Certificate of Academic Spanish for Heritage Speakers
The Certificate of Academic Spanish for Heritage Speakers provides students who place into the Spanish heritage basic language program the opportunity to further develop their formal linguistic proficiency in Spanish. The main objectives of the certificate are to:
- Help students develop oral, reading, and writing skills in Spanish beyond those acquired informally in their homes and communities.
- Promote and support heritage speakers’ linguistic pride, cultural identity, and sense of belonging as members of a larger Spanish-speaking community.
- Guide Spanish heritage students in the professional presentation of their language skills and cultural competencies, expanding future educational and career pathways.
Requirements for the Certificate
Students from other disciplines who want to pursue the Certificate of Academic Spanish for Heritage Speakers must complete a minimum of 16 semester hours, as outlined below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SPAN 114 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers II | 4 |
| SPAN 202 | Spanish Grammar in Practice | 3 |
| SPAN 204 | Extensive Reading and Writing for Heritage Speakers of Spanish | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Two SPAN courses (6 hours) at the 200, 300, or 400 levels. Only one SPAN course taught in English may count toward this requirement. | 6 | |
| The following is a list of recommended courses for the elective requirement. While all SPAN courses are appropriate for the elective credit hours, the following courses focus on skills and topics of especial relevance to Spanish Heritage students. | ||
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| Introduction to the Formal Analysis of Hispanic Texts | ||
| Bilingual/Bicultural Hispanic American Writers | ||
| Translation/Interpreting for the Professions I: Medical and Business Spanish-English | ||
| Advanced Oral Presentation, Writing, and Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Spanish Creative Writing for Heritage Speakers | ||
| Advanced Translation/Interpreting for the Professions: II Medical, Legal & Business Spanish-English | ||
| Spanish in Society | ||
| Studies in Language Policy and Cultural Identity | ||
| Theory and Methods in Teaching Heritage Speakers | ||
| Total Hours | 16 | |
- All courses, required and electives, must be completed with a grade of C or better.
- A Spanish Heritage student who places into and completes a 200-level course may earn retroactive credit for SPAN 114 as per LAS policy.
- With approval from the director of undergraduate studies, transfer credit for a course earned with a B or above from another institution may satisfy one of the core requirements.
- Students who receive AP or IB credit for SPAN 202 have to take an additional elective.
- At least half the credits for the certificate (eight) must be completed in enrollment residence at UIC.