Spanish for the Health Professions Certificate (Undergraduate)

Certificate Program in Spanish for the Health Professions

The Certificate Program in Spanish for the Health Professions in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University is a 12-credit specialized undergraduate program designed for students who want to strengthen their ability to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients in healthcare settings, including medical practices, nursing, social services, community health and public policy.

Students develop advanced proficiency in oral and written Spanish, reading comprehension, and interpretation and translation skills, with a strong emphasis on real-world, patient-centered communication. The program also integrates cultural awareness, ethical reasoning and sensitivity to linguistic variation within Latinx communities to ensure accurate and respectful communication in professional contexts.

The Spanish for the Health Professions program is designed for students across disciplines who are preparing for careers in health-related fields and who recognize the growing need for bilingual professionals in the United States and beyond. The certificate consists of four courses that can be completed across multiple semesters or, if chosen, over the course of one academic year through an intensive seven-week format. Courses include Medical Spanish, Latino Health Issues in the U.S. and Spanish-English Interpretation Techniques for Health Care.

Career Outcomes

You will gain highly marketable skills, including bilingual communication, cultural competence, patient-centered interaction and cross-disciplinary collaboration. These skills prepare you for careers in fields including healthcare, public health and social services, as well as for graduate and professional study. In an increasingly diverse healthcare landscape, this certificate equips students to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking communities while enhancing career opportunities and professional mobility.

Why study Spanish for the health professions in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple?

Program outcomes: This undergraduate certificate program is designed to meet a growing national demand for bilingual health professionals. You’ll receive intensive, career-focused training in Spanish for healthcare settings, with emphasis on U.S. Latinx health issues and community needs.
Interdisciplinary curriculum: Courses place a strong emphasis on real-world communication through role-play and applied scenarios, and integrate the development of language, culture, ethics and professional skills. You’ll also complete training in interpretation and translation for professional health contexts.
Flexible options: You can complete the certificate in one academic year through intensive seven-week courses. You also can overlap courses with the Spanish Major and minor, or other certificates.

Spanish for the Health Professions Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the certificate will be equipped to

communicate effectively in Spanish in healthcare and professional settings;
use specialized medical and health-related vocabulary accurately in context;
demonstrate oral and written proficiency in patient-centered communication;
apply interpretation and translation strategies in health-related scenarios;
analyze cultural, ethical and social factors affecting health communication;
interact appropriately and respectfully with Spanish-speaking patients and communities;
recognize linguistic variation and use appropriate register in professional contexts;
engage in cross-cultural communication with awareness and sensitivity;
apply Spanish language skills to real-world healthcare challenges; and
demonstrate readiness for professional or academic advancement in health-related fields.

Program Format and Curriculum

Students in this 12-credit program will complete four seven-week intensive courses. These comprise two advanced classes in medical Spanish (Spanish for Health Professions and Medical Spanish), one class focused on Latinx communities in the U.S., and one translation and interpretation course.

Related Graduate Degrees

Our Academic Advisors

Joyce K. Salzberg Center for Professional Development

Dedicated advisors at the Joyce K. Salzberg Center for Professional Development in the College of Liberal Arts are available to guide students through their academic careers and with their career paths beyond Temple. They can help you choose a major, navigate your curriculum, identify internship opportunities, explore career opportunities and determine your post-graduation plans. Learn more about the center.

Program Contact

If you have questions regarding the Spanish for the Health Professions Certificate (Undergraduate), contact the following staff member.

José Pablo Barragán Nieto is the director of undergraduate studies in the Spanish and Portuguese Department.
Email: galorenz@temple.edu

Study Away

College of Liberal Arts undergraduate students are encouraged to study away for an academic year, semester or summer. Enrich your experience at Temple by immersing yourself in one of the Spanish and Portuguese Department’s many study away programs.

Students can choose to spend their junior year abroad, or they can choose one of the following study away opportunities.

The Latin American Studies Semester is a 17-credit immersion program that includes intensive study of Spanish language, an exploration of Latin American culture and a three-week trip to Ecuador.
The Spring in Spain program places students with families in Oviedo, Spain, where they will attend classes at the University of Oviedo. An initial weeklong orientation is held in Madrid. Courses focus on Spanish language, culture and literature.
The Summer Abroad in Spain: Spanish Language and Culture in Oviedo is a five-week program that immerses students in the language and culture of Spain. Students may enroll for a total of six credits.

Learn more about your options for studying away.

Accreditation

Temple University’s departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Temple University