The Spanish program at CI provides students the opportunity to develop their Spanish-language skills while deepening their knowledge and appreciation of the peoples and cultures of the Hispanic world. Spanish is the first language of approximately 400 million people in 21 countries. Hispanic cultures and peoples form an integral part of U.S. history and society, and Spanish is the most prevalent second language in California and in most regions of the country.

Being bilingual is a tremendous asset and can open doors to students entering numerous occupations and careers, such as advertising, agriculture, business, government, health services, interpreting, journalism, law, public relations, social services, teaching, translation, and the travel industry. These fields, and many others, increasingly seek candidates who possess Spanish language ability and cultural sensitivity. The program addresses the needs of students by preparing them for an increasingly pluralistic and globally oriented society, as well as a competitive career world.

The B.A. in Spanish is forty-two (42) units, providing students the opportunity to pursue a minor in another discipline or even a second major. The Spanish minor is 18 units. Students can choose course work that focuses on language, culture, linguistics, literature, Spanish for careers, translation, and art or history. All courses with a SPAN prefix are taught in Spanish so that students develop proficiency in the language. Spanish majors and minors are encouraged to participate in a study abroad program. The Spanish Program also offers a Certificate in Spanish Translation and a Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting. These certificates are open to students from all different majors with an intermediate level of Spanish.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Spanish program will be able to:

• Achieve intermediate-high to advanced language proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing (proficiency levels are defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).
• Demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions), and cultural products (for example, art, history, literature) of the Spanish-speaking world.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of various linguistic features of the Spanish language (for example, general dialectal differences and the influence of English on U.S. Spanish).

Summary of Units: