Cosumnes River College
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Home Catalog Programs of Study List of Programs Spanish

Spanish

Overview

CRC offers the basic grammar and conversation courses in Spanish. Students will be able to understand the spoken language, to speak with reasonable fluency, and to write at their speaking level.

Degrees Offered

  • A.A.-T. in Spanish
  • A.A. in Spanish

Associate Degrees for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Spanish

The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer Degree (AA-T) is designed to provide a seamless transfer pathway for students interested in pursuing at least one Spanish degree option in the California State University (CSU) system. Students must complete the core curriculum and electives to meet a total of 60 transferable units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, which includes the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern. Students must also earn a grade of C or better (or "P" if taken Pass/No Pass) in all the courses for the major as described in the Required Program. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements, students will be guaranteed admission to the CSU system with junior status and will not have to repeat lower division coursework. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to develop their educational plans as degree options and general education requirements vary for each university.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Degree Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 31
SPAN 426 Introduction to Mexican American Literature (3)
SPAN 427 Introduction to Spanish American Literature (3)
HIST 373 History of Mexico (3)
Subtotal Units: 3
OPTION I - Non-Native Spanish Speaker
Course Code Course Title Units
SPAN 401 Elementary Spanish I 4
SPAN 402 Elementary Spanish II 4
SPAN 411 Intermediate Spanish 4
SPAN 412 Intermediate Spanish 4
OPTION I - Non-Native Spanish Speaker Units: 16
Total Units: 19
OPTION II - Native Spanish Speaker
Course Code Course Title Units
SPAN 413 Spanish for Native Speakers I 4
SPAN 415 Spanish for Native Speakers II 4
A minimum of 8 units from the following: 8
SPAN 426, 427, and/or HIST 373, if not already used.
SPAN 425 Advanced Reading and Conversation (3)
HUM 331 Latin American Humanities (3)
ENGLT 336 Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary American Literature (3)
HIST 371 History of the Americas from the 19th Century Wars of Independence to the Present (3)
OPTION II - Native Spanish Speaker Units: 16
Total Units: 19

1SPAN 426 and 427 have a prerequisite of SPAN 412 or 415, so many of the "Option" courses will need to be completed before these courses.

The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, including (a) the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • utilize correct grammatical structures of standard Spanish.
  • read Spanish proficiently as found, for example, in Spanish language newspapers, magazines, short stories, essays, and selections of poetry written by Spanish, Spanish-American, and Chicano authors.
  • demonstrate appropriate writing and composition skills using Spanish.
  • discuss and critique Spanish-American literature in a historical context.
  • demonstrate proficiency in these areas: comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and understanding the peoples and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.

Career Information

The AA-T in Spanish can provide students with the foundational knowledge necessary for transfer to a 4-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program. Career opportunities for students who have earned BS or BA degrees in Spanish include but are not limited to: Airlines/Travel, Banking, Bilingual Education, Bilingual Telecommunications, Emergency Services, Foreign Service, Foreign Language Teacher, Import & Export, Intelligence/Military Service, International Business, IRS/State Franchise Tax Board, Business & Commerce, Law Enforcement/Correctional Officer, Social Security Officer, Social Service, Translating & Interpreting, and Tourism. Some careers may require additional training. NOTE TO TRANSFER STUDENTS: The Associate Degree for Transfer program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a campus of the California State University (CSU). Other than the required core, the courses you choose to complete this degree will depend to some extent on the selected CSU for transfer. In addition, some Cal-GETC requirements can also be completed using courses required for this associate degree for transfer major (known as “double-counting”). Meeting with a counselor to determine the most appropriate course choices will facilitate efficient completion of your transfer requirements. For students wishing to transfer to other universities (UC System, private, or out-of-state), the Associate Degree for Transfer may not provide adequate preparation for upper-division transfer admissions; it is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for the major, as programs vary widely in terms of the required preparation.

Associate Degrees

A.A. in Spanish

CRC offers the basic grammar and conversation courses in Spanish. Students will be able to under-stand the spoken language, to speak with reasonable fluency, and to write at their speaking level.
Highlights include:
* Courses in Spanish
* Multimedia, interactive language lab with Internet capabilities
* Internationally trained faculty and staff
* Oral Proficiency Certification in Spanish

This degree is designed to meet common lower division requirements for a major in Spanish in a four-year university. This will include the fundamentals of language learning, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture.

Note to Transfer Students:
If you are interested in transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in this major, it is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for your major. Schools vary widely in terms of the required preparation. The courses that CRC requires for an Associate’s degree in this major may be different from the requirements needed for the Bachelor’s degree.

Native speakers of the language who have high school - equivalent reading and writing skills in their native language should enroll in the 413 level course (or above) in their native language.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Degree Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
CORE SEQUENCE = (401 + 402 + 411 + 412) or (413 + 415):
[[[ SPAN 401 Elementary Spanish I (4) 8 - 16
and SPAN 402 ] Elementary Spanish II (4)
and SPAN 411 ] Intermediate Spanish (4)
and SPAN 412 ] Intermediate Spanish (4)
or [ SPAN 413 Spanish for Native Speakers I (4)
and SPAN 415 ] Spanish for Native Speakers II (4)
RESTRICTED ELECTIVES:
A minimum of 10 units from the following: 10
SPAN 311 Conversational Spanish, Intermediate (2)
SPAN 312 Conversational Spanish, Intermediate (2)
SPAN 425 Advanced Reading and Conversation (3)
SPAN 426 Introduction to Mexican American Literature (3)
SPAN 427 Introduction to Spanish American Literature (3)
SPAN 434 Spanish for the Professions - Intermediate (3)
Total Units: 18 - 26

The Spanish Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See CRC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • PSLO #1: utilize correct grammatical structures of standard Spanish.
  • PSLO #2: read Spanish proficiently as found, for example, in Spanish language newspapers, magazines, short stories, essays, and selections of poetry written by Spanish, Spanish-American, and Chicano authors.
  • PSLO #3: demonstrate appropriate writing and composition skills using Spanish.
  • PSLO #4: discuss and critique Spanish-American literature in a historical context.
  • PSLO #5: demonstrate proficiency in these areas: comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and understanding the peoples and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.

Career Information

Airlines/Travel; Banking; Bilingual Education/Teacher's Aide; Bilingual Telecommunications; Emergency Services; Foreign Service;Foreign Language Teacher; Import & Export; Intelligence/Military Service; International Business; IRS/State Franchise Tax Board; Overseas Employment: Business & Commerce; Law Enforcement/Correctional Officer; Social Security Officer; Social Service; Translating & Interpreting; Tourism Some career options may require more than two years of college study.

Spanish (SPAN) Courses

SPAN 101 Conversational Spanish, Elementary

  • Units:3
  • Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is a first semester introduction to the Spanish language. It is designed for beginning students with little or no previous exposure to the language. It is characterized by an emerging ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high frequency situations utilizing learned materials. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener. Verbal and written expression is limited to short, culturally appropriate communication. Students will acquire a knowledge of the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers' contributions to North American and world cultures. This class consists of two hours lecture and one hour of laboratory work conducted in the classroom each week and two hours of laboratory work conducted in the Language Laboratory each week.

SPAN 102 Conversational Spanish, Elementary

  • Units:3
  • Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 101 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is second semester Elementary Spanish. It is designed for students who have completed SPAN 101 or two years of high school Spanish. It provides refinement of skills begun in SPAN 101. Students will gain increased accuracy and ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high frequency situations utilizing learned materials. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener. Verbal and written expression will be limited to short, culturally appropriate communication on a broader scale than at the SPAN 101 level. Students will acquire a knowledge of the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers' contribution to North American and world cultures. This class consists of two hours lecture and one hour of laboratory work conducted in the classroom each week and two hours of laboratory work conducted in the Language Laboratory each week.

SPAN 299 Experimental Offering in Spanish

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

SPAN 311 Conversational Spanish, Intermediate

  • Units:2
  • Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 102 or 401 with a grade of "C" or better; or two years of high school Spanish
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is a conversational course designed for students who have completed SPAN 102 or two years of high school Spanish. Refining skills obtained in previous coursework, students will continue to build their communication skills including listening, reading and speech. Students will develop the ability to respond in an unrehearsed manner on concrete topics in known situations. Students will be exposed to the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and to Spanish-speakers' contributions to North American and world cultures. This course will consist of one hour of lecture and two hours of laboratory work conducted in the classroom each week and one hour of laboratory work conducted in the Language Laboratory each week.

SPAN 312 Conversational Spanish, Intermediate

  • Units:2
  • Hours:18 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 311 or 402 with a grade of "C" or better; or three years of high school Spanish
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is second semester Intermediate Spanish. This is a conversation course designed for students who have completed SPAN 311 or SPAN 402 or three years of high school Spanish.
Continuing to refine skills obtained in previous coursework, students will continue to build their communication skills including listening, reading and speech. Students will develop the ability to respond in an unrehearsed manner on concrete topics in known situations.
Students will be exposed to the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and to Spanish-speakers' contributions to North American and world cultures.
This course will consist of one hour of lecture and three hours of laboratory work conducted in the classroom and one hour of laboratory work conducted in the Language Laboratory each week.

SPAN 401 Elementary Spanish I

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (Corresponds to two years of high school study)
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • C-ID:C-ID SPAN 100
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the first semester introduction to the Spanish language. It is designed for beginning students with little or no previous exposure to the language. It is characterized by an emerging ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high frequency situations utilizing learned materials. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener. Verbal and written expression is limited to short, culturally appropriate communication. Students will acquire a knowledge of the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers' contributions to North American and world cultures.

SPAN 402 Elementary Spanish II

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 401 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (SPAN 402 and 413 combined: maximum transfer credit is one course)
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • C-ID:C-ID SPAN 110
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is second semester Elementary Spanish. It is designed for students who have completed SPAN 401 or two years of high school Spanish. It provides refinement of skills begun in SPAN 401. Students will gain increased accuracy and ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high-frequency situations utilizing learned materials. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener. Verbal and written expression will be limited to short, culturally appropriate communication on a broader scale than at the SPAN 401 level. Students will acquire a knowledge of the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers' contribution to North American and world cultures.

SPAN 411 Intermediate Spanish

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 402 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • C-ID:C-ID SPAN 200
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is first semester Intermediate Spanish. It is designed for students who have completed SPAN 402 or three years of high school Spanish. It provides refinement of skills attained in SPAN 402. Students will work toward the ability to create with the language without relying on learned responses, to understand main ideas in routine speech and to understand main ideas in written texts. Listening and reading comprehension continue to develop; speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a somewhat sympathetic native speaker. Students will develop the ability to respond in an unrehearsed manner on concrete topics in known situations. Written expression will meet limited personal needs and culturally appropriate language at a higher level of accuracy than found in SPAN 402. The student will continue acquisition of knowledge of geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers' contributions to North American and world cultures.

SPAN 412 Intermediate Spanish

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 411 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • C-ID:C-ID SPAN 210
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is second semester Intermediate Spanish. It is designed for students who have completed SPAN 411 or four years of high school Spanish. It provides continued development of skills attained in SPAN 411. The focus will be the development of written narratives and expository prose combined with increased cultural awareness. Emphasis will be on culturally authentic reading and writing through the introduction of basic literary analysis. Students will develop the ability to handle complicated situations using past and future time frames. Students will continue acquisition of knowledge of geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers' contributions to North American and world cultures.

SPAN 413 Spanish for Native Speakers I

  • Units:4
  • Hours:72 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:Spanish native speaker proficiency or the equivalent intermediate level as assessed by the instructor.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (SPAN 402 and 413 combined: maximum transfer credit is one course)
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • C-ID:C-ID SPAN 220
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course offers the fundamentals of spoken and written Spanish for the native speaker of Spanish. It covers the structure of the language, oral communication, fundamentals of grammar and composition. Focus is placed primarily in the indicative tenses. The course also covers diacritical marks, like the accent mark, and their uses. In addition, the course introduces the student to the geography and culture of the Spanish speaking world. This course is conducted in Spanish.

SPAN 415 Spanish for Native Speakers II

  • Units:4
  • Hours:72 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 413 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • C-ID:C-ID SPAN 230
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a continuation of Spanish 413. It offers the fundamentals of spoken and written Spanish for the native speaker of Spanish. It covers the structure of the language, oral communication, fundamentals of grammar and composition. Focus is placed primarily on the conditional and subjunctive forms, the future tense, and the compound tenses. The course also covers diacritical marks, like the accent mark, and their uses. In addition, the course introduces the student to the geography and culture of the Spanish speaking world. This course is conducted in Spanish.

SPAN 423 Contrastive Grammar of English-Spanish I

  • Units:1.5
  • Hours:27 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 412 or 413 with a grade of "C" or better; or Spanish native speaker proficiency or equivalent advanced intermediate level as assessed by the instructor.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course presents part one of the essential elements of Spanish grammar side by side with their grammatical equivalent in English. It allows native Spanish-speakers and advanced Spanish learners to compare and contrast the grammars of both languages at a glance. It focuses upon the development of analytical abilities by presenting the interlingual differences between Spanish and English in a simple and direct way. Students will be provided with numerous exercises, through which the nature of such differences can be readily perceived and acted upon. This course will begin with an overview of grammatical terminology and sentence structure in both languages.

SPAN 424 Contrastive Grammar of English-Spanish II

  • Units:1.5
  • Hours:27 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 423 with a grade of "C" or better; or Spanish native speaker proficiency or equivalent advanced intermediate level as assessed by the instructor.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course presents part two of the essential elements of Spanish grammar side by side with their grammatical equivalent in English. It allows native Spanish-speakers and advanced Spanish learners to compare and contrast the grammars of both languages at a glance. It focuses upon the development of analytical abilities by presenting the interlingual differences between Spanish and English in a simple and direct way. Students will be provided with numerous exercises, through which the nature of such differences can be readily perceived and acted upon.

SPAN 425 Advanced Reading and Conversation

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 412 or 415 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This class focuses on building advanced reading and conversational skills in Spanish. The emphasis is on developing critical thinking skills and academic writing proficiency through a functional grammar approach. Readings and activities provide the appropriate vocabulary, linguistic structures, and writing strategies to allow for building on vocabulary, grammar review, and meaningful dialogue.

SPAN 426 Introduction to Mexican American Literature

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 412 or 415 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is an introductory survey to the four genres of Mexican-American literature: Poetry, Narrative, Theatre, and the Essay, and the culture which produced it. Emphasis will be given to 20th century writers and works. This course is conducted in English and Spanish.

SPAN 427 Introduction to Spanish American Literature

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 412 or 415 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement through the assessment process.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is an introductory survey to the four genres of Spanish-American literature: Poetry, Narrative, Theatre, and the Essay, and the culture which produced it. Post-independence writers and their works will be emphasized. This course is conducted in Spanish.

SPAN 434 Spanish for the Professions - Intermediate

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:SPAN 102 or 402 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is an intermediate course designed for persons in law enforcement, business and finance, social services and the medical professions. The emphasis of the course is on acquiring verbal facility in interviewing, collecting data, giving instructions and general courtesies. The course will help students acquire language proficiency while reviewing and broadening the grammar foundation attained in elementary Spanish. It will introduce specific vocabulary necessary for professionals to communicate successfully in a professional situation. Cultural and behavioral attitudes appropriate for relating to persons of Hispanic heritage will be suggested.

SPAN 495 Independent Studies in Spanish

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies.

SPAN 499 Experimental Offering in Spanish

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

Catalog