Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Translation and Interpreting (Medical)
The B.A. in Spanish Translation and Interpreting Medical track trains students to be qualified bilingual medical professionals with opportunities to develop professional experience. Emphasis is placed on managing bilingual doctor-patient communication in accordance with national ethical principles and standards of practice for interpreters in healthcare. There is a growing need for qualified medical interpreters and translators, and few programs that address this need. TWU's program provides the necessary language and medical interpreter training, requires each student to take a test to receive a state-wide qualification, and provides every student with 150 internship hours before graduation. The program provides students with the skills necessary to work as qualified bilingual medical professionals in hospital and clinical settings.
Marketable Skills
Marketable skills prepare students for success in a variety of professional settings. Developed through academic coursework, co-curricular engagement, and extracurricular involvement, these skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and digital literacy. Whether directly related to a student’s major or serving as complementary strengths, marketable skills enhance career readiness and reflect TWU’s commitment to producing graduates who are prepared to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce.
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Incorporate emerging technologies to manage the doctor-patient relationship in Spanish and English in a variety of healthcare settings.
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Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary medical team to increase cultural awareness of alternative medical practices, preventing bias, providing uniform quality health care, and ensuring patient safety.
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Apply ethical principles to provide bilingual leadership in promoting both patient and self-advocacy, cultural awareness, and social justice within the health care system.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 48 SCH; Required Minor: 18 SCH
Program Code: SPANTRANTR.BA.MED ; CIP Code: 16.0103.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I (10) | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II (10) | 3 |
| Mathematics (20) | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences (30) | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40) | 3 | |
| Creative Arts (50) | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60) | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60) | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government (70) | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government (70) | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (80) | 3 | |
| CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90) | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91) | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 1013 | Elementary Spanish I | 3 |
| SPAN 1023 | Elementary Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 2033 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| SPAN 2043 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| or SPAN 2313 | Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers | |
| SPAN 3073 | Advanced Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| or SPAN 3303 | Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers | |
| SPAN 3153 | Advanced Grammar | 3 |
| SPAN 3163 | Spanish Composition | 3 |
| SPAN 3313 | Foundations of Translation | 3 |
| SPAN 3323 | Foundations of Interpreting | 3 |
| SPAN 4173 | Medical Translation and Interpreting I | 3 |
| SPAN 4203 | Latin American Women Writers and Filmmakers | 3 |
| SPAN 4213 | Spanish Linguistics | 3 |
| SPAN 4273 | Medical Translation and Interpreting II | 3 |
| SPAN 4303 | Latin American Literature, Film, and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 4923 | Capstone in Spanish | 3 |
| SPAN 4953 | Internship | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 48 | |
Minor
A minor with a minimum of 18 SCH is required. Students must select from the following Minors.
- Health Psychology
- Child Development
- Early Childhood Intervention
- Family Studies
- English
- Clinical Applications Health Informatics
- Race and Ethnic Studies
- Health Studies
- Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies Minor
- Neuroscience
- Scientific Illustration
Electives
Students must complete 120 SCH of coursework. Depending on the minor selected, the remaining coursework is elective and should be selected in consultation with their advisor.
Proficiency Testing
Advanced-mid proficiency must be attained before taking the interpreting courses. Students must take a professional assessment that is approved by the program director before they can enroll in the internship course. Preference will be placed on a test that offers national certification in medical interpreting. Depending on their scores, students will be placed in an internship that fits their individual interpreting/translation abilities and career interests. Foundational coursework for the proficiency test includes SPAN 1013, SPAN 1023, SPAN 2033, and SPAN 2043
Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| SPAN 1013 | Elementary Spanish I | SPAN 1411 | 3 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | First-Year Seminar: Learning Frameworks | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 1023 | Elementary Spanish II | SPAN 1412 | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| CAO: Women’s Studies | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 2033 | Intermediate Spanish I | SPAN 2311 | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| CAO: Wellness or Mathematics | 2 | ||
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 2043 or 2313 | Intermediate Spanish II or Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers | SPAN 2312 | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 3073 or 3303 | Advanced Spanish Conversation or Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers | 3 | |
| SPAN 3153 | Advanced Grammar | 3 | |
| SPAN 3313 | Foundations of Translation | 3 | |
| SPAN 4303 | Latin American Literature, Film, and Culture | 3 | |
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 3163 | Spanish Composition | 3 | |
| SPAN 3323 | Foundations of Interpreting | 3 | |
| SPAN 4213 | Spanish Linguistics | 3 | |
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 4173 | Medical Translation and Interpreting I | 3 | |
| SPAN 4203 | Latin American Women Writers and Filmmakers | 3 | |
| SPAN 4923 | Capstone in Spanish | 3 | |
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| SPAN 4273 | Medical Translation and Interpreting II | 3 | |
| SPAN 4953 | Internship | 3 | |
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| Minor/Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
