Contact Information
- Division
- Liberal Arts
- Dean
- Anne Fleischmann
- Associate Deans
- Patrick Marasso, Lynn Medeiros
- Division Office
- W 107, Rocklin Campus
Overview
The active part that the United States is now taking in world affairs makes it desirable that a greater number of Americans than ever before have knowledge of foreign languages and cultures. In the most recent census of California, 43.5% of our population speaks a language other than English at home; U.S. census projections show the Hispanic community growing across the nation. For this reason, students will benefit from learning Spanish in preparation for any career. The acquisition of desired practical communication skills is the primary objective of the Spanish program at Sierra College. Courses are organized around grammatical themes imbedded in cultural topics, requiring critical thinking, analysis and practical application. Instruction in the Communicative Method integrates the five key learning objectives of Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing and Cultural Competence.
Career Opportunities in Spanish
Bilingual: teacher, professor, transcriber, sales representative, customer service representative, web publisher, medical/health worker, realtor, IRS/franchise tax board worker, social services case worker, community outreach specialist, human resources specialist;
Business: international relations consultant, international business personnel, foreign exchange trader, publishing specialist, foreign correspondent, foreign publications/textbook editor, research assistant, importer/exporter, translator/interpreter, international account manager, international banking officer, airline personnel, public relations officer;
Culture/Tourism: cultural events coordinator, travel agent, translator/interpreter, guide;
Government: national security agent, immigration officer, court interpreter, UNESCO official, Peace Corps employee, translator/interpreter, FBI agent, foreign diplomat missionary, foreign service officer.
Faculty
Sara K. Casler
Professor, Spanish
B.A., Pacific University
M.A., Miami University
Marga Kelly
Professor, Spanish
B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A., Brigham Young University
Degrees/Certificates
Associate Degree for Transfer
Associate Degree
Skills Certificate
Spanish for Transfer
AA-T Degree
This Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer (AA-T) degree provides a comprehensive foundation in the Spanish language. The degree ensures the development of listening, reading, writing and speaking skills; examining important contributions to Spanish language literature; examining new ideas from the Spanish speaking world; and cultivating an openness to new ideas and an informed appreciation of Spanish speaking cultures.
The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree (AA-T) prepares students to transfer into the CSU system to complete a bachelor’s degree in Spanish or a major deemed similar by a CSU campus. Students earning an associate degree for transfer and meeting the CSU minimum transfer admission requirements are guaranteed admission with junior standing to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. Upon transfer, students will be required to complete no more than 60 additional prescribed units to earn a bachelor’s degree.
To earn the Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree, students must complete 60 CSU-transferable semester units with a minimum grade point average of 2.0, including both of the following:
- completion of all courses required for the major with grades of “C” or better; and
- completion of the California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE) pattern or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. (Students transferring to a CSU campus using IGETC must complete Area 1C Oral Communication to be eligible for admission.)
The exact wording of the law pertaining to associate degrees for transfer may be found in Education Code Section 66746.
It is highly recommended that, prior to transferring, students complete courses that satisfy the CSU United States History, Constitution and American Ideals graduation requirement. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.
RESTRICTION: International coursework from non-United States regionally accredited institutions cannot be applied to associate degrees for transfer.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 0001 | Elementary Spanish - Level I | 5 |
| SPAN 0002 | Elementary Spanish - Level II | 5 |
| SPAN 0003 | Intermediate Spanish - Level I | 4 |
| SPAN 0004 | Intermediate Spanish - Level II | 4 |
| SPAN 0017 | Intermediate Conversational Spanish | 3 |
| Total Units | 21 | |
NOTE: Students entering the Spanish program at SPAN 0002 or higher are required to satisfy the specified unit requirements of the degree. Students must consult with the Spanish Department Chair for approval of appropriate course substitutions.
Spanish
AA Degree
The Associate of Arts in Spanish degree prepares students for transfer to a baccalaureate program in Spanish and provides a comprehensive foundation in the Spanish language for career fields such as education, international relations, medicine, and social services. The degree ensures the development of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills; examining important contributions to Spanish language literature; examining new ideas from the Spanish speaking world, and cultivating openness to new ideas and an informed appreciation of Spanish speaking cultures. The major is designed to meet the lower-division requirements for Spanish majors at four-year institutions. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements. Students must fulfill the following major requirements with grades of “C” or better, complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable semester units (12 of which must be completed at Sierra College) with a grade point average of at least 2.0 and complete one of the following three general education patterns:
- Sierra College Associate Degree Requirements;
- California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE) pattern;
- Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 0001 | Elementary Spanish - Level I | 5 |
| SPAN 0002 | Elementary Spanish - Level II | 5 |
| SPAN 0003 | Intermediate Spanish - Level I | 4 |
| SPAN 0004 | Intermediate Spanish - Level II | 4 |
| Select 3 units from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Chicano/Mexican American History | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Inequality | ||
| Intermediate Conversational Spanish | ||
| Mexican American/Latino Culture and Image | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
NOTE: Students entering the Spanish program at SPAN 0002 or higher are required to satisfy the specified unit requirements of the degree. Students must consult with the Spanish Department Chair for approval of appropriate course substitutions.
Spanish for the Healthcare Professions
Skills Certificate
This skills certificate is designed for individuals whose professional careers and personal interests take them to the healthcare field. Spanish is the first language of a large percentage of the population and today's medical professionals must meet both the linguistic and cultural challenges that come with the growing diversity in the healthcare population. Whether you are new to the Spanish language or just want a refresher, this skills certificate emphasizes the language and cultural skills needed by nurses, physicians, pharmacists, technicians, support staff, dietitians, social workers, etc., who are entering or are currently employed in a healthcare setting. A skills certificate is designed to provide career technical skills; it is not equivalent to an associate degree.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 0001 | Elementary Spanish - Level I | 5 |
| SPAN 0002 | Elementary Spanish - Level II | 5 |
| SPAN 0020 | Spanish for the Healthcare Professions | 3 |
| Total Units | 13 | |
Courses
Understanding course descriptions
SPAN 0001. Elementary Spanish - Level I
Units: 5
Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 90 lecture
First of two semesters of Elementary Spanish. Provides basic communication skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing by applying principles of phonetics (speech sounds), morphology (word formation), and syntax (word order) in the context of Spanish-speaking culture. Corresponds to two years of high school study. (C-ID SPAN 100) (CSU, UC)
SPAN 0002. Elementary Spanish - Level II
Units: 5
Prerequisite: Completion of SPAN 1 or two years of high school Spanish with grade(s) of "C" or better
Hours: 90 lecture
Second of two semesters of Elementary Spanish. Provides further basic communication skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing by applying principles of phonetics (speech sounds), morphology (word formation), and syntax (word order) in the context of Spanish-speaking culture. (C-ID SPAN 110) (CSU, UC)
SPAN 0003. Intermediate Spanish - Level I
Units: 4
Prerequisite: Completion of SPAN 2 or three years of high school Spanish with grade(s) of "C" or better
Hours: 72 lecture
First of two semesters of Intermediate Spanish. Provides intermediate level of communication skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing by applying principles of phonetics (speech sounds), morphology (word formation), and syntax (word order) in the context of Spanish-speaking culture. Students will continue to interact with authentic language in a cultural context. (C-ID SPAN 200) (CSU, UC)
SPAN 0004. Intermediate Spanish - Level II
Units: 4
Prerequisite: Completion of SPAN 3 or four years of high school Spanish with grade(s) of "C" or better
Hours: 72 lecture
Second of two semesters of Intermediate Spanish. Provides upper intermediate level of communication skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing within a cultural background. Readings of literature (short story, poetry, drama, essay) and culturally relevant authentic materials (newspapers, magazines, films) as well as writing short compositions are emphasized in this course. (C-ID SPAN 210) (CSU, UC)
SPAN 0017. Intermediate Conversational Spanish
Units: 3
Prerequisite: Completion of SPAN 2 or three years of high school Spanish with grade(s) of "C" or better
Hours: 54 lecture
Develops increasingly complex language abilities through new vocabulary and more advanced grammatical structures. Emphasizes oral communication, grammatical, reading, and writing skills at the intermediate level, and further explores cultural customs. (CSU, UC)
SPAN 0020. Spanish for the Healthcare Professions
Units: 3
Prerequisite: Completion of SPAN 2 or three years of high school Spanish with grade(s) of "C" or better
Hours: 54 lecture
Intermediate course in Spanish designed for students whose professional careers and personal interest take them to the healthcare field. Course enables students to convey conversations with Spanish-speaking patients and their families. Students develop basic and intermediate skills in the target language to carry on medical/nursing functions or tasks. Helpful for students who have a basic knowledge of Spanish whose goal is to apply the target language to a healthcare setting. (CSU)
SPAN 0028. Independent Study
Units: 1-3
Designed for students interested in furthering their knowledge at an independent study level in an area where no specific curriculum offering is currently available. Independent study might include, but is not limited to, research papers, special subject area projects, and research projects. See Independent Study page in catalog. (CSU, UC-with unit limitation)
Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs)
- Improve listening skills in Spanish and draw reasonable inferences from observations.
- Improve reading skills in Spanish while examining important contributions to Spanish language literature.
- Improve writing skills in Spanish while examining new ideas from the Spanish-speaking world.
- Improve speaking skills in Spanish and develop problem-solving skills by working productively with others.
- Cultivate an openness to new ideas and an informed appreciation of Spanish-speaking cultures.
