New certificates benefit students and community

The University of South Carolina Aiken will offer three new certificate programs this fall serving both undergraduates and working professionals. These programs, Spanish for the Clinical Encounter, Real Estate and Strategic Communication, are the first of their kind within the USC system and are designed to give students a competitive edge in their careers.

Spanish for the Clinical Encounter is a complementary program for students majoring in nursing, exercise and sports science, or any student interested in a health care or clinical field. It provides conversational and cultural competency for students serving patients and family members whose first language is Spanish. No prior language study is required.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the counties of Aiken, Lexington, Edgefield, and Barnwell have a combined Hispanic or Latino population of approximately 35,000, resulting in increased demand at hospitals across our state for clinicians who can speak Spanish.

Timothy Ashton, Professor of Spanish and Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, says, “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.”

The 12-hour certificate has nine hours of required courses and three hours of either a directed internship or additional language and/or cultural coursework. Courses will primarily be offered in person to the university’s undergraduate population, but will also be available online to working professionals already holding an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

The certificate in Real Estate program is ideal for students and working professionals in fields such as real estate brokerage, leasing, property management, appraisal, site selection, acquisition, property development, law, construction, mortgage finance, securitization, and government activities such as planning, land use regulation, environmental protection, and property taxation.

The certificate equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze real estate markets, make value-enhancing investing and financing decisions, and evaluate real estate development opportunities. They will learn from subject matter experts such as real estate attorneys, developers, investment trust managers, appraisers, county assessors and tax collectors, loan originators and underwriters, and judges who oversee the foreclosure process. They will also have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning and become certified in industry-leading software platforms.

“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 Professor of Finance Paul Newsom. “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.”

The 12-credit hour certificate program is designed to prepare students for successful careers in real estate.

The certificate in Strategic Communication is designed not just for Communication and Emerging Media students, but for all degree-seeking USCA students and those already holding a bachelor’s or associate degree.

The 12-hour program examines how organizations engage in branding efforts to internal and external stakeholders, emphasizing the development of specific messages for various media and audiences. The course helps students understand how these efforts help organizations advance their brand and mission.

Strategic communication is a rapidly growing field, with companies having an increased need for experts to help them navigate complex strategies and advocacy across a number of communication channels. The certificate program will allow students to gain valuable skills that will make them more competitive when seeking employment in communications and a variety of other fields.

Forrest Anderson, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, says, “The certificate in Strategic Communication will set our students apart not only in communications fields but also sciences, technology, engineering, and math because they’ll have the ability to read critically, write cogently and think broadly. Students will be prepared for a course of lifelong learning that will help them navigate not only their first jobs but also their entire careers.”

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.