Spanish - AA
¿Hablas español? If you have a passion for the Spanish language and culture, a degree program in Spanish will help you advance your skills and pursue a career in one of many fields where Spanish speakers are in high demand. Rapidly becoming one of the most widely spoken languages in the United States and across the world, Spanish is the official language of more than 20 countries with 450 million native speakers. Fluent Spanish speakers boast a highly marketable skill that can lead to career opportunities in a variety of areas, including commerce, hospitality, tourism, and education. Spanish teacher, foreign exchange trader, interpreter, and foreign correspondent are just a few of the professional roles that exist for Hispanophones, at home and abroad.
In an associate program in Spanish, you will be immersed in the Spanish language. This degree is transferable to universities offering a bachelor’s degree in Spanish.
Students should work closely with their advisor and contact their transfer institution choices for more specific transfer information.
The first year of a Spanish program will include math and English courses to meet general education requirements. The completion of introductory math and English courses in your first year is proven to greatly increase the likelihood of crossing the graduation stage, boosting your momentum along the academic pathway you select. Other general education courses in your pathway will cover topics in Arts and Humanities, History, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural and Physical Sciences.
Program-specific courses may begin as soon as your first semester. These courses will become more advanced as you move along your degree pathway. Through this sequence of courses, your ability to speak, understand, read, and write the Spanish language will grow and deepen. After completing a 60-credit associate degree, your degree pathway can continue with guaranteed transfer to a college that offers bachelor’s degrees.
| Required Courses that Fulfill General Education Requirements (34 Credit Hours) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title | |
| (Written) Communication | 6 | ENG 121/1021 English Composition I and ENG 122/1022 English Composition II OR ENG 122/1022 English Composition II and a GT Pathways approved CO3 course |
| Mathematics | 3 | One GT Pathways course (GT-MA1), prefer MAT 120/1240 Mathematics for Liberal Arts |
| Arts & Humanities |
3 | SPA 211/2011* Spanish Language III |
| 3 | SPA 212/2012* Spanish Language IV | |
| 3 | One GT Pathways Arts & Humanities courses (GT-AH1, GT- AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4) | |
| History | 3 | HIS 244/2200 History of Latin America OR another GT Pathways History course (GT-HI1) focusing on the Spanish-speaking world (non-U.S.) OR another GT Pathways non-U.S. History course |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 6 | Two GT Pathways Social & Behavioral Sciences courses (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3) |
| Natural & Physical Sciences | 7 or 8 | Two GT Pathways Natural & Physical Sciences courses (GT-SC1, GTSC2); one of these courses must have the required laboratory (GTSC1) |
| **Additional Required Courses & Electives (26 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|
| Credit Hours | Course Number and Title |
| 5 | SPA 111/1011*** Spanish Language I |
| 5 | SPA 112/1012*** Spanish Language II |
| 3 | COM 115/1150 Public Speaking (recommended) OR COM 125/1250 Interpersonal Communications |
| ****Electives - 13 credit hours | |
*Those students who have a higher proficiency level than is required for SPA 211/2011
or 212/2012 should substitute other Arts & Humanities courses. Heritage speakers may want to substitute SPA 261/2061 (Grammar-Heritage Lang Speaker)
and SPA 262/2062 (Comp-Heritage Lang Speaker), if available.
**Please note: if these credits are not required for the major at a receiving 4-year
institution, they will be applied to the bachelor’s degree as elective credit toward graduation. Please check with the receiving institution to determine
in which way these courses will be applied.
***SPA 111/1011 and/or SPA 112/1012 may be waived, based on a student’s proficiency
level. Students should consult a departmental advisor at the 4-year college or university.
****Suggested courses: 200/2000-level Spanish courses; courses outside the Spanish
department with content related to the Spanish-speaking world.
Otero College is a part of a Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement between Colorado community colleges and universities. These agreements allow you to graduate from a community college with a 60-credit Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree with designation; enroll with junior status at a university; and complete your bachelor’s degree. If you attend full-time and follow the structured schedule, you can complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years.
The following Colorado public four-year institutions will accept your completed Spanish AA degree from Otero College.
Adams State University
[B.A. Spanish]
Colorado Mesa University
[B.A. Spanish; Applies Professional Spanish or Literature & Language
concentrations]
Colorado State University-Ft Collins
[B.A. Foreign Language & Literatures; Spanish concentration]
Colorado State University-Pueblo
[B.A. Foreign Language - Spanish]
Fort Lewis College
[B.A. Spanish Option]
Metropolitan State University of Denver
[B.A. Modern Languages; Spanish concentration]
University of Colorado Boulder
[B.A. Spanish]
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
[B.A. Spanish]
University of Colorado Denver
[B.A. Spanish]
University of Northern Colorado
[B.A. Spanish; Liberal Arts emphasis]
Western Colorado University
[B.A. Spanish]