The Spanish courses at Ventura College prepare students with communication skills and provide an understanding of the Spanish-speaking cultures. These courses also provide the instruction necessary to develop proficiency skills in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. The beginning-level courses introduce basic grammar, vocabulary, communicative functions, and culture. The intermediate-level courses continue development of proficiency skills through discussion of films, periodicals, and literary works to increase vocabulary, cultural awareness, and knowledge of linguistic variations. Intermediate courses provide a track for heritage language speakers of Spanish.

The acquisition of another language increases the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diverse cultures and facilitates a culturally sensitive exchange of ideas and transactions to effectively communicate with people of different values and social attitudes. Spanish is the second language most valued by employers in many U.S. geographical regions. Spanish-English bilingualism is an essential and often required skill in a growing variety of careers, including education, medicine, business, law, law enforcement, journalism, and translation and interpreting.

Upon completing Ventura College’s Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree, students will possess the foundational knowledge to communicate with the global Spanish-speaking community. In addition, they will be prepared for the further expansion of these skills at upper division university levels.

The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer (Spanish AA-T) is intended for students who plan to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, Latin American Studies, Chicano/a Studies, Linguistics, Central American Studies, Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture, Ethnic Studies, or Comparative World Literature. This degree guarantees admission to a CSU campus with junior standing for any community college student who completes it. This Spanish AA-T complies with the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (Senate Bill 1440, California Education Code sections 66745-66749).

Unlike most transfer degrees, the TMC for the Spanish AA-T requires completion of a minimum of 19 units in the major (other transfer degrees usually require only 18 units in the major). Students who initially place into SPAN V02 or a more advanced course in Spanish will need to complete one or more of the Option 2 Substitution Courses enumerated in the program requirements. Such students should be aware that if they complete exactly 18 units in the major (including the restricted elective course selected from List A), they will be obligated to complete one additional course from the Option 2 list in order to satisfy the minimum requirement of 19 units in the major. In some instances, selecting a 5-unit foreign language course (other than Spanish) to satisfy the List A requirement may reduce the number of additional Option 2 courses that students must complete to fulfill the 19-unit major requirement. Students should consult with a counselor to create an educational plan to minimize the number of courses that they must complete to earn this degree.

To earn an Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
   1. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC-CSU) or the California State University General Education-Breadth (CSUGE-Breadth) Requirements.
   2. A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
2. Obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all CSU transferable coursework. While a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for admission, some transfer institutions and majors may require a higher GPA. Please consult with a counselor for more information.
3. Obtain a “C” grade or better or “P” in all courses required in the major. Even though a “P” grade is allowed (Title 5 Section 55062), it is recommended that students complete their major courses for a letter grade (“A,” “B,” or “C”) due to until limitations on “P/NP” courses.
4. Complete requirements in residency. For students in the Ventura County Community College District, a minimum of 12 units must be completed in residence within the college district.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• Listen and comprehend a passage in the Spanish language in a variety of contexts and formats.
  
• Write clearly and accurately in a variety of contexts and formats in the Spanish language.
  
  
• Read and comprehend a passage in the Spanish language from a variety of contexts and formats.
• Speak clearly and accurately in both formal and informal settings in the Spanish language.
  
  
• Demonstrate awareness of cultural conventions.