Cal State San Bernardino has received a $204,907 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program (UISFL). The grant, awarded in Sept. 2024, will fund the creation of a new certificate program designed to help students become proficient in Spanish while gaining valuable business and public administration skills. The two-year project runs from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2026.

The Spanish Language Proficiency and International Experience for Business and Public Administration Professionals certificate equips students with the skills needed to excel in both public and private sectors. It emphasizes developing Spanish proficiency and cross-cultural understanding to better serve Hispanic communities locally and abroad.

Students will also benefit from a study abroad experience in Spain, gaining hands-on cultural insights and practical language application.

Designed to meet the growing demand for bilingual professionals, the program aligns with CSUSB’s mission by fostering strong community partnerships and preparing students to thrive in diverse workplaces.

“Graduates who complete the certificate program will fill the current gap of adequately prepared business and public administration professionals in the regional workforce and will be attractive to employers locally and elsewhere who are seeking linguistically and culturally competent individuals knowledgeable about the peoples and cultures of Latin America and Spain,” said Co-Principal Investigator Carmen Dagostino, a professor of Spanish and Linguistics.

The program will offer new specialized Spanish courses, including:

  • SPAN 4401: Spanish for Business and Public Administration
  • SPAN 4402: Spanish Activity Class
  • SPAN 5557: International Experience in Spain

These courses will introduce students to business terminology in Spanish and help them apply what they learn through hands-on projects and internships. Students unable to travel to Spain can complete local internships through the course SPAN 4443.

The program, a collaboration between the College of Arts & Letters (CAL) and the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC), promotes international learning and research opportunities. The instructional materials developed will be made freely available online, allowing other institutions to create similar programs.

Faculty members from CAL and JHBC are leading the program. Co-Principal Investigators Dagostino and Sharon Pierce, an associate professor of public administration, are joined by a faculty steering committee, including members María García-Puente, associate professor of Spanish; Jesús David Jerez-Gómez, professor of Spanish; Ezekiel Bonillas, assistant professor of entrepreneurship; Ann Johnson, professor of management; Craig Seal, professor of management; and Marc Fudge, professor of public administration.