Professional and Conversational Competence for Spanish Heritage Speakers Certificate

Program Description

The “Certificate in Professional and Conversational Competence for Spanish Heritage Speakers” provides students with advanced speaking and writing skills to improve their professional preparation and competitiveness.

Degree Requirements

The “Certificate in Professional and Conversational Competence for Spanish Heritage Speakers” is open to all students who identify or are identified as heritage speakers of Spanish. The certificate requires between 12 (Option 2) and 15 (Option 1) units (of which 9 have to be at the upper-division level) of coursework depending on the student’s demonstrated language competence in Spanish.

This certificate program can only be pursued in combination with a degree program and is not a “stand-alone” program.

Option 1

For students who have not taken SPAN 250 (or its equivalent course at another institution). Because SPAN 250 is a 6-unit course, the total number of units for the Certificate is 15.

Option 2

For students whose existing language competence places them at the upper-division level. Upper-division level standing can be demonstrated by the following:

A) For high school students with an AP score of 4 or 5

B) For transfer students who have completed the equivalent of SPAN 250, or SPAN 200, or SPAN 201B at another institution.

C) For students who can demonstrate, via the departmental placement test, that their language competence is above the courses listed under B.