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Latino Studies Certificate

The Certificate in Latino Studies is intended for IU East degree-seeking students, graduates with a Bachelor's degree who seek focused education in Spanish, or non-degree-seeking students with specific needs or interest in Latino cultures. If you complete a Certificate in Latino Studies, you will take courses toward intermediate proficiency of the Spanish language and will be exposed to a range of cultural and communication issues. You will complete Spanish language and Latino culture courses and select from electives in disciplines outside Spanish on diversity and culture. Finally, a Certificate in Latino Studies will provide you with a breadth of knowledge in a focused area of study to meet your specific needs of the certificate program, even if you are not interested in completing a foreign language minor or degree.

Prerequisites:

The Certificate in Latino Studies is open to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. Certain courses have prerequisites and you will first need to fulfill those prerequisites. Placement into the appropriate level of Spanish language course is required.

Certificate Requirements

  • You must complete 18 credit hours selected from the courses listed below.
  • At least 9 hours of the certificate must be completed on the IU East campus.
  • You are required to obtain a grade of C or better for all courses used in the certificate. Students' overall GPA must not be below 2.5.
  • You may include one independent study in your course plan. Independent studies must be approved by the certificate advisor.
  • You must be placed into the appropriate level Spanish course by test or advisement before beginning the certificate program.
Courses for the certificate: 18 credit hours
Latino Culture (6 credit hours required)
SPAN S275 Introduction to Hispanic Culture (3)
SPAN S290 Topics in Hispanic Culture (3) taught in English
Spanish Language (0-12 credit hours based on proficiency)
SPAN S101 Elementary Spanish I (3)
SPAN S102 Elementary Spanish II (3)
SPAN S200 Intermediate Spanish I (3)
SPAN S250 Intermediate Spanish II (3)
Elective Courses (0-12 credit hours depending on proficiency)
SPAN S260 Introduction to Hispanic Film (3) (taught in English)
SPAN S284 Women in Hispanic Culture (3) (taught in English)
EDUC M300 Teaching in a Pluralistic Society (3)
HIST H212 Latin American Culture and Civilization II (3)
SWK S100 Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society (3)
SPCH S336 Special Topics in Communication: Cuba Communication and Culture (3)
SPCH S427 Cross Cultural Communication (3)
Other courses by approval of certificate advisor.

Certificate Assessment

Progress toward the completion of the certificate will be monitored in three ways:

  • You must have obtained a C or better in all courses applied to the certificate.
  • You will demonstrate knowledge of Latino cultures and speaking Spanish in their coursework.
  • Your performance will undergo on-going and summative evaluation procedures according to the HFA Division Assessment Plan. (Currently, these tools include: course survey, evaluation of student work by HFA faculty using the Division Rubric, and exit interviews for students graduating from the HFA Division Programs.)
  • The campus learning objective to be focused on for the certificate: depth of knowledge. Criteria to be measured: knowledge of Spanish language, MLA documentation style, awareness of social and cultural issues of importance to Latino cultures.

American Ethnic and Minority Studies

The purpose of the Certificate in American Ethnic and Minority Studies is to offer you a focused program on diversity and culture issues related to American ethnic and minority literatures. The certificate is intended for students in the humanities, teaching, or social sciences who wish to pursue expertise in ethnic and minority studies. The certificate is designed to provide study in both cultural and literary expertise in ethnic and minority literatures. The Certificate in American Ethnic and Minority Studies is open to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. Certain courses have prerequisites and you will first need to fulfill those prerequisites. If completing a Certificate in American Ethnic and Minority Studies, you will take courses in cultural diversity and will be exposed to a range of literature. You will complete ethnic and minority literature courses and select from electives in disciplines outside literature on diversity and culture. Finally, a Certificate in American Ethnic and Minority Studies will provide you with knowledge in a focused area of study.

Certificate Requirements

  • You must complete 18 credit hours selected from the courses listed below.
  • At least 9 hours of the certificate must be completed on the IU East campus.
  • You are required to obtain a grade of C or better for all courses used in the certificate. Your overall GPA must not be below 2.5 (C).
  • You may include one independent study in your course plan. Independent studies must be approved by the certificate advisor.
  • You must complete the appropriate prerequisite courses before beginning the certificate program.
  • Courses for the certificate: 18 credit hours

    • Course Requirements

    Credits from Contexts for Culture and Diversity Courses - Choose two from the following (6 credit hours):
    ANTH A104 Culture and Society (3)
    EDUC M300 Teaching in a Pluralistic Society (3)
    POLS Y206 Politics of American Ethnic Minorities (3)
    POLS Y480/PSYC P390 The Politics and Psychology of Hate (3)
    SOC S217 Sociology of Inequality (3)
    SPCH S427 Cross Cultural Communication (3) SWK S100 Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society (3)
    Credits from American Ethnic and Minority Literature - Choose two from the following (6 credit hours):
    ENG L364 Native American Literature (3)
    ENG L370 Black American Writing (3)
    ENG L374 Ethnic American Literature (3)
    ENG L379 American Ethnic and Minority Literature (3)
    Credits from American Ethnic and Minority Cultures - Choose two from the following (6 credit hours):
    ANTH E320 Indians of North American (3)
    ANTH P360 Prehistory of North America (3)
    ANTH A400 Undergraduate Seminar: Folklore (3)
    POLS Y325 Women and Politics (3)
    POLS Y326 Black Politics (3)
    SOC S335 Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
    SPAN S290 Topics in Hispanic Culture (3) (taught in English)
    SPAN S284 Women in Hispanic Culture (3) (taught in English)
    Note: Other courses may apply toward the certificate as approved by the certificate advisors.

    Assessment/Evaluation

    Progress toward the completion of the certificate will be monitored in a number of ways:

    • You must have obtained a C or better in all courses applied to the certificate.
    • You will demonstrate knowledge of American Ethnic and Minority culture and literature in your course work.
    • You will compile a portfolio of three essays, completed for courses, and write a reflective essay of introduction. The portfolio will be reviewed by three faculty from HFA and BSS. Your advisor will coordinate the portfolio review process.
    • The campus learning objective to be focused on for the certificate: depth of knowledge. Criteria to be measured: understanding of ethnic and minority social and cultural issues, MLA and APA documentation style, application of text- based research, and awareness of social and cultural issues of importance to Latino cultures.

      • Technical Writing Certificate

      The Certificate in Technical Communication is intended for all students, whether they are IU East degree-seeking students, graduates with a bachelor's degree who seek focused education in technical communication, or non-degree-seeking students with specific needs or interests in technical communication. This certificate offers you a focused program in technical and professional communication skills, an area that includes the study of technical writing and communication theory. You will produce written, electronic, and oral presentations within technical communication studies. Technical communication is an area where many students find employment after graduation. While technical communication is a field of study offered within the field of English, many technical communication students can come from fields like the sciences, business, or humanities. The Certificate in Technical Communication is open to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. The certificate program can be shaped to support various technical communication specializations. Certain courses have prerequisites and you will first need to fulfill those prerequisites.

      If you are completing a Certificate in Technical Communication, you will take courses in technical communication and will be exposed to a range of communication issues. You will complete four English courses and select electives to allow a specific focus relative to your needs.

      Finally, a Certificate in Technical Communication will provide you with knowledge in a focused area of study.

      Certificate Requirements
      You must complete 18 credit hours selected from the courses listed below.
      At least 9 hours of the certificate must be completed on the IU East campus.
      You are required to obtain a grade of C or better for all courses used in the certificate. Your overall GPA must not be below 2.5.
      You may include one independent study in your course plan. Independent studies must be approved by the certificate advisor.
      You must complete the appropriate pre-requisite courses before beginning the certificate program.
      Courses for the certificate: 18 credit hours
      Course Requirements: (12 cr. hr.)
      ENG W231 Professional Writing Skills (3)
      ENG W234 Technical Report Writing (3)
      ENG W270 Argumentative Writing (3)
      ENG W321 Advanced Technical Writing (3)
      Electives (6 cr. hr.)
      ENG W395 Individual Study in Writing (3)
      ENG W331 Business and Administrative Writing (3)
      JOUR J390 Corporate Publications (3)
      CMCL C228 Argumentation and Advocacy (3)
      SPCH S223 Business and Professional Communication (3)

      Note: Other courses may apply toward the certificate as approved by the certificate advisors.

      On completion of the certificate program, you will have developed an ability to:

      • Develop, plan, and execute technical communication projects such as the development of an inquiry or problem-based project
      • Apply theoretical issues related to technical communication studies such as document usability and visual document rhetoric
      • Select and use appropriate technology for the preparation of technical communication products such as power-point or overhead presentations
      • Prepare technical communication products in a range of genres such as short and long reports
      • Create electronic documents, correspondence documents, and presentation materials.

        • Assessment/Evaluation

        Progress toward the completion of the certificate will be monitored in a number of ways:

        • You must have obtained a C or better in all courses applied to the certificate.
        • Your papers will be evaluated for the performance based technical communication skills outlined above in item IV.
        • You will compile a portfolio of three technical commuication projects of different focuses completed for courses and write a reflective essay of introduction. The portfolio will be reviewed by at least two English faculty. Your advisor will coordinate the portfolio review process.