Professional Spanish

CERT Professional Spanish

Students develop a strong background in English/Spanish translation and in using Spanish effectively in a variety of professional fields.
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Program Overview

The dynamic and highly regarded faculty guides graduate students in learning, research and skill acquisition at the beautiful San Marcos Campus, convenient to the Austin and San Antonio metro areas. Evening and online classes enable professionals to complete their degree. 

Course Work

The nine-hour graduate Certificate in Professional Spanish is designed to meet the increasing demand for Spanish speakers in professional contexts. Students interested in pursuing careers requiring Spanish-language proficiency and intercultural competence select courses focused on translation and courses related to professional Spanish, linguistics, Hispanic literature and culture. 

Topics of study include:

•    Translation History and Theory
•    Applied Translation Methods
•    Spanish for the Professions
•    Hispanic Linguistics
•    Hispanic Cultures and Literatures

DegreeRequired CreditsInternshipTotal Hours
Degree
Certificate in Professional Spanish
Required Credits
6 hours
Internship
3 hours
Total Hours
9 hours

What Our Alumni Say

“Through this certificate program, I am excited to learn more about the Spanish language's cultural, historical, and practical aspects and gain a peek into the art of translation.”

— Sarah Wright, Class of 2024

Program Details

Our students enter Ph.D. programs and find success in a wide range of careers in both the public and private sector.

Program Mission

The Certificate in Professional Spanish helps students gain the specialized knowledge, skills, cultural awareness, and global perspective necessary to excel in today's increasingly interdependent world community. Students explore Hispanic cultures in seminar settings through the study of translation, professional Spanish, linguistics, Hispanic film, and the literatures of the Spanish-speaking world.

Career Options

Graduates may find career paths in the following fields:

  • Translation/interpretation
  • Government
  • Journalism and media
  • International business
  • Secondary and higher education
  • Criminal justice
  • Healthcare
  • Social work
  • International education
     

Program Faculty

Members of the graduate faculty have a reputation for scholarly excellence and have diverse research interests, such as Iberian and Latin American literatures, film, theater and performance, cultural studies, transatlantic studies, women's and gender studies, and contemporary and historical linguistics. Faculty present their research at national and international conferences and publish books, book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals. The Spanish faculty also publish the journal “Letras Hispanas.” 

Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.

Graduate Advisor
Agustín Cuadrado
ac41@txstate.edu
512.245.2254
Centennial Hall (CENT), Room 224F

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Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Fall - Priority
U.S. Citizen
January 15
International
January 15
Deadlines
Fall - Standard
U.S. Citizen
June 15 (*Flexible)
International
June 1
Deadlines
Spring
U.S. Citizen
October 15 (*Flexible)
International
October 1

*This program’s deadline is flexible for those not requiring an F/J visa. A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • $20 nonrefundable application fee
      OR
    • $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • overall 2.75 GPA on a scale of 4.0, or 2.75 GPA calculated over the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work leading to the bachelor's degree
    • 3.0 GPA in 12 upper-division undergraduate semester credit hours in Spanish including at least six hour of Spanish literature

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

  • GRE

    • GRE not required

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • Up-to-date resume/CV
    • statement of purpose written in Spanish (600 words) explaining your professional and personal interest in the Certificate in Professional Spanish
    • three letters of recommendation

    Review important information about documents.

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