Program Description

Spanish is the national language of the majority of the countries of the western hemisphere. It is also the fastest growing language in California. Students completing this degree will have a foundation for the field of Spanish through the study of Spanish language, culture, and literature, and will acquire the abilities to engage in conversation, understand the essential points of a narrative or explanation, read and comprehend literature, write summaries, and engage in correspondence.

The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree prepares students for transfer to California State Universities (CSUs). Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree will be ensured preferential transfer status to CSUs for Spanish majors and majors in related disciplines. The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific CSUs. This degree may also provide excellent preparation for other majors.

Learn more about the program on the Spanish website.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Graduates will be able to communicate with native speakers of Spanish, using the appropriate language for any given situation.
• Graduates will be able to conduct research and demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic society, culture, and politics.

Units Required

• Major: 34-35

Associate Degree Requirements

Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units, including:

• Core and support courses for the major (34-35 units)¹
• Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth) or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)² (49-58 units) (full certification is required)
• Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)³ (45 units) (full certification is required)
• Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement

¹

Some units from the core and support courses may be used to satisfy the GE requirement. Please see a counselor for more information.

²

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information. Important Note: Although it is possible to fulfill the requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer by completing the IGETC for UC pattern, admission to CSU requires completion of an Oral Communication course (IGETC Area 1C; CSU GE Area A-1); therefore, students who plan to transfer to CSU should complete this course as part of their GE or elective units.

³

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
SPAN 1	ELEMENTARY SPANISH I	5
SPAN 2	ELEMENTARY SPANISH II	5
SPAN 3	ELEMENTARY SPANISH III	5
SPAN 4	INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I	5
SPAN 5	INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II	5
SPAN 6	INTERMEDIATE SPANISH III	5
Support Courses
List A
Complete one course from List A:		4-5
ENGL 31	LATINO/A LITERATURE
HIST 8	HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
POLI 1	POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Total Units		34-35

Please note: If the student places out of any course and is not awarded units for that course, the student will have to take additional units to compensate for the course/units needed to reach at least 27 total units in the major (per Title 5 regulations). Course substitutions are made at the discretion of the local college and may or may not be delineated in the local degree. Students should see a counselor for details.