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 14 percent of the population. 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. There is a language-intensive track for students who need more education in that area or a health-focused track for individuals who may have some Spanish fluency but need more background in medicine and science.
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’s degree from UWM, to students who previously received a bachelor’s degree from UWM 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. 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’s degree and non-degree students will receive the certificate upon completion of the program requirements.
Requirements
There are two tracks in the Certificate, a language-intensive track for students in health professions areas who are interested in working with Hispanic populations and a health-focused track for students with some Spanish competency who desire familiarity with the health-related vocabulary in Spanish. 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 UWM and a minimum of 9 of the residence credits taken in L&S courses at the advanced level (courses numbered 300 and above). A maximum of 6 credits in a combination of independent study, internship, and study abroad courses may count toward the certificate. Students must earn a 2.500 GPA in all certificate courses, including transfer work, and in the courses for the certificate taken at UWM. Courses for the certificate may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis. The certificate requirements are as follows:
Spanish for Health Professionals, Language-Intensive Track
The Language-Intensive Track requires completion of at least 18 credits as follows, and is not available to Spanish majors and minors; they must select the health-focused track:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SPANISH 308 | Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 |
| SPANISH 318 | Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| or SPANISH 319 | Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | |
| SPANISH 338 | Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 |
| SPANISH 388 | Health Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits from any courses in the electives group listed for the health-focused track | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Spanish for Health Professionals, Health-Focused Track
The Health-Focused Track requires completion of at least 18 credits as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SPANISH 338 | Spanish for Health Professionals | 3 |
| SPANISH 388 | Health Issues in the Hispanic World | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 9 credits in one of the clusters below | 9 | |
| Select 3 credits from any cluster or the general electives | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Health-Focused Track Electives
Health Communication
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUN 381 | Health Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 481 | Interpersonal Issues in Health Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 581 | Health Communication Interventions | 3 |
Pharmaceuticals, Medicine, and Drugs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 443 | Medicine and Pharmaceuticals in the Global Age | 3 |
| HCA 212 | Drugs Used and Abused | 3 |
| PSYCH 454 | Psychopharmacology and Addiction | 3 |
Health Care Delivery Policy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 450 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HCA 502 | Healthcare Delivery Systems: National and International Perspectives | 3 |
| PHILOS 244 | Ethical Issues in Health Care: (subtitle) | 3 |
| URB STD 639 | Health Care and Public Policy in the United States | 3 |
Health: A Social Science Perspective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 440 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| COMSDIS 210 | Survey of Communication Disorders (SS) 1 | 3 |
| PSYCH 555 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| SOCIOL 282 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| SOCIOL 331 | Sociology of Health Care | 3 |
| 1 | As determined by the certificate program coordinator. |
Health: A Natural Science Perspective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 350 | Human Parasitology | 4 |
| BMS 232 | Introduction to Nutrition (NS) 1 | 3 |
| HS 101 | Introduction to Health and Disease | 2 |
| 1 | As determined by the certificate program coordinator. |
Global Health
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO/GLOBAL 439 | Culture and Global Health | 3 |
| NURS 102 | Perspectives on Health Care Systems | 2 |
| NURS 401 | Global Patterns of Disease | 3 |
| NURS 475 | Global Health: Ethics and Human Rights | 3 |
| NURS 683 | Healthcare of Immigrants and Refugees | 3 |
| NURS 684 | Death and Dying Around the World | 3 |
General Elective Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 260 | Introduction to Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches | 3 |
| HCA 307 | Epidemiology for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| NURS 101 | Cultural Diversity in Health Care (CD SS) | 3 |
| NURS 102 | Perspectives on Health Care Systems | 2 |
| NURS 110 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| NURS 380 | Honors Seminar: | 3 |
| PH 101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
Study abroad courses in Spanish-speaking countries may be accepted with the approval of the Certificate Program Committee. Other courses not on this list but relevant to Spanish for Health Professionals may be accepted with the approval of the Certificate Program Committee.
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 Certificate Program Committee. Students currently enrolled at UWM who have fulfilled some of the program’s requirements prior to the program’s approval may have their credits applied retroactively to the certificate program.