Back to Academic Programs

As the Latinx population continues to grow in Colorado and nationwide, there is a critical need for bilingual and culturally responsive social workers. Our MSW Latinx Social Work Certificate addresses this need, preparing you for a bilingual career serving individuals and families of Latin American origin.

You’ll complete this certificate concurrently with your MSW program. The certificate includes an intensive Spanish-language immersion component, an experiential course taught in Mexico, and other specialized courses in addition to a field internship in which you’ll work with Spanish-speaking clients. A minimum of intermediate proficiency in Spanish is required for admission to the Latinx Social Work Certificate program, which is only available to students enrolled in our Denver Campus MSW Program.

Want to learn more about the Latinx Social Work Certificate?

Request Information

The term Latinx (pronounced “La-TEEN-ex”) is inclusive of gender, ethnic and racial identity.

Learning Outcomes

Latinx Social Work courses examine the interconnected issues of race, ethnicity, racism, citizenship status and relationships among the United States, Latin American countries and Latinx people in the U.S. The Latinx Social Work Certificate will lead you to:

  • Improve your Spanish-speaking ability as you provide culturally congruent services to Latinx populations
  • Understand how structural racism affects communities of color in the U.S. and Latin America
  • Develop clinical skills to work in a culturally responsive way with Latinx clients in micro and macro practice
  • Tap into the strengths and solutions found within Latinx communities
  • Network and engage with Latinx community-based organizations and community leaders while working alongside Latinx communities
  • Learn about current immigration policies and your responsibility for advocacy

“El certificado me dio la oportunidad de mejorar mis aptitudes para desempeñarme como un profesional de trabajo social de habla hispana y me proporcionó los conocimientos para abordar intervenciones terapéuticas con solidez, tantocultural como clínica.” — Frank Jadwin, MSW ’11, Salud Family Health Centers

Professor and students

Your Career Options

The Latinx population in the U.S. is expected to grow by 57 percent by 2050, and as the Latinx population expands within Colorado and nationwide, the demand for culturally responsive and bilingual social work practice skills is growing as well. With an MSW and Latinx Social Work Certificate, you’ll graduate with an additional professional credential and a competitive advantage in your job search. Your social work career could include:

  • Working in bilingual social work settings in a variety of agencies and nonprofits
  • Providing health and behavioral health services to diverse populations
  • Advocating for and providing support to immigrants and migrant workers
  • Working internationally with nongovernmental organizations
  • Community organizing

“The Latinx Certificate program strengthened my ability to work conscientiously and effectively with clients of Latin American origin — and by extension, to be more thoughtful about my work with people of many different nationalities and cultures.” — Megan Hope, MSW ’11, Latinx Social Work Certificate ’11, Social Service Project Director, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network

Read More

International Social Work

International Social Work

The required course Social Work and Latin American Cultures, An Intensive Practice and Spanish Immersion takes students to Chiapas, Mexico, to explore human rights, development, economic policy, culture and language. Students work directly with and learn from community partners, including a nonprofit that fights hunger and promotes education, gender equality and sustainability and a nongovernmental organization that defends human rights for indigenous villages and communities.

Read More

Featured Courses

SOWK 4753

Social Development in Latin America

About this Course

Covers social development in South and Central America, with special emphasis on Mexico. Practice-oriented, it is geared towards a knowledge of policy-making in Latin America and on the skills required for local social development. A required course for the Social Work with Latinos/as Certificate.

SOWK 4750

Critical Perspectives on the Latinx Context

About this Course

This course provides a framework for culturally relevant social work services designed to meet the needs of the Latinx community. This is a social work content course taught in Spanish. Students acquire core principles grounded in an understanding of social justice, privilege, and oppression including the interconnection between human and civil rights, globalization, immigration and poverty. Students will expand their oral and written Spanish expression as they learn about cultural, social and political theory. Students learn aspects of Mexican culture, community development, historical patterns of oppression, spirituality, and the role of indigenous movements. As a result of this course, students understand how to advocate for nondiscriminatory cultural, social and economic practices within a Latinx context and experience. It is designed for students in all concentrations who have an interest in understanding issues facing the Latinx community. Prerequisite: Initial placement is based on minimum language proficiency test results at the intermediate-advanced level. Further placement determination will consist of a comprehensive evaluation to ascertain oral and written proficiency. Enrollment in this course may be limited to Latinx Certificiate students.

SOWK 4749

Culturally Responsive Practice with LatinX

About this Course

Addresses immigration issues, as well as intervention and theoretical approaches for Latinx populations. Covers the selection of interventions and strategies for cross-cultural use in adequately addressing the needs of Latinx. A required course for the Latinx Social Work Certificate.

Learn about the Latinx certificate's program coordinator.

Meet Lorena Gaibor

Related Stories

Application Information

2019 Denver Campus Two-Year Program Final Admission Deadline

Application icon

Review & Print Admission Steps

Academics icon

Review Your Financial Options

Service icon

Start Your Application