Overview
The Certificate in Spanish for the Health Professions, offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, is a twelve (12)-credit specialized program designed for students interested in enhancing their ability to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients in health care professional settings such as medicine, nursing, social services, community outreach, and health policy. Students will gain proficiency in oral and written Spanish communication, reading comprehension, as well as translation and interpretation techniques through interactive classes focused on specialized vocabulary and Latinx cultural contexts. They will also develop competencies in cultural sensitivity, ethical considerations, and the context-specific language subtleties that are essential for accurate and respectful communication with the US-Latino community in health care settings.
The certificate is designed in a manner that it can be completed over the course of an academic year. Students enrolled in the certificate will take four intensive 7-week courses, allowing them to progress through the program in a structured and flexible format that balances rigor with adaptability. These four Spanish courses include two advanced classes of medical Spanish, one culture class focused on the Latino community in the US, as well as one translation and interpretation course. The course is designed to facilitate students' engagement with authentic health care scenarios, interactive role-plays, and applied language practice while managing their other academic or professional commitments.
Certificates are awarded only at the time of completion of the bachelor's degree and cannot be awarded either as a stand-alone program of study or after completion of the first bachelor's degree.
Curriculum Overlap Policy: Students who wish to combine the undergraduate Certificate in Spanish for the Health Professions with the Spanish major, minor or certificate will be allowed to overlap one (1) or two (2) courses from the language, translation or culture areas as follows:
- Certificate in Spanish for the Health Professions and the BA in Spanish: up to 2 overlapping courses.
- Certificate in Spanish for the Health Professions and the Minor in Spanish: up to 1 overlapping course.
- Certificate in Spanish for the Health Professions and the Certificate in Spanish: up to 1 overlapping course.
- Certificate in Spanish for the Health Professions and the Certificate in Spanish-English Translation and Interpretation: up to 1 overlapping course.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: LA-SPHP-CERTIF
Contact Information
José Pablo Barragán Nieto
Director of Undergraduate Studies
4th Floor, Mazur Hall
jose.barragan.nieto@temple.edu
Please contact the College of Liberal Arts' Center for Academic Advising for more information on minors, certificates or other CLA programs.