Spanish, Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T)

Orange Coast College

The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer Degree is an excellent way to develop communicative as well as analytical and critical thinking skills. It can provide a basis for understanding cultural differences thus preparing graduates for a variety of careers in a multicultural world. The ability to communicate and interact with others is more and more vital with growing global interdependence and technological connectivity. Students who complete the AA-T can develop careers in number of fields, such as anthropology, business, diplomatic services, economics, education, healthcare, linguistics, literature, political science, and sociology. While teaching has traditionally been the principal area of employment, other careers including interpreting, translating, publishing, international commerce, tourism, public relations, and research, are just some of the many possible paths graduates can follow. The department offers courses from the beginning to intermediate levels. All courses are designed to develop students' proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as to provide a general overview of the cultures related to the Spanish-speaking world. While the AA-T core specifies four required levels of Spanish, students placing in higher levels are not required to complete the lower-level courses. Rather, they take additional units from a list of approved substitution courses to reach the minimum units in the major. Students graduating with an AA-T Degree are well-positioned to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a similar major within the California State University system with 60 units of upper-division coursework. Students who complete the AA-T are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, though not to a particular campus or major. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework and a minimum grade of ''C'' (or ''P'') for each course in the major. While a minimum 2.0 is required for CSU admission, some majors may require a higher GPA. Please consult a counselor for more information. Program Outcomes Recognize and produce the Spanish language in the four primary areas of communication: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Demonstrate a better understanding and appreciation of the cultures related to the Spanish language by comparing and contrasting them with the student’s own culture(s). Use current technologies to further develop language and cultural competencies. Students will be eligible and prepared for admission (SB 1440 and Education Code 66746) to California State University system schools.