In Short
The certificate is designed for healthcare providers or any individual needing medical communication skills in Spanish and intercultural abilities for medical purposes. This certificate focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing set around different medical settings.
Certificate Overview
Currently, there is a deficit of healthcare workers with Spanish skills in the United States. Our nine-credit certificate is open to undergraduates, graduates, professionals, and community members interested in developing their linguistic abilities in Spanish. Students can focus on language and cultural skills through tailored courses designed to improve service in different medical scenarios. The certificate will help them communicate with Spanish speakers and strengthen their intermediate language abilities in a specialized area while translating medical documents used in nursing courses and hospitals, among other high-impact activities.
The certificate helps our students accomplish the social mission of Fitchburg State University by combining the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs. In addition, it prepares students for a global society through a curricular innovation that brings together academic programs and the community. Hence, through our Medical Spanish Certificate, our university exercises the cultural diversity our region needs to enhance personal and community health in and outside our campus.
Our certificate also includes an optional study abroad option in Salamanca, Spain.
For more information, please contact the Humanities Department by email at humanities@fitchburgstate.edu or by phone 978.665.3276.
Curriculum and Other Information
- Medical Spanish Certificate (UG Day) - Program information from the University Catalog.
- Medical Spanish Certificate (UG Evening) - Program information from the University Catalog.
Students who complete the Medical Spanish Certificate will have language and intercultural communication skills in the following areas:
- Greetings and patient information
- Describe people and conditions
- Identifying location
- Testing patient orientation
- Evaluating patient’s pain and comfortability
- Discussing colds and influenza symptoms
- Evaluating vital signs
- Conducting a medical registration interview
- Taking family history
- Giving medical instructions
- Describing and acquiring information on medical incidents
- Body parts
- Discussing allergic reactions
- Describing symptoms of specific diseases
- Conducting discharge-planning
- Educating about asthma
- Identifying cultural behaviors that can interfere with or alter medical outcomes