Throughout your coursework, you become skilled in basic technical aspects of interpreting, including the acquisition or expansion of a specialized vocabulary, the prevalent modes of interpreting in the health care field, and effective listening and memory retention, as well as other abilities necessary for effective communication in interpreter-assisted encounters. You examine the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards in Health Care (CLAS), discuss diversity and immigration in the United States, and study issues in transcultural communication. You are trained in sight, consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting drills from English to Spanish and vice versa; you refine your writing skills in Spanish and English to overcome common translation pitfalls; and you review the historical and legal implications surrounding the profession as you prepare for the significant ethical challenges that you will encounter in your practice.
Finally, you achieve a professional level of interpreting ability through an extensive internship with one of our partnering health care institutions. The internship enables you to first observe interpreting sessions and then later act as an interpreter under the guidance and supervision of qualified staff interpreters. This is your chance to apply what you have learned, demonstrate your skills, and excel in a professional work environment.
This 16-credit support area complements several majors, and once learned, these skills can transfer into any specialized field or discipline; however, the support area has been specifically designed to coordinate with the complex schedule of nursing majors. There are also opportunities to participate in short-term study-abroad courses, with travel to Ecuador (Latin America), for example, to improve language skills and increase knowledge of common cultural values and health care practices and beliefs among Latinos. Given the nature of the coursework, students must pass a bilingual proficiency assessment prior to admission to the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Requirements | ||
| SPI-100 | Bilingual Proficiency Assessmnt | 0 |
| SPI-210 | Intro Spanish/Eng Hlth Care Interpretatn | 3 |
| Intermediate Requirements | ||
| SPI-310 | Cultural Competence in Health Care | 2 |
| SPI-320 | Spanish/Eng Interp Practice/Hlth Care | 3 |
| Advanced Requirements | ||
| SPI-350 | Ethics of Health Care Interpretation | 3 |
| SPI-360 | Written Translation/Hlth Care Interpret | 3 |
| SPI-483 | Health Care Interpreter Intern | 2 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |