Graduate Certificate
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Visit the College of Arts & SciencesThe Graduate Certificate in Spanish for Medical Professionals serves as an enhancement of existing undergraduate degrees in healthcare for bilingual providers. Current healthcare workers or students in postgraduate programs can leverage this certificate to demonstrate their commitment to providing equitable and inclusive healthcare for the Spanish-speaking population.
We believe that patients of all socioeconomic backgrounds have a right to exceptional medical care and that limited proficiency in English should never be a barrier. This program is tailored for working healthcare professionals who possess a beginning to intermediate knowledge of Spanish and want to raise their level of proficiency to include medical lexicon so they may champion inclusive care across interdisciplinary teams.
Completed as a series of two 7-week online and asynchronous courses, this graduate certificate prepares bilingual healthcare workers to differentiate themselves in the marketplace by listening, speaking, reading and writing in Spanish. Designed to be comprehensive but manageable for working doctors, emergency responders, hospital administrators, medical assistants, nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants and more, this certificate program prepares students to guide Spanish-speaking patients as they make appointments, take vital signs, describe pain and symptoms, provide pre-operatory authorizations and communicate with family members in urgent and acute care environments.
According to the 2020 Census, an estimated 41,757,391 U.S. residents, or 13.5% of the population, speak Spanish at home.
A study by the Cambridge Health Alliance found that Spanish speakers scheduled 36% fewer outpatient visits compared to non-Hispanic adults.
The same study by Cambridge Health Alliance found that Spanish-speaking patients received 48% fewer prescription medications than non-Hispanic adults.
This certificate program covers medical Spanish terminology and dialogue so that working healthcare providers may better address the needs of Spanish-speaking patients in a personal and professional manner.
Both of these seven-week courses focus on linguistic and cultural content as well as scenarios and practice relevant to a wide variety of healthcare roles. Students enrolling in this program must already possess a beginner to intermediate knowledge of the language along with a vested interest in using their Spanish skills effectively in a healthcare setting.*
Students pursuing the graduate certificate in Spanish for Medical Professionals will also be expected to complete a graduate-level project that includes an additional component of applied research.
*If you have questions about your level of Spanish, please contact Aileen Dever.
This 7-week, online, asynchronous course is the first of two courses leading to the Graduate Certificate in Spanish Language for Medical Professionals. Designed for students with beginning to intermediate knowledge of Spanish, this program is ideal for working healthcare professionals including doctors, emergency medical technicians, emergency responders, hospital administrators, medical assistants, nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists, physician assistants, dentists, social workers and more.
Students review grammatical structures needed to interact effectively with patients, acquire intercultural awareness and learn essential medical and technical terminology while engaging in the rigorous practice of reading, writing, speaking and listening. All coursework is completed with the goal of providing better healthcare for Spanish-speaking patients as the need for healthcare professionals with the ability to interview patients, record medical histories, discuss diagnoses, prognoses, treatments and more in a culturally sensitive way continues to increase.
Topics include common cold and influenza, parts of the body, pain, diagnosing injuries, personal information, vital signs, family medical history, pediatric medical history, forms of medications and routes of administration, medication allergies and allergic reactions, asthma, special diets for patients, colonoscopy preparation, physical therapy and diabetes. This graduate course requires the completion of a final project in consultation with the instructor.
Recent studies reveal the existence of serious problems attributable to the lack of quality medical-health interpreting services. There is a misperception of bilingualism, considering that anyone who is bilingual or claims to have the ability to communicate in two or more languages can be a medical interpreter. Based on this information, students will complete a project from the perspective of healthcare professionals that involves applied research, speaking and writing; students should interview healthcare professionals about the quality of interpretation services available in Spanish for them to interact effectively with patients and any other related issues and problems they encounter. This project offers a unique opportunity to investigate and analyze existing problems and pitfalls in the field of medical interpretation and intercultural understanding.
This 7-week, online, asynchronous course is the continuation of SP 510 that targets a wide variety of current and future healthcare professionals with a beginning to intermediate knowledge of Spanish who seek to provide inclusive and quality care to Spanish-speaking patients.
Students review grammatical structures needed to interact effectively with patients, acquiring intercultural awareness and learning essential medical and technical terminology while engaging in rigorous practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Topics include physical examination, testing and procedures, scheduling follow-up tests, exams unique to women and men, providing test results, conducting a pre-surgery interview, heart disease, medical conditions, cancer, tuberculosis, infectious and tropical diseases, organs and glands, general symptoms, some surgeries and procedures, surgical history, vaccinations, hospitalization, activities of daily living, hospital discharge, dental hygiene, mental health, neurological exam, addictions, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. This graduate course requires the completion of a final project in consultation with the instructor.
To complete this project, students will engage in applied (practical) research, speaking and writing in particular areas of interest. This project aims to interview Hispanic patients for providers to become more informed about the Spanish-speaking community where they live and/or work to identify: a.) available services in Spanish, b.) possible lacunas in services and c.) whether Hispanic needs are being addressed in culturally sensitive ways. Once you have identified a research focus, students will make arrangements for observations and appropriate permissions as needed. Some examples of sites could include Hispanic patients at clinics, doctors’ offices, urgent care facilities and/or Hispanic centers. Students will write about their research in the form of a journal and also include proof of observations/visitations. In addition, students will be expected to create a brief video about their experiences and findings that will be uploaded and shared with other students as a discussion board topic.
Acquire Spanish medical terminology for use in healthcare settings.
Practice correct Spanish grammatical structures integrated with medical terminology for professional communication.
Practice effective interaction with patients and their families in Spanish through simulations and scenarios.
Acquire an understanding of Hispanic cultures and how cultural differences may impact interactions between patients and healthcare professionals.
Learn to communicate accurately and confidently in a culturally competent and empathetic manner with Hispanic patients.
Learn about social issues related to Hispanics and healthcare.
Develop speaking and listening skills for fluid and professional communication with patients and their families.
Cultivate attitudes of respect with a deeper understanding of Hispanic healthcare beliefs, sensitivities, and needs.
“When I chose to go to medical school, I knew I wanted to continue working on my Spanish skills. This certificate gave me the opportunity to work and learn medical Spanish from my fellow classmates through group assignments. By eliminating the language barrier, it will now be much easier to build trust and provide the highest level of care to my patients.”
“The medical Spanish certificate program was an invaluable enhancement to my medical education and training. The curriculum prepared me with the skills necessary to select clinical practice sites that catered to Spanish-speaking patients. The course incorporated key elements of Hispanic culture, allowing students to build cultural competency for clear communication, trust, and effective counseling. For me, completing the certificate program during my pre-clinical years is an essential first step toward practicing as a bilingual provider in the future.”
“The medical Spanish course was an extremely valuable opportunity to learn Spanish medical terminology, practice medical scenarios in Spanish and learn about different Latine/Hispanic customs in relation to health and medicine. As a Latina woman originally from a city with a high Latine/Hispanic population, I found this course to be vital for my development as a future physician. This course gave me the tools to advocate for my Spanish-speaking patients and to be confident in my abilities to provide them with the best medical care possible.“
If you have any doubts or uncertainty surrounding your ability to read, write, listen and speak in Spanish, please contact Aileen Dever or Marilin Sarria. Our faculty are happy to answer your questions and will confirm if you are prepared for success in this course. Students who are not yet prepared to complete college-level course material in Spanish but are interested in learning basic healthcare vocabulary may be interested in our introductory course, SP 105: Spanish for Health Professions.
Students who are not currently enrolled at Quinnipiac must complete the graduate application and denote the Graduate Certificate in Spanish Language for Medical Professionals as their program of interest.
Current students do not need to fill out an application. Instead, current students interested in adding this certificate to their record must first complete the Certificate Declaration Form.
After completing the form, current students can register for certificate courses using the Self-Service Platform. Filter the results by selecting "Spanish" under "Subjects" and then "Sarria, M" under "Instructors" before registering for the class.
Graduate Certificate - SP: 510 & SP: 511
Complete the Certificate Declaration Form
Register for Certificate Courses
Students also have the option to enroll in courses without matriculating. Students who want to register for courses as non-matriculated or non-degree-seeking should contact Aileen Dever for more information before filling out our Course Registration Form.
Spanish Language for Medical Professionals certificate program courses will be offered throughout the year. Courses run for seven weeks each and should be taken consecutively.
For matriculated students, the cost per credit for each Spanish Language for Medical Professionals graduate certificate course is $465. The total cost to earn the certificate is $2,790 plus applicable student and technology fees. Financial aid is not available for students registering solely for these courses.
Non-matriculated students are charged at the prevailing graduate cost of $1,105 per credit.
Our graduate admissions representatives are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.