness Concepts
  • ​​PHI18-164 Self, Ethics, Society
  • PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
  • SOC34-114 Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC34-264 Racial and Ethnic Perspectives
  • SOC34-234 Sociology of Gender
  • SOC34-284 Sociology of the Family

Note: All students must take a language proficiency assessment once they have completed their Spanish for Healthcare Professions certificate coursework. Also, as is the case with all certificates, certificate requirements must be fulfilled with Southwestern courses only; transfer credit, AP/IB scores, or other non-residence SU credit are not accepted.