Program of Study
The Cultural Competency in Health Care Certificate (CCHCC) is an online academic certificate for health service professionals that focuses on the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. The CCHCC arms healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to best serve an increasingly diverse community of patients, including transnational migrants, farm laborers, indigenous communities, refugees, and other minority populations, focusing not only on primary and preventative care, but also chronic, palliative, and end-of-life care. The CCHCC instructs nurses, hospital administrators, physicians, clinic directors, and other health service professionals on ethics, language access, cultural awareness, state and federal mandates on cultural competency, and institutional preparation for cultural competency accreditation.
Federal and state governmental bodies have developed a comprehensive set of regulatory mandates related to cultural and linguistic competency in health care including United States Executive Order 13166 and the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS). Additionally, accreditation agencies such as the Joint Committee for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) have established rigorous standards in the areas of cultural and linguistic competency and proficiency for healthcare organizations. The aim of the CCHCC Program at CSUSM is to develop a workforce that can excel in the planning and delivery of culturally competent health care. Cultural competency, when developed and implemented as a framework, enables systems, agencies, and groups of professionals to understand the needs of groups accessing health information and health care in an inclusive partnership where the provider and the user of the information meet on common ground. Cultural competence benefits consumers, stakeholders, and communities, leads to a reduction of health disparities, and supports positive health outcomes. Training in cultural and linguistic issues can provide those working in the healthcare fields with skills that can positively impact patient care through the delivery of services that are respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of a diverse national population.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants should be an undergraduate student with junior/senior status, or have completed a Bachelor’s degree (in any field), or be a Registered Nurse (RN).
- Applicants must submit a current resume, a personal statement, and a CCHCC Program Application www.csusm.edu/EL/CCHCC.
- Applicants must be proficient in English.
*The Cultural Competency in Health Care Certificate is offered through Extended Learning.
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