Program highlights
- Flexible learning options. Choose the delivery format that fits your schedule: online courses, in-person evening classes or a combination of both.
- Great value. Two enrollment tracks make the program affordable for both in-state and out-of-state students. Online learners enjoy in-state tuition rates with only a modest non-resident fee per credit.
- Immersive summer in Spain. Take your learning abroad with our four-week July term in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Earn credit while experiencing Spanish culture firsthand.
- Credential-boosting curriculum. Earn the 18 graduate credits required for College Credit Plus (CCP) instruction or other teaching credentials, while gaining valuable skills for careers in education, nonprofit work or international service. The certificate offers advanced and native Spanish speakers a valuable opportunity to turn their language fluency into a formal credential and enhance their professional marketability.
- Start small, dream big. Begin with the certificate program and apply your coursework toward the Master of Arts in Spanish if you decide to continue. Current BGSU graduate students may be able to count relevant coursework toward both programs.
- Designed for working professionals. Courses are offered in the evenings or online, making it possible to balance graduate study with your full-time work schedule. Guest/non-degree enrollment is available to start right away.
- Highly personalized faculty support. Small class sizes allow faculty to get to know you.
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Career opportunities
Earning the Spanish for professionals and educators certificate opens doors to new roles, higher pay and advanced teaching credentials. Graduates are prepared for:
- High school Spanish instruction, including CCP dual-enrollment courses
- Community college or university teaching (with appropriate credentials)
- Private and charter school positions
- Educational and nonprofit outreach in Spanish-speaking communities
- International service, diplomacy or NGO work
This certificate also adds a valuable credential for native or heritage speakers looking to validate and enhance their fluency for professional settings.
Curriculum
The graduate certificate in Spanish for professionals and educators includes 18 credit hours of graduate-level Spanish coursework. You may customize your plan of study and choose courses from a variety of topics, including:
- Language pedagogy
- Literature
- Film
- Linguistics
- Cultural studies
Coursework in these fields improves skills that are highly valued for educators: general knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world, critical thinking, textual analysis and advanced writing.
Graduates of the Spanish certificate program will be able to:
- Discuss critically and analytically a variety of topics related to the Spanish language, as well as Spanish-speaking cultures and literatures – orally and in writing
- Demonstrate advanced competence in the Spanish language and familiarity with the theoretical issues and research tools in the broad fields of literature, culture and linguistics from Spain and Latin America.
Experiential opportunities such as study abroad, service learning and internships are available to help students develop intercultural communicative competencies necessary for global citizenship and workplace skills.
The 18 certificate credits can be applied to our master’s program. You would need to take an additional 18 credits and complete a two-part capstone to earn your master’s.
Course delivery options
- Online – courses offered every fall and spring; flexible and ideal for distance learners
- Evening courses on campus
- Spain Study Abroad – July-term courses in Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Summer online – additional coursework offered to accommodate varied schedules
Sample course topics
- Latin American film
- Hispanic short story
- Applied linguistics
- History of the Spanish language
- Spanish culture and politics
Admission information
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Students may begin coursework with part-time evening and online classes as a guest student. You can take up to 9 credits as a guest non-degree seeking student and apply for the degree program any time prior to the fourth course.
Internships and up to 6 hours of transfer credit may apply toward your 18-credit requirement.
BGSU is one of only a handful of universities in the nation — and the only one in Ohio — to earn the Quality Matters Online Learner Support certificate for all of our online programs. This recognition reflects our commitment to providing the critical support and academic services that online students need to succeed.
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The graduate certificate in Spanish for professionals and educators is a program in the World Languages and Culture department in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 11/12/2025 11:48AM