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Spanish is the official or co-official language of 21 countries, and with more than 400 million speakers worldwide (projected to be 530 million by 2050), it is the third most widely spoken language on the planet after Mandarin and English. In 25 years, the United States could have more Spanish speakers than any other country.

This certificate combines classes in Spanish, cultures of Spanish-speaking populations, and specialized Spanish for business professions. This combination is a good fit for any student who wants the ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken Spanish and work with other Spanish speakers in their future professional careers.

How to Get in

Students may declare the Certificate in Business Spanish after completing one of the introductory Spanish courses and SPANISH 311 Advanced Language Practice. Students declared in the Spanish major are not eligible to declare the Certificate in Business Spanish.

Introductory Spanish
SPANISH/​CHICLA  222 Introduction to Latinx Cultures3
SPANISH 225 Lying, Swearing, and Breaking the Rules: An Introduction to the Linguistic Study of Spanish3
SPANISH 224 Introduction to Hispanic Literatures3
SPANISH 223 Introduction to Hispanic Cultures3
Advanced Language Practice
SPANISH 311 Advanced Language Practice3

Requirements

Introductory Coursework (complete one)3
SPANISH/​CHICLA  222
 Introduction to Latinx Cultures 1
SPANISH 223
 Introduction to Hispanic Cultures 1
SPANISH 224
 Introduction to Hispanic Literatures
SPANISH 225
 Lying, Swearing, and Breaking the Rules: An Introduction to the Linguistic Study of Spanish
Core Coursework (complete all)
SPANISH 311 Advanced Language Practice3
SPANISH/​INTL BUS  329 Spanish for Business3
SPANISH 359 Spanish Business Area Studies3
Elective Coursework6
6 additional credits from the following:
SPANISH coursework numbered between 300-699
SPANISH/​CHICLA  222
 Introduction to Latinx Cultures 1
or SPANISH 223
 Introduction to Hispanic Cultures
SPANISH 224
 Introduction to Hispanic Literatures
SPANISH 225
 Lying, Swearing, and Breaking the Rules: An Introduction to the Linguistic Study of Spanish
Total Credits18

Residence and Quality of Work

  • At least 9 certificate credits must be completed in residence
  • At least 6 certificate credits must be complete on campus
  • Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses. 

Footnotes

1

Only one of SPANISH/​CHICLA  222 or SPANISH 223 will count in the certificate.

Certificate Completion Requirement

This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Develop communication skills in Spanish; integrate these skills to exchange and assess ideas effectively and with level-appropriate accuracy; and practice pragmatic, linguistic, and stylistic norms in a formal, professional register of standard Spanish in a variety of written and oral assignments.
  2. Acquire specialized vocabulary related to business and commerce; analyze authentic informational, financial, and marketing materials in Spanish; and incorporate the newly-acquired vocabulary and business-related knowledge into their speech and writing.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic cultures, including awareness of the social, cultural, and linguistic diversity that characterizes the Spanish-speaking world, as well as familiarity with basic methods of literary, cultural, and/or linguistic analysis.

Advising and Careers

Please contact the undergraduate advisor, Karen Francis (karen.francis@wisc.edu), with your questions and to declare this certificate.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.