What you will study
The online program curriculum for UCM’s Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Certificate
features an easy-to-follow weekly schedule. You’ll complete a broad variety of stimulating
language exercises to develop conversational skills in Spanish that you can apply
in a wide range of professional situations. Our curriculum focuses on health care
terminology that will help you communicate with patients and colleagues in doctors’
offices, hospitals, clinics, mobile health facilities and more.
UCM’s Spanish for Healthcare Professionals certificate program is flexible and awards
credit for any previous Spanish courses or experience you may already possess. If
you’ve completed high school Spanish classes, you may be eligible for credits toward
the certificate.
If you have little to no Spanish experience, that’s okay. You’ll start the program
with courses in:
- Elementary Spanish I for Healthcare Professionals
- Elementary Spanish II for Healthcare Professionals
- Intermediate Spanish I for Healthcare Professionals
- Intermediate Spanish II for Healthcare Professionals
Regardless of your level of experience in Spanish, all students pursuing this certificate
complete Intermediate Spanish I and II.
Excellence in Spanish for Healthcare
- Our Spanish for Healthcare Professionals undergraduate certificate program is one
of only two in the nation designed to help health care workers and other professionals
develop their Spanish-speaking abilities.
Unique learning opportunities in UCM’s Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Certificate
program
At the University of Central Missouri, we know that developing your language skills
takes intensive practice. To help maximize your language development, our undergraduate
certificate program includes:
- Language coaching: Work one-on-one with native Spanish speakers and practice in real-world simulations.
With these robust resources, you’ll acquire the Spanish terminology you need in health
care settings while getting answers to your questions along the way.
- One-on-one meetings: Work directly with native Spanish speakers to improve your health care vocabulary
and conversational skills. You’ll have engaging, one-on-one virtual meetings with
our program experts and complete 12 sessions through an online tutoring service, LinguaMeeting.
- Health care simulations: Hold Spanish conversations through online exercises and simulations. You’ll engage
in language roleplay scenarios to learn appropriate communication skills in Spanish
for health care settings. Scenarios include talking to patients who are pregnant,
struggling with a drug addiction, experiencing an emergency, needing dental work and
other situations commonly encountered by health care professionals.
What can you do with a certificate in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals from UCM?
UCM students pursue the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals certificate to enhance
their credentials, better serve patients, improve patient outcomes, increase their
employment opportunities and compete for promotions. Whether you’re entering the job
market or wish to advance in your current role, our Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
certificate will better prepare you for work with diverse populations in health care
settings and other professional scenarios.
Our Spanish program helps professionals in health care and closely related fields
serve their growing and diverse communities. Professionals in the following careers
represent some of the many who could benefit from this undergraduate certificate:
- EMTs
- Nurses
- Hospital administrators
- Firefighters
- Paramedics
- Doctors’ office assistants
- Crisis and disaster management specialists
- Teachers
What’s next for Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Certificate graduates?
Use our interactive tool below to learn more about job outlooks, earning potential
and career paths.
Financial assistance options for your Spanish for Healthcare Professionals certificate
The University of Central Missouri offers you a high-value, affordable education with
access to valuable financial aid opportunities. Our advisors will help you develop
a plan to finance your college education with options that make sense for your budget. In fact, UCM is recognized by LendEDU
as a top-ranked university for low student debt.
If you are taking this to supplement your undergraduate degree, we offer institution-wide
scholarships that are open to incoming students, transfer, continuing and out-of-state
students. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply for awards that are reserved exclusively
for your major area of study. Use the to find and apply for program-specific awards.
Meet Dr. Kristy Boney
Professor
Dr. Boney is the Modern Languages program coordinator in the School of Social Sciences
and Languages. She previously served as the director of the undergraduate German language
program at the University of Kentucky. Students benefit from her leadership experience
and expertise in modern language studies.
Meet Silvia Cooper
Instructor, Spanish
Ms. Cooper teaches courses in the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals certificate
program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the Universidad de Monterrey
and a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the Universidad de Jaén. Students
benefit from one-on-one remote meetings with Ms. Cooper, who also offers personalized
tutoring and supplemental Spanish instruction outside of class.
Meet Dentist Trent F.
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Certificate ’21
“I am now better equipped to serve my community, especially for health care brigades
that bring services to low-income populations. Professor Cooper is passionate about
what she does, and it will help you grow your vocabulary and communication skills.
She’ll push you to step outside your comfort zone, which will lead to continual improvement.”
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Placement Exams
Students who have taken high school language courses (French, German or Spanish) may
enroll beyond the Elementary I level, and may apply for Validated Credit for the class(es)
skipped. A student completing Elementary II with a grade of C or higher will receive
three additional credit hours at no tuition charge; a student completing Intermediate
I with a grade of C or higher will receive six additional credit hours at no tuition
charge.
Please note that you will NOT be able to enroll yourself in courses above the Elementary
I level. If you wish to be enrolled in Elementary II or Intermediate I, please email:
cahssadvising@ucmo.edu
In the email, please include the following:
- Your name
- Your 700#
- The name and CRN of the course you wish to enroll in
- The number of years in the language taken in high school
Not sure which class to take?
While there are some course restrictions regarding prior experience (see course descriptions),
many students will have some flexibility in their decision. For further guidance on
which class is right for you, the following placement exams are available:
Click here for the Spanish placement exam:
