About

The Certificate in Medical Language program provides students with a credential recognizing their proficiency in medical terminology, including etymology, word formation and the conventions of contemporary usage.


Quick facts
  • One- or two-year certificate
  • Full- or part-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school

What you will learn

During the process of completing the required courses for this certificate, you will develop not only the necessary skills to define medical terms (including the Latin phrases that comprise the international corpus of anatomical names, known as the Terminologia Anatomica), but also to coin original terms to describe new medical conditions, procedures and discoveries accurately and succinctly.

CLAS 103.3: Medical Terminology

Presents the most important Greek and Latin roots of the vocabulary of contemporary medicine and demonstrates the predictable patterns by which these roots combine. Students will learn to define new compounds and phrases by analysis of their parts and will be introduced to language history, linguistic principles and etymology.

CLAS 203.3: Advanced Medical Terminology

This course continues and develops the methods and materials introduced in Classics 103.3, presenting advanced and specialized Medical Terminologies and an introduction to the major Latin corpus of anatomical phrases known as the Nomina Anatomica. Students improve their etymological and linguistic skills and their ability to define previously unseen Latinate compound words and phrases. Special emphasis is placed on students' ability to deal at an advanced level with the differences between "etymological meaning" and contemporary usage.

LATN 112.3: Latin for Beginners I

Latin is the language of ancient Rome, but its relevance—as a language of empire, of religion, and of science and learning—has persisted into the modern period. In this course, you will learn the basics of Latin. With attention to the grammatical forms of the language and through the regular practice of reading and writing in Latin, you will begin to understand the structures of Latin and prepare yourself for the reading of Latin literature.

LATN 113.3: Latin for Beginners II

In this course, you will continue the sequence begun in LATN 112 and become familiar with more complex forms of Latin grammar. You will acquire a broad vocabulary and become more comfortable reading extended passages of Latin prose and poetry. You will have the opportunity to read selections from works written by a range of Roman authors like Cicero and Caesar, Catullus and Virgil.


The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

Opportunities

The Certificate in Medical Language is designed to help you develop your proficiency in defining and understanding medical terminology.

Students in numerous programs - including nursing, biology, kinesiology and any of the biomedical sciences - regularly encounter complex medical terms throughout the course of their studies, and the training provided by this certificate will enable you to recognize and define those terms quickly and easily whenever you encounter them.

In addition, on completion of the certificate, you will be well-versed in the linguistic skills needed to understand the medical terms that you will come across in postgraduate studies and your future career.

Careers

Some career opportunities include:

  • Health records clerk
  • Medical clerk interpreter
  • Health information management professional
  • Medical transcriptionist

This certificate will also benefit anyone who is considering future studies in life or health sciences such as medicine, dentistry, nursing and veterinary medicine etc., in addition to many related graduate programs.

Tuition estimates

Canadian students International students
Tuition $746 per 3 credit unit class $3,611 per 3 credit unit class
Student fees $1,121 per year $1,121 per year

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay per class (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access. This estimate reflects the price you would pay if you are a full-time student.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 for this program.

Program options

Students hanging out in the Bowl in front of the Peter MacKinnon Building

The Certificate in Medical Language is offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science.

If you are already enrolled at USask, consult your academic advisor regarding enrolling in this program.

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

Admission requirements and deadlines

Deadlines

Start term Application DeadlineInternational Deadline
Winter
January 2025
Dec 1, 2024
Documents due: Dec 15, 2024
Sep 1, 2024
Documents due: Oct 1, 2024
Spring
May 2025
Apr 1, 2025
Documents due: May 1, 2025
Feb 1, 2025
Documents due: Mar 1, 2025
Summer
July 2025
May 1, 2025
Documents due: Jun 1, 2025
Mar 1, 2025
Documents due: Apr 1, 2025
Fall
September 2025
Aug 15, 2025
Documents due: Aug 15, 2025
May 1, 2025
Documents due: Jun 1, 2025
Winter
January 2026
Dec 1, 2025
Documents due: Dec 15, 2025
Sep 1, 2025
Documents due: Oct 1, 2025

Ready to apply?

If you are a current USask student, consult your academic advisor regarding enrolling in this program.

To apply to this program as a new student, please apply for admission to any undergraduate program in the College of Arts and Science and after you are admitted, declare your plans to the college.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

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