Spanish Languages Program

Spanish Transfer Pathway, A.A.

What is a Transfer Pathway?

A transfer pathway represents a typical course schedule/sequence for a student planning to complete the A.A. degree within two years, then transfer and major in a specific discipline. A transfer pathway is not institution-specific.

It is important to understand that the pathway provided in the adjacent tab is just one possible combination of classes by which to complete an A.A. and prepare for transfer in your chosen area of study. Other course combinations and sequences can work, too. It is strongly recommended that students work directly and frequently with a COD academic counselor/advisor, a COD faculty advisor, and academic counselors/advisors at potential transfer schools, to develop and execute a plan that works best for them.

The study of Spanish offers many benefits including: 

1. The Spoken Language
   Spanish isn’t a foreign language anymore. The United States is the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, second only to Mexico. It’s projected that the U.S. will be the largest Spanish-speaking country by 2050. California and other southern states have a rich Hispanic history. Learning Spanish will help you communicate with other Americans and understand American history. Since Spanish is so prevalent in the U.S., you will have more opportunities to speak and read Spanish here than any other ‘foreign’ language.
2. Edge in the Job Market
   Knowing a second language is a necessary skill in a global economy. Employers say they will choose a candidate who can speak another language, especially Spanish. Learning Spanish will help you to communicate with your co-workers and employees. Hispanic consumers are the fastest growing market segment, so knowing Spanish will give you an edge in many jobs, especially health care, education, and business trades. Bilingual employees often earn more than their counterparts who only know one language.
3. Most Like English
   Spanish is considered one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn because of its close grammatical and cultural proximity to English. Many English and Spanish words are based on Latin, so expanding your vocabulary in Spanish can help expand it in English, too. Spanish is almost completely phonetic, so you can look at most any word and figure out how to pronounce it. With so many people speaking Spanish and a multitude of Spanish-speaking entertainment, you will have many opportunities to practice Spanish in a very real situation.
4. Stay Relevant
   Spanish will help you keep up with culture. The Hispanic influence on pop culture is strong and getting stronger. Think of all of the words and phrases we use that have come from the Spanish language, including taco, hasta la vista, aye carumba!, el nino, and living la vida loca. Hispanic celebrities including Ricky Martin, Selma Hayak, Esai Morales, Selena and directors such as Guillermo del Toro have a major Hollywood influence. Goya and Picasso have influenced the fine arts, while Miguel Cervantes and Pablo Neruda have made major literary contributions. 
5. Travel Experience
   Knowing Spanish will enhance your travel experience. Spanish is the official language of 21 countries on 4 continents, so there are many places to travel. Your travels will go much more smoothly if you can communicate at least a little. From hailing a cab to ordering dinner, knowing some Spanish will be helpful. If you only know English, you will probably confine yourself to resorts and tourist areas where English tends to be spoken. If you know some Spanish, you will be able to explore and get to know the local people.