Spanish
The International Languages Department offers courses that provide the foundation for Spanish language study. They also satisfy either the humanities requirement for general education or the proficiency requirement in an international language when required for transfer. A bachelor's degree in an international language such as Spanish can lead to a career in advertising, broadcasting, consulting, translating, teaching, international service, public relations, social work, and sales.
Note: Students educated in a non-English speaking country through high school or equivalent will generally not earn lower-division transfer credit in their language at most universities. Students who might be affected by this rule should consult a counselor and/or the International Languages Department Chair before enrolling in their language courses.
Academic and Career Pathway: Languages, Communication, and Humanities
Contact Information
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Chair: Rosa E. Viramontes Dean: Jonathan Fohrman |
Department: International Languages Office: Building OC2700, 760.795.6844 |
Full-Time Faculty
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David Detwiler Pilar Hernández Lilia Vidal Rosa E. Viramontes |
Associate Degrees
Associate in Arts Degree
Spanish for Transfer
Students completing this associate degree will have completed lower-division major preparation requirements for a Spanish major at a participating California State University (CSU) campus. Following transfer to a participating CSU campus, students will be required to complete no more than 60 units to obtain a bachelor’s degree; however, some CSU campuses accepting this degree may require additional lower-division major preparation. This degree may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus not accepting this degree or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient pathway to transfer as a Spanish major and to determine which CSU campuses are participating in this program.
To complete the degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.
- Complete all courses required in the major with a "C" or "P" or better.
- Complete the CSU-GE (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C)* general education pattern.
- Obtain a minimum CSU-transferable GPA of 2.0.
- Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.
* Students completing IGETC may be awarded the degree, but they must complete a course from Area IC: Oral Communication to meet CSU admission requirements.
Program Learning Outcome Statement
- Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to effectively communicate in the Spanish language, demonstrating an understanding of cultural differences as related to personal and cultural topics as well as social issues.
| Required courses: | ||
| SPAN 101 | Elementary Spanish (First Semester) *, ** | 4 |
| SPAN 102 | Elementary Spanish (Second Semester) * | 4 |
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester) * | 4 |
| or SPAN 203 | Spanish for Native Speakers | |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester) * | 4 |
| List A: 3-4 units. Select one course. | 3-4 | |
| Students placing out of SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 201, or SPAN 202 by departmental approval, prerequisite satisfaction, or Advanced Placement scores shall use additional courses from List A to earn a total of 18 semester units in the major (Title 5, section 55063). | ||
| Cultural Anthropology * | ||
| Cultural Anthropology (Honors) * | ||
| Intercultural Communication * | ||
| Elementary French (First Semester) * | ||
| Elementary French (Second Semester) * | ||
| Cultural Geography * | ||
| Mexican American History Through 1877 * | ||
| Mexican American History Through 1877 (Honors) * | ||
| Mexican American History Since 1877 * | ||
| Mexican American History Since 1877 (Honors) * | ||
| Elementary Italian (First Semester) * | ||
| Elementary Italian (Second Semester) * | ||
| Elementary Italian for Spanish speakers (First Semester) * | ||
| Race and Ethnic Relations * | ||
| Introduction to Chicana/o Studies * | ||
| Hispanic Film, Literature, and Composition * | ||
| Total Units | 19-20 | |
| * | Course satisfies a general education requirement on the CSU-GE or IGETC general education pattern. To ensure this degree is completed with no more than 60 units, students should select courses that will also satisfy a general education requirement. |
| ** | Students who have completed two years of high school Spanish or who demonstrate proficiency do not need to enroll in SPAN 101 and can start with SPAN 102. Units awarded for AP exams will be based on the minimum semester admission units for all California State University (CSU) campuses as determined by the CSU and referenced in the AP chart in the MiraCosta catalog. |
NOTE: Students are strongly advised to select courses that meet lower-division major preparation requirements at their transfer university and to complete the History, Constitution, and American Ideals requirement prior to transfer.
Certificate
Certificate of Proficiency
Career Spanish for Medical Personnel
This certificate provides students in the health care field the language skills necessary to communicate on a professional level with Spanish-speaking people. Students should take one course through the International Study Abroad Program, if possible. No more than 4 units of course work for this certificate may be earned through credit by exam (see "Credit by Institutional Examination" in this catalog). After completion of all course work for the certificate, students must take an evaluative (non-graded) Spanish oral proficiency exam.
Program Student Learning Outcome Statement:
- Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to engage in meaningful conversations about basic health status, health information and health care instructions for both the medical staff and the patient, demonstrating command of Spanish medical terminology for body parts, organs, systems, symptoms and illness as well as of command of the first two years' vocabularies, structures, and pronunciation in the target language and comprehending native speaker speech.
| Required courses: | ||
| SPAN 160 | Spanish for Health Care Providers I | 2 |
| SPAN 161 | Spanish for Health Care Providers II | 2 |
| Select one option from below: | 4 | |
| Elementary Spanish (Second Semester) | ||
| Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester) | ||
| Spanish for Native Speakers | ||
| Select one elective from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester) | ||
| Total Units | 11-12 | |
How to Read Course Descriptions
For more detailed information about a course, such as its content, objectives, and fulfillment of a degree, certificate, or general education requirement, please see the official course outline of record, available on the Courses and Programs webpage at http://www.miracosta.edu/governance/coursesandprograms/courseoutlines.html.
Courses
SPAN 101: Elementary Spanish (First Semester)
Units: 4
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in SPAN 102, SPAN 201, SPAN 202, or SPAN 203.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer
This introductory course develops Spanish language acquisition through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It covers basic Spanish pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. It also explores the history, geography, and customs of the Spanish-speaking world. This course corresponds to the first two years of high school Spanish. C-ID SPAN-100.
SPAN 102: Elementary Spanish (Second Semester)
Units: 4
Prerequisites: SPAN 101 or two years of high school Spanish with a C or better.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in SPAN 201, SPAN 202, or SPAN 203.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer
This course continues to develop Spanish language acquisition through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It reviews and expands upon the vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced in SPAN 101, and it develops the student's ability to engage in casual conversation, express opinions, and make suggestions in Spanish. The course also provides for increased awareness of the Spanish-speaking world's history, geography, and customs, including its socio-political practices and cultural artifacts. This course corresponds to the third year of high school Spanish. C-ID SPAN-110.
SPAN 160: Spanish for Health Care Providers I
Units: 2
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 2 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall
This course introduces basic Spanish grammar and vocabulary needed by medical personnel. Topics include greetings with cultural and medical protocols, getting to know the patient, assisting in taking preliminary medical histories, and assisting in patient assessment and treatment. This course is designed for beginners as well as for those with Spanish-speaking proficiency.
SPAN 161: Spanish for Health Care Providers II
Units: 2
Prerequisites: SPAN 160.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 2 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Spring
This course provides students with more of the basic language skills needed for daily interactions with Spanish-speaking patients. It emphasizes the development of effective cross-cultural communication skills. Topics include nutrition, preventive care, physical care and rehabilitation, pediatrics, surgery, and drug abuse. This course is designed for beginners as well as for those with speaking proficiency in Spanish.
SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester)
Units: 4
Prerequisites: SPAN 102 or three years of high school Spanish with a C or better.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in SPAN 202 or SPAN 203.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer
This course continues to develop Spanish language acquisition through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It reviews and expands upon the vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced in SPAN 101 and SPAN 102, and it develops the student's ability to engage in casual conversation, express opinions, and make suggestions in Spanish. The course also provides for increased awareness of the Spanish-speaking world's history, geography, and customs, including its socio-political practices and cultural artifacts. This course corresponds to the fourth year of high school Spanish. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for SPAN 201 or SPAN 203. C-ID SPAN-200.
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester)
Units: 4
Prerequisites: SPAN 201 or SPAN 203 or four years of high school Spanish with a C or better.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
This course continues to develop Spanish language acquisition through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It reviews and expands upon the vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced in SPAN 201. It also develops the student’s ability to express opinions and make recommendations in Spanish-language debates and discussions. The course focuses on increasing awareness of the Spanish-speaking world’s history, geography, and customs, including its socio-political practices and cultural artifacts, through extensive reading and writing assignments as well as oral presentations. C-ID SPAN-210.
SPAN 203: Spanish for Native Speakers
Units: 4
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in SPAN 201.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer
This intensive course prepares native Spanish speakers with little or no formal training in Spanish for more advanced courses. It addresses listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing while emphasizing the improvement of reading and writing skills. Students also learn about regional variations in standard Spanish, Spanglish and code-switching, and the relationship between language and cultural identity. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for SPAN 201 or SPAN 203. C-ID SPAN-220.
SPAN 205: Hispanic Film, Literature, and Composition
Units: 3
Prerequisites: SPAN 202 or SPAN 203 or equivalent.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 2.50 hours, laboratory 1.50 hours.
Course Typically Offered: Fall
This introductory survey course examines Hispanic film and literary genres, including poetry, the essay, and narrative prose. Students complete written assignments and presentations (or discussions) based on Spanish-language films and assigned readings. The course helps students develop, structure, and write essays in Spanish. It also prepares students for upper-division Spanish courses.
SPAN 292: Internship Studies
Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Course Typically Offered: To be arranged
This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.
SPAN 296: Topics in Spanish
Units: 1-6
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Lecture 2 hours.
Lecture 3 hours.
Lecture 4 hours.
Lecture 5 hours.
Lecture 6 hours.
Course Typically Offered: To be arranged
This course gives students an opportunity to study topics in Spanish that are not included in regular course offerings. Each Topics course is announced, described, and given its own title and 296 number designation in the class schedule.
SPAN 299: Occupational Cooperative Work Experience
Units: 1-4
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Course Typically Offered: To be arranged
Occupational Cooperative Work Experience Education is intended for students employed in a job directly related to their major. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.
