The University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) will offer three new certificate programs this fall.
Both undergraduates and working professionals can complete these certificate programs. The new programs are Spanish for the Clinical Encounter, Real Estate, and Strategic Communications and are the first of their kind in the USC system.
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The Spanish for the Clinical Encounter program is offered to students and working professionals in nursing, exercise science, and sports science or to students interested in a health care or clinical field. It provides conversational and cultural competency in Spanish, and prior language study is not required.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the Hispanic or Latino population has increased in Aiken, Lexington, Edgefield, and Barnwell counties. This has increased the demand for Spanish-speaking clinicians in hospitals across the state.
“This program will make our graduates marketable and, importantly, improve the quality of care they provide in the front offices, clinics, and operating rooms for their Spanish-speaking patients,” said Timothy Ashton, professor of Spanish and chair of the department of languages, literatures, and cultures at USCA.
This is a 12-hour program with nine hours of required courses and three hours of a directed internship or additional language and/or cultural coursework. Courses are in person to undergraduates at USCA. It is available online to working professionals who already hold an associate or bachelor’s degree.
The Real Estate program is for students and working professionals interested in the real industry. This certificate program will prepare students and working professionals in skills necessary for the real estate industry.
“The state of South Carolina’s population continues to grow, and with this growth comes demand for real estate and real estate-related services,” says Paul Newsom, professor of finance. “This program offers students and professionals in these fields a unique opportunity to explore timely real estate topics and strategies for investing, financing, and developing commercial properties.”
This is a 12-hour program, and it will prepare students and professionals for careers in real estate.
The Strategic Communication program is for all USCA students and working professionals. This is a 12-hour program that focuses on branding and marketing efforts.
“The certificate in Strategic Communications will set our students apart not only in communications field, but also sciences, technology, engineering, and math because they’ll have the ability to read critically, write cogently, and think broadly,” said Forrest Anderson, dean of the college of arts and humanities. “Students will be prepared for a course of lifelong learning that will help them navigate not only their first job but also their entire careers.”
For more information, please visit https://www.usca.edu/departments/registrar/.
