Fundamentals of Medical Spanish Undergraduate Certificate
Below is information about the undergraduate certificate in Fundamentals of Medical Spanish. If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me.
Interesting Facts about Hispanics, Spanish & Healthcare
Hispanics:
According to the US Census Bureau, Hispanics are the third largest ethnic group in South Dakota with nearly 5% of the state's population, behind non-Hispanic whites (84.2%) and Native Americans (8.5%).
The Hispanic population increased by 23% at the National level from 2010 to 2020. Hispanics total 62.1 million out of the total population of 338.3 million in the US.
Spanish:
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the US, and it ranks fourth worldwide (534 million), behind English (1.5 billion), Chinese (1.1 billion) and Hindi (600 million).
Healthcare:
However, despite the growing need for Spanish-speaking healthcare providers, Sanford, South Dakota's largest medical center, only employed 17 providers to serve the Hispanic population of Sioux Falls.
As our community thrives, fostering culturally competent healthcare services remains a priority.
The Importance of Speaking Spanish in Healthcare
In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, effective communication is paramount. Learning Spanish offers numerous benefits. Here are some compelling reasons why mastering Spanish can enhance you professionally:
Bridging the Communication Gap: Clear communication ensures accurate assessments and treatment plans and can reduce the stigma around certain health conditions.
Cultural Competence and Sensitivity: Spanish proficiency helps healthcare providers appreciate cultural nuances and respect differences.
Building Trust and Comfort: Patients feel more at ease when communicating freely, fostering trust and understanding.
Emergency Situations: In critical moments, clear communication is essential. Knowing Spanish allows immediate assistance and reduces risks.
Career Advancement and Higher Earnings: Bilingual healthcare providers have a competitive edge in job markets and can accelerate their career growth. Hospitals and clinics value professionals who can communicate effectively with diverse patient populations.
About the Undergraduate Certificate
Fundamentals of Medical Spanish
The certificate is designed for students entering the medical professions and non-traditional students already working in healthcare, aware that a basic focused language ability will provide them with a competitive professional advantage.
Required Courses:
SPAN 120 / HSC 292 - Medical Spanish I (4)
SPAN 121 - Medical Spanish I (4)
SPAN 275- Basic Conversation in Medical Spanish (3)
About SPAN 120 / HSC 292: Medical Spanish I
Medical Spanish I will introduce students to anatomical vocabulary and medical terminology in Spanish as well as to culturally appropriate communication between health-care providers and patients. The students will systematically learn the elementary grammar structures, providing a linguistic base of knowledge. In addition, the curriculum will involve a community component. The course is intended for students with little or no prior knowledge of Spanish.
Note
Change in credit hours effective spring 2022 from 3 to 4 hours.
Credits: 4.
Required Textbook & Materials
SPAN 120 / HSC 292: Medical Spanish I
An Introduction to Medical Spanish. Communication and Culture, 5th ed.
Roberto O. Chase & Clarisa B. Medina de Chase
Yale UP, New Haven/London
ISBN: 978-0-300-22602-7 (print)
ISBN: 978-0-300-24060-3 (eText)
A Spanish-English/English-Spanish Dictionary (print)
Oxford, Larousse, Vox, University of Chicago, or any other print version.
TalkAbroad
Access Code for Spanish, 4 Healthcare Conversations, 15 minutes.
About SPAN 121: Medical Spanish II
A continuation of Medical Spanish I, Medical Spanish II will extend students’ knowledge of anatomical vocabulary and medical terminology in Spanish and of culturally appropriate communication between health-care providers and patients. The students will continue to learn grammar structures, building on the linguistic base of knowledge acquired in Medical Spanish I. In addition, the curriculum will involve a community component.
Prerequisites and Corequisites
Prerequisite: SPAN 120 - Medical Spanish I.
Note
Changed from 3 to 4 hours Fall 2022.
Credits: 4.
About SPAN 275: Basic Medical Conversation in Spanish
Spanish language conversations centered on real communication with patients in a medical setting. This course will provide students with the ability to carry out basic conversations and to help them communicate effectively with Spanish speaking patients.
Prerequisites and Corequisites
Pre-reqs: SPAN 120 - Medical Spanish I and SPAN 121 - Medical Spanish II.
Note
New course Fall 2022.
Credits: 3.
Flyer About the Certificate
About Med Cert & Med Spanish I (Fall 2023).pdfWebsite QR Code
