Spanish
Overview
Folsom Lake College offers the fundamental communication courses for proficiency in Spanish. Students will be able to understand the spoken language and to speak, read, and write at a proficient level.
Spanish leads as the most career-applicable foreign language in the State of California. Spanish speaker demographics remain the most stable and fastest growing.
Career Options
- Airline/Travel
- Banking
- Bilingual Education/Teacher’s Aide
- Bilingual Telecommunications
- Emergency Services
- Foreign Language Teacher
- Foreign Service
- Import & Export
- Intelligence/Military Service
- International Business
- IRS/State Franchise Tax Board
- Law Enforcement/Correctional Officer
- Overseas Employment: Business & Commerce
- Social Security Officer
- Social Service
- Tourism
- Translating & Interpreting
Some career options may require more than two years of college study.
Highlights
- State-of-the-art pedagogical materials, technology, and facilities
- Spanish department includes nationally published and recognized scholars in the area of methodology. Faculty are internationally trained at native scholar quality.
- Spanish is established internationally as one of the three most desirable languages in the global economy.
Program Maps
AA-T/AS-T Transfer Degrees
- Division Dean Francis Fletcher
- Department Chair Label Juan Carlos Moraga
- Meta-Major Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- Phone (916) 608-6752
- Email fletchf@flc.losrios.edu
Associate Degree for Transfer
A.A.-T. in Spanish
The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer Degree (AA-T) provides a transfer path for student success. It prepares both non-native students and heritage learners to communicate effectively in Spanish in a wide range of situations in both personal and professional settings. Students will broaden their cultural awareness and develop sensitivity to diverse Hispanic cultures within the global community. The skills obtained through this degree promote equitable learning and achievement, and will prepare a diverse population of students and transfer to a four-year college or university.
This program has the following completion requirements:
(1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
(A) Cal-GETC the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirement.
(B) 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) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
All ADTs also require that students must earn a "C" or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A "P" (Pass) grade is also an acceptable grade for courses in the major if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2026
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum of 16 units from the following: | 161 | |
| Required Core | ||
| SPAN 401 | Elementary Spanish I (4) | |
| SPAN 402 | Elementary Spanish II (4) | |
| SPAN 411 | Intermediate Spanish (4) | |
| SPAN 412 | Intermediate Spanish (4) | |
| A minimum of 3 units from the following: | 3 | |
| List A: One course must be taken from this list. | ||
| ANTH 310 | Cultural Anthropology (3) | |
| ENGLT 340 | World Literature I (3) | |
| ENGLT 341 | World Literature II (3) | |
| ETHNS 320 | Introduction to African American Studies (3) | |
| ETHNS 360 | Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies (3) | |
| FREN 401 | Elementary French (4) | |
| FREN 402 | Elementary French (4) | |
| GEOG 310 | Human Geography: Exploring Earth's Cultural Landscapes (3) | |
| HIST C1001 | United States History to 1877 (3) | |
| HIST C1002 | United States History since 1865 (3) | |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics (3) | |
| SOC 300 | Introductory Sociology (3) | |
| Total Units: | 19 | |
1 If a student places out of any core course(s) and is not awarded units for that course, the student will need to take additional units from List A to compensate for the course/units required to reach at least 18 total units in the major.
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:
- demonstrate effective skills in the four major areas of Spanish language study (reading, writing, speaking, listening comprehension) in order to perform elementary everyday communicative functions.
- demonstrate the ability to analyze and to think critically in written and oral communication in Spanish in order to effectively enter into the global economy.
- demonstrate understanding of the interrelationship between culture-specific behaviors.
Career Information
The Spanish department offers courses that serve as a basis for broad liberal education, for advanced degrees and further study in languages, English Literature, as preparation for the teaching credential, and as supplementary preparation for many professional fields. These include emergency services, the legal and medical professions, social work, business, foreign service, public relations, journalism, translation, and interpretation. Training in the Spanish language is widely considered essential preparation for teachers in California’s public schools.
Spanish (SPAN) Courses
SPAN 401 Elementary Spanish I
- Units:4
- Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- 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 will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener. Verbal and written expression is limited to short, culturally appropriate communication. Students will acquire knowledge of the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of Spanish-speakers contributions to North American and world cultures.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- write basic communication of information, concepts and ideas.
- speak basic communication of information, concepts and ideas with sufficient pronunciation to be understood.
- read and understand materials at course level relating familiar topics such as travel, family, university life, favorite pastimes, and weather.
- listen to spoken Spanish at course level and give evidence of comprehension.
- demonstrate knowledge of geography and the culture through literature, music, art and folklore of the regions where Spanish is spoken.
SPAN 402 Elementary Spanish II
- Units:4
- Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:SPAN 401 with a grade of "C" or better; or two years of high school Spanish.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L3
- C-ID:C-ID SPAN 110
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the second semester of elementary Spanish. It is designed for students who have completed SPAN 401 or two years of high school Spanish. It provides refinement of skills acquired in SPAN 401. Utilizing learned materials, students will gain increased accuracy and ability to understand and produce appropriate responses in high-frequency situations. Speaking and writing will be comprehensible to a sympathetic listener. Verbal and written expression will be limited to short, culturally appropriate communication on a wider range of topics than at the SPAN 401 level. Students will acquire knowledge of the geography, culture and people of regions where Spanish is spoken and of contributions to North American and other world cultures.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- write information, concepts, and ideas at the Intermediate – Low level (ACTFL Proficiency Standards).
- speak information, concepts, and ideas with pronunciation at the Intermediate – Low level.
- read and understand a selection based on familiar topics that primarily focus on the past.
- listen to spoken Spanish at course level and give evidence of comprehension.
- demonstrate knowledge of geography and the culture through literature, music, art and folklore of the regions where Spanish is spoken.
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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- write information, concepts and ideas at the Intermediate-- High level (ACTFL Proficiency Standards).
- speak information, concepts and ideas with pronunciation at the Intermediate – High level.
- read and understand a selection based on familiar topics that primarily focus on the past.
- listen to spoken Spanish at Intermediate – High level and demonstrate comprehension.
- demonstrate knowledge of geography and the culture through literature, music, art and folklore of the regions where Spanish is spoken.
SPAN 412 Intermediate Spanish
- Units:4
- Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:SPAN 411 with a grade of "C" or better; or four years of high school Spanish with a "C" grade 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 course will provide continued development of the Intermediate low and Intermediate Mid Level listening/speaking skills attained in SPAN 411 while helping the student work toward the Intermediate High level. The course will focus on development of written narratives and expository prose along with increased awareness of cultural concerns, norms, values, and culture-specific customs and events, with emphasis placed on culturally-authentic reading and writing through the introduction and application of basic literary analysis. The course will help to develop the student's emerging ability to handle complicated situations, to discuss topics beyond immediate personal needs (e.g., current events, media, politics, values, history, traditions, social issues and customs), and to use forms indicating past and future time frames. The student will also acquire knowledge and an appreciation of the geography, culture and people from Spanish-speaking countries and their contributions to North American and world-wide culture.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- communicate in complex situations about topics beyond immediate and personal needs such as current events, politics, business, cultural and moral issues, history and customs in the present, past and future and conditional tenses, or hypothetical events.
- speak and respond, using the target language in culturally appropriate ways.
- reflect on and evaluate cross-cultural differences through cohesive written narratives and expository prose and culturally authentic texts.
- explore the culture of the target language by way of readings, short films in Spanish and the exploration of the perspectives, products and practices of the culture.
SPAN 495 Independent Studies in Spanish
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
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.
Faculty
This program is part of the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Meta-Major.