An answer to a growing demand

 

Wichita State University is the first university in Kansas to offer a certificate for those who want to perform language services in professional settings where Spanish is used.

The Spanish for the Professions Certificate introduces students to the field of Spanish language interpretation and translation. According to the US Department of Labor the need for this kind of professionals is expected to increase up to 46% over the next decade.

 

Taught by professionals

Our faculty has long-standing experience in Medical and Business Spanish, and in Spanish Translation and Interpreting. Courses are taught by professors with current or past experience as business persons, certified interpreters, translators or international business lawyers.

 

Prerequisites*

Candidates for the Certificate must have already taken the following courses:

• SPAN 220. Intermediate Spanish Grammar and Composition. OR SPAN 321. For Heritage Speakers.
• SPAN 325. Intermediate Spanish Conversation.

*Credit by exam is available for the prerequisites. For more information, please contact Julie Henderson.

Coursework

Candidates for the Certificate must take the following courses to complete a total of 15 hours:

• SPAN 526. Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition.
• SPAN 552. Business Spanish. OR SPAN 559. Spanish for the Health Professions.
• SPAN 557. Principles of Translation and Interpreting.
• SPAN 558. Advanced Translation and Interpreting.
• SPAN 561. Practicum in Spanish.

Course Descriptions

SPAN 552. Business Spanish
Provides the opportunity to learn and practice commercial correspondence, business vocabulary, and translation and interpretation of business texts.
Prerequisite: Spanish 526 (Advanced Grammar).
SPAN 557. Principles of Translation and Interpreting
Introduction to the theory, skills and techniques of translation and interpreting (T&I) from Spanish to English and vice versa, in addition to lexical development of different domains of professional Spanish. This course combines theory and hands-on activities. As an course, students are required to have a webcam and microphone, and reliable high speed internet access to attend. The class is conducted in Spanish, though instructional materials and activities will be in Spanish and English. Pre or corequisite: Spanish 526 (Advanced Grammar) or departmental consent.
SPAN 558. Advanced Translation and Interpreting
Further study of translation and interpreting of different types of texts for the professional world.
Prerequisites: Spanish 557 (intro course) and Spanish 526 (Advanced Grammar), or departmental consent.
SPAN 559. Spanish for Health Professions
Gives students a fundamental background in the Spanish that is spoken in health care settings and explores health disparities affecting Latinos in the U.S.
Prerequisite: SPAN 526.
SPAN 561. Practicum in Spanish
This is a service-learning course in which advanced students in the Spanish for the Professions program are matched with a community partner organization that has identified a need for professional-level Spanish language work and spend 45 or more hours using their Spanish language skills to meet the identified community need. Students develop a service-learning plan with a site preceptor at the community organization and participate in activities designed to prepare them to meet the needs of their site, meet regularly with the supervising Spanish professor, reflect critically on the community need they are addressing and on their own role in addressing this need, and reflect on their experiences with the partner organization and community members. Prerequisites: SPAN 557, SPAN 558, and SPAN 559 or instructor consent.

Sequence of courses
Principles of Translation and Interpreting Advanced Translation and Interpreting Business Spanish or Spanish for the Health Professions Advanced Spanish Grammar Practicum in Spanish

Fall 2019

Spring 2021

Spring 2020

Fall 2021

Fall 2020

Spring 2022

Offered every semester Offered as needed

Certificate + 2-3 classes = Certificate + Spanish Major!

 

All classes in the certificate count towards the Spanish major.

So, if you complete the certificate, you may be only 2 or 3 classes away from getting a Spanish major!

Make the math and contact our Undergraduate Advisor, Ms. Julie Henderson for more details (julie.henderson@wichita.edu).

 

 

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