Today, being able to communicate in a second language is a must for many and a plus for most. And if the language is Spanish, that value increases exponentially. In the United States alone, there are almost 40 million Hispanics who speak the language, plus an additional 2.6 million non-Hispanics. The Spanish Language Certificate offers students specializing in all fields a valuable credential for their proficiency in Spanish and their knowledge of Spanish and Latin American cultures, expanding their horizons to the Spanish-speaking world.
Whether a learner is a job seeker interested in working for an international corporation; a world traveler who wants richer, more immersive experiences; or a someone wanting to be able to speak directly with family and friends; the Spanish Language Certificate will give the students the tools to be able to communicate in Spanish in non-specialized settings. The program also develops familiarity with the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. As students engage in interactive communicative activities, they learn to participate in a Spanish-speaking environment, preparing them for travel and work in Spanish-speaking countries.
The program’s Northwestern University curriculum is practical and learner-centered, taught by current faculty from Northwestern’s foreign language departments. All courses are offered weekday evenings in the fall, winter, and spring quarters on the Northwestern University campus. Students in the program acquire language and cultural competence through dynamic courses that incorporate multimedia and online teaching tools and real-time classroom interactions. All courses offer one unit of undergraduate credit.
Spanish Language Certificate Program students will be able to:
Narrate in the past, present and future
Understand and give instructions
Express preference and opinion
Understand Spanish-speakers in different conversational settings
Understand different types of written texts such as newspaper articles, poetry, and literary prose
Talk and write about a wide range of topics such as describing themselves and others, making travel arrangements (hotel reservations, transportation, restaurants), describing health-related matters (doctor’s visits, medical instructions), the work place (resumes, job interviews, office life), or the media in Latin America (important newspapers and TV channels)
Program Activities
Students learn to participate in a Spanish-speaking environment as they engage in interactive communicative activities in class such as the following:
Writing one- to two-page compositions without aids
Giving an oral presentation on a chosen topic of interest for the student
Discussing Spanish-speaking movies and making cultural comparisons
Reading current news, reporting them in class and discussing as a group
Writing a resume or CV in Spanish and role-playing a job interview
Debating on the role of technology in our society
Spanish Language Certificate Courses
All of the following are required:
Spanish 101-A Elementary Spanish I
Spanish 101-B Elementary Spanish II
Spanish 101-C Elementary Spanish III
Spanish 102-A Intermediate Spanish I
Spanish 102-B Intermediate Spanish II
Spanish 102-C Intermediate Spanish III
Placement in more advanced courses in the curriculum is possible based on the student’s level of proficiency, which is assessed by program instructors prior to course registration. Students may enroll in courses in the third-year sequence based on assessment. Third-year courses are offered by the Northwestern Department of Spanish and Portuguese during the daytime; enrollment will be based on both assessment and student availability.
A minimum of four courses are required for a certificate. At least two of those courses must be at the intermediate level.
The recommended start time for this program is fall quarter.
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found at the Admission page.
Spanish Language Certificate Tuition
Post-baccalaureate students in Northwestern's School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about financial obligations and tuition, please visit the Tuition page.
Spanish Language Certificate Registration Information
Whether you're a first-time registrant or current and returning student, all students register using our online student registration and records system. Important information about registering for courses at SPS, including registration timelines and adding or dropping courses in which you are already enrolled, can be found on the Registration Information page.
Find out more about the Spanish Language Certificate
Program Courses:
Course Detail
Elementary Spanish <> SPANISH 101-A
This course is part one of a three-quarter sequence based on the
competency (or “can do”) and the communicative approaches. The
course is designed for adults who wish to learn Spanish in a
dynamic way and it is designed to help students achieve pragmatic,
linguistic and cultural competencies adequate for a beginning
level. This is a student-centered course in which the student will
learn how to interact in the target language in basic real-life
situations, both orally and in writing, as well as to develop the
necessary skills to become an independent learner outside of the
classroom. The intercultural nature of all the activities and tasks
to be completed by the student will also help the student to become
more aware of the rich and varied cultures within the
Spanish-speaking world. The topics and textbook are aligned with
the interests of adult learners. The SPANISH 101 sequence is
introductory; only students who have never taken Spanish before
should enroll in the courses.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: Only students who have never taken
Spanish before should enroll in this course. Students with previous
Spanish experience (high school or college, studied abroad, etc),
should enroll in SPANISH 102. Students with questions about
placement should contact the instructor prior to registering.
Note: SPANISH 101-A is available to for students
to audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced.
Students enrolled to audit the course must meet participation and
assessment requirements as outlined in the course syllabus.
This course is part two of a three-quarter sequence based on the
competency (or "can do") and the communicative approaches. The
course is designed for adults who wish to learn Spanish in a
dynamic way and it is designed to help students achieve pragmatic,
linguistic and cultural competencies adequate for a beginning
level. This is a student-centered course in which the student will
learn how to interact in the target language in basic real-life
situations, both orally and in writing, as well as to develop the
necessary skills to become an independent learner outside of the
classroom. The intercultural nature of all the activities and tasks
to be completed by the student will also help the student to become
more aware of the rich and varied cultures within the
Spanish-speaking world. The topics and textbook are aligned with
the interests of adult learners. The SPANISH 101 sequence is
introductory; only students who have never taken Spanish
before should enroll in the courses.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: SPANISH 101-A, or equivalent. If you
have not taken SPANISH 101-A in the fall quarter at SPS,
you must contact the instructor before registering in the
course to determine if 101-B is the right level for you.
Please email the instructor prior to registering if you need
further guidance or if you have any other questions regarding
placement.
Note: SPANISH 101-B is available to for
students to audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is
reduced. Students enrolled to audit the course must meet
prerequisites, as well as participation and assessment requirements
as outlined in the course syllabus.
This course is part three of a three-quarter sequence based on
the competency (or "can do") and the communicative approaches. The
course is designed for adults who wish to learn Spanish in a
dynamic way and it is designed to help students achieve pragmatic,
linguistic and cultural competencies adequate for a beginning
level. This is a student-centered course in which the student will
learn how to interact in the target language in basic real-life
situations, both orally and in writing, as well as to develop the
necessary skills to become an independent learner outside of the
classroom. The intercultural nature of all the activities and tasks
to be completed by the student will also help the student to become
more aware of the rich and varied cultures within the
Spanish-speaking world. The topics and textbook are aligned with
the interests of adult learners. The SPANISH 101 sequence is
introductory; only students who have never taken Spanish before
should enroll in the courses.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: SPANISH 101-A and SPANISH
101-B, or equivalent. If you have not taken SPANISH 101-A in the
fall quarter and/or SPANISH 101-B in the winter quarter at SPS,
you must contact the instructor before registering in the
course to determine if 101-C is the right level for you.
Please email the instructor prior to registering if you need
further guidance or if you have any other questions regarding
placement.
Note: SPANISH 101-C is available to for students to
audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students
enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as well as
participation and assessment requirements as outlined in the course
syllabus.
This course is the first in a three-quarter intermediate
sequence based on the competency (or "can do") and the
communicative approaches. It will focus on how to communicate
experiences in the past. The acquisition of specific vocabulary
will allow students to share their own personal experiences. In
addition, this course will also focus on the use of Spanish in the
workplace. Tasks will be designed with practical purposes in mind
such as how to interact with co-workers, write cover letters and
resumes, prepare job interviews in Spanish, etc. This course
is designed for adults who wish to learn Spanish in a dynamic way
and it is designed to assist students achieve pragmatic, linguistic
and cultural competencies adequate for intermediate Spanish.
SPANISH 102-A emphasizes the functional use of the language in a
student-centered classroom. Students will further develop skills in
listening, reading, writing and speaking through interactions in
the target language in meaningful real-life situations with the
ultimate goal of becoming independent learners for life. The
materials for this course will be customized to the interests of
adult learners.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite (one of the following): completion of
SPANISH 101-C Elementary Spanish at SPS (or equivalent in Weinberg
College of Arts & Sciences); or previous Spanish experience
(high school or college, study abroad, etc.) with an equivalent
level of proficiency as SPANISH 101-C. Placement in the course will
be ultimately determined by the instructor. Students with
questions about placement should contact the instructor directly
prior to registering.
Note: SPANISH 102-A is available to for students
to audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced.
Students enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as
well as participation and assessment requirements as outlined in
the course syllabus.
This course is part two of a three-quarter intermediate sequence
based on the competency (or 'can do') and the communicative
approaches. It will explore as its main theme different forms of
art in the Spanish-speaking world, such as film, music or painting.
Tasks will be designed with practical purposes in mind in order to
be able to discuss and/or analyze a variety of artwork from
different perspectives. These tasks will also enable students to
give opinions, as well as give instructions, direct orders or
informal advice. This course is designed for adults who wish
to learn Spanish in a dynamic way and it is designed to assist
students achieve pragmatic, linguistic and cultural competencies
adequate for intermediate Spanish. SPANISH 102-B emphasizes the
functional use of the language in a student-centered classroom.
Students will further develop skills in listening, reading, writing
and speaking through interactions in the target language in
meaningful real-life situations with the ultimate goal of becoming
independent learners for life. The materials for this course will
be customized to the interests of adult learners.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite (one of the following): completion of
SPANISH 102-A in the fall quarter at SPS (or equivalent at WCAS);
or previous Spanish experience (high school or college, study
abroad, etc.) with an equivalent level of proficiency as SPANISH
102-A. Placement will be ultimately determined by the instructor.
Students with questions about placement should contact the
instructor directly prior to registering.
Note: SPANISH 102-B is available to for students
to audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced.
Students enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as
well as participation and assessment requirements as outlined in
the course syllabus.
This course is the conclusion of a three-quarter intermediate
sequence based on the competency (or "can do") and the
communicative approaches. It will explore as its main theme
traditions and festivities in Latin America and Spain. The
intercultural nature of all activities and tasks to be completed by
students will help them become more aware of the rich and varied
cultures within the Spanish-speaking world. Tasks will be designed
with practical purposes in mind and will enable students to give
opinions and make suggestions, express subjective perceptions and
attitudes, talk about the future, express hypothetical conditions,
etc. This course is designed for adults who wish to learn Spanish
in a dynamic way and it is designed to assist students achieve
pragmatic, linguistic and cultural competencies adequate for
intermediate Spanish. SPANISH 102-C emphasizes the functional use
of the language in a student-centered classroom. Students will
further develop skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking
through interactions in the target language in meaningful real-life
situations with the ultimate goal of becoming independent learners
for life. The materials for this course will be customized to the
interests of adult learners.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite (one of the following): completion of
SPANISH 102-B in the winter quarter at SPS (or equivalent at WCAS);
or previous Spanish experience (high school or college, study
abroad, etc.) with an equivalent level of proficiency as SPANISH
102-B. Placement will be ultimately determined by the
instructor. Students with questions about placement should
contact the instructor directly prior to registering.
Note: SPANISH 102-C is available to for students
to audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced.
Students enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as
well as participation and assessment requirements as outlined in
the course syllabus.
