Spanish

Contact Information

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

Degrees/Certificates

Associate Degree for Transfer

• Spanish for Transfer

Associate Degree

• Spanish

Skills Certificate

• Spanish for the Healthcare Professions

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

Course List

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

Course List

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
ANTH 0006	Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology
COMM 0007	Intercultural Communication
ETHN 0030	Introduction to Chicana/o Studies
HIST 0023	Chicano/Mexican American History
SOC 0003	Race, Ethnicity and Inequality
SPAN 0017	Intermediate Conversational Spanish
SPAN 0019	Spanish for Public Safety
SPAN 0020	Spanish for the Healthcare Professions
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

Course List

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

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.