Our new Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies and Spanish combines the university’s growing healthcare studies program – which prepares students for non-clinical careers in healthcare – with courses from its world languages program, which offers a concentration in Spanish. The new combined major is designed to fill a need for healthcare professionals who are fluent in Spanish and who have demonstrable intercultural competence. The program is designed for both heritage-Spanish speakers and non-heritage-Spanish speakers. The BS in Healthcare Studies and Spanish provides an avenue for students to combine professional preparation in healthcare studies with Spanish language skills, making them stand-out candidates in a growing healthcare industry.
The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies and Spanish includes a unique combination of courses as well as an experiential component. Students will develop an understanding and appreciation for the wide range of roles within the U.S. healthcare arena; build an advanced level of communication in Spanish using a variety of linguistics registers, acquire an idiomatic use of the language, and the capacity to write accurately and effectively in different levels of formality, with a particular focus on healthcare-related terminology; and gain an appreciation of the complex and diverse cultural, political, and socio-historical processes that shape the Spanish-speaking world and its relationship with the U.S.
The curriculum is designed to ensure key touchpoints throughout the program. Early in the program, students will complete BHS101 Healthcare in the U.S. and SPN 250 Spanish for Healthcare Professionals. Both courses will provide a strong introduction to the combined degree program and the potential for professional careers. A unique feature of the Healthcare Studies curriculum will also be included in this combined major, that of the “pre-professional” course sequence (BHS203 Healthcare Seminar and BHS320 Cornerstone to Health Professions) with the experiential learning/internship experience (BHS520 Internship or SPN385 Community Placement) identified as the culminating experience. Considered to be high impact practice, this series of courses allows students to explore the employment opportunities of a vast healthcare industry while also developing and building on their professional skills
The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies and Spanish is suited for both traditional undergraduate students and adult learners. This program prepares graduates to enter a growing job market where there is demonstrated need in the regional and across the state. To learn more, contact Amy Everitt at amy.everitt@salemstate.edu.
