Spanish for Health Professionals, Undergraduate Certificate Undergraduate Certificate
The Spanish for Health Professionals (SHP) Certificate Program is designed to provide students with the language skills and cultural knowledge needed to help Spanish-speakers successfully negotiate the health care system. Graduates of the program leave not only with proficiency in medical Spanish, but also with an understanding of the Hispanic culture and how that culture may affect healthcare practices and the delivery of health services.
This certificate will enhance the credentials of individuals seeking a career in direct patient care such as doctor, nurse, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or physical therapist, or anyone who works with Spanish-speakers in a healthcare setting such as insurance providers or healthcare navigators.
Hispanic and Latino groups are the largest minority group in the United States, and Spanish-speakers constitute the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. In Milwaukee alone, Spanish-speakers make up almost 20% percent of the population (2020 Census). As these populations grow, so does the need for healthcare workers who can communicate with and advocate for Spanish-speaking patients.
Students in the program gain expertise in the language of health care, in Spanish, including colloquial Spanish; an understanding of cultural differences that impact the delivery of health care services to Hispanic populations; and knowledge of the health care concerns of many different groups of Spanish-speakers.聽
Certificates are similar to minors in terms of credit requirements but draw on coursework from multiple fields of study rather than from a single department.
Eligibility
The Spanish for Health Professionals Certificate is open to all students seeking a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 51猎奇, to students who previously received a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 51猎奇 or any other accredited college or university, and to individuals who do not plan to pursue a college or university degree (non-degree students) but who have a strong interest in this topic.聽To be admitted as non-degree candidates, individuals must meet regular University admissions requirements. Students currently involved in baccalaureate studies who successfully complete the requirements of the program will be awarded the certificate at the time of graduation. Students who already have a bachelor鈥檚 degree and non-degree students will receive the certificate upon completion of the program requirements.
Program Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus
Requirements
The Certificate in Spanish for Health Professionals is for both students in health professions who are interested in working with Hispanic populations and students with some Spanish competency who wish to develop familiarity with the health-related vocabulary in Spanish.聽
To obtain the certificate, students must complete at least 18 credits in courses approved for the Spanish for Health Professionals certificate, with at least 12 credits taken in residence at 51猎奇 and a minimum of 9 of the credits in residence taken in L&S courses at the advanced level (courses numbered 300 and above).聽A maximum of 6 credits in a combination of independent study, internship, and study abroad courses may count toward the certificate.聽Students must earn a 2.00 GPA in all certificate courses, including transfer work, and in the courses for the certificate taken at 51猎奇.聽Courses for the certificate may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis. The certificate requirements are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 | |
| Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 | |
| 辞谤听 | Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | |
| Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 | |
| Health Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits in health-focused electives listed below in any combination | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Health-focused Electives (by interest area)
Select at least 6 credits from courses below. Please note that most courses listed are 3-credit courses but a few are not.
Health Communication
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Health Communication | 3 | |
| Interpersonal Issues in Health Communication | 3 | |
| Health Communication Interventions | 3 |
Pharmaceuticals, Medicine, and Drugs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches | 3 | |
| Drugs Used and Abused | 3 | |
| Psychopharmacology and Addiction | 3 |
Health Care Delivery Policy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Health Economics | 3 | |
| Healthcare Delivery Systems: National and International Perspectives | 3 | |
| Comparative Health Systems: A Social Determinants Approach | 3 | |
| Ethical Issues in Health Care: (subtitle) | 3 |
Health: A Social Science Perspective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Anthropology | 3 | |
| Survey of Communication Disorders (SS GER) | 3 | |
| Health Psychology | 3 | |
| Sociology of Aging | 3 | |
| Sociology of Health Care | 3 |
Health: A Natural Science Perspective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Nutrition (NS GER) | 3 | |
| Introduction to Health and Disease | 2 | |
| Climate Change, the Environment and Human Health (NS GER) | 3 |
Global Health
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Culture and Global Health | 3 | |
| Cultural Diversity in Health Care 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Health | 3 | |
| Honors Seminar: 1 | 3 | |
| Global Patterns of Disease | 3 | |
| Global Health: Ethics and Human Rights | 3 | |
| Exploring Global Environmental Health | 3 |
- 1
Students who take cannot take for credit ( is the Honors version of this course).
Public Health
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Public Health | 3 | |
| Health and Disease: Concepts and Contexts | 3 | |
| Introduction to Health Disparities | 3 | |
| Foundations for Action in Public Health | 3 | |
| Strategies for Action in Public Health | 3 | |
| Epidemiology for the Health Sciences | 3 |
Study abroad courses in Spanish-speaking countries or other courses relevant to Spanish for Health Professionals may be accepted with the approval of the Spanish Undergraduate Advisor, in consultation with advisors and/or faculty from other programs..
Credits earned at other institutions equivalent to courses in the certificate program may be accepted in partial fulfillment of the program requirements, subject to review by the Spanish Undergraduate Advisor.
Advising for the certificate takes place within the program by a faculty member or staff member. Follow the steps using the 鈥淒eclare a Certificate鈥� button on the department鈥檚 website which may include instructions on how to select a faculty advisor if there is more than one to choose from.
Students who already have an L&S college advisor because their degree plan is in L&S can discuss the certificate with them as well since they will be familiar with any certificate in L&S. Students who are working on a degree from a 51猎奇 college other than the College of Letters & Science will not need an L&S college advisor for just a certificate and one will not be assigned. These students should work with the faculty or staff advisor they receive as part of the minor declaration process or contact the program directly for assistance.
Non-degree students who are just working on the certificate and no degree program can also work directly with the certificate program for advising and/or with their assigned non-degree advisor.