Program Overview

The Skyline College Certificate of Achievement in Spanish will provide novice language learners and high-intermediate Spanish speakers the opportunity to develop both their language skills and the cultural understanding to communicate within a Spanish speaking community.

In addition to providing skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish, all courses included within the certificate include discussions on various aspects of the Spanish speaking world. Having the basic language skills and understanding of the culture of Spanish speakers prepares students for greater career opportunities and marketability in areas of employment where Spanish language proficiency is a necessity including banking, education, medical services, social services, hospitality services, law enforcement, tourism, management, publishing and IT. Students who complete the Certificate of Achievement in Spanish will have the opportunity to enter these fields having a mastery of the language and with it, the potential for higher entry pay as speakers of a second language.

Program Requirements

Required Core Courses (23-25 units): Units
SPAN 110 Elementary Spanish 5 units
SPAN 120 Advanced Elementary Spanish 5 units
SPAN 130 Intermediate Spanish 4 units
OR
SPAN 110 Elementary Spanish 5 units
AND
SPAN 140 Advanced Intermediate Spanish 4 units
OR
SPAN 230 Spanish for Spanish Speakers II 5 units
SPAN 160 Readings in Literature in Spanish 5 units
Students who can demonstrate proficiency in any of the Required Core Courses may be able to substitute these courses for other courses as approved by Spanish language faculty and the Dean of Language Arts. For further information, please visit the Skyline College World Languages website.
Allowable Course Substitutions: Units
ANTH 110 Cultural Anthropology 3 units
DANC 119.1 Latin Folklorico I 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 125.1 Salsa I 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 128.1 Latin Social Dance I 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 152.1 Cuban Salsa I 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 161 Tango Argentino 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 162 Tango Milonga 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 163 Tango Buenos Aires 0.5 - 1 units
DANC 164 Tango De La Confiteria 0.5 - 1 units
ETHN 101 Latin American and Indigenous Peoples History and Culture 3 units
ETHN 130 Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies 3 units
HIST 235 History of Ethnic Groups in the United States 3 units
HIST 240 History of Ethnic Groups in California 3 units
HIST 310 California History 3 units
HIST 420 Survey of Latin American History 3 units
HIST 429 History of Latin@s/x in the United States 3 units
LIT. 370 Latine/x Literature 3 units
MUS. 240 Latin American Music 3 units
SOCI 141 Race and Ethnicity 3 units
SOCI C1000 Introduction to Sociology 3 units
Total Required Units: 23 - 25

* If a student places out of any course and is not awarded units for that course, the student will have to
take additional units to compensate for the course/units needed to reach at least 18 total units in the
major (per Title 5 regulations). Appropriate course substitutions must be chosen from the Course
Substitutions list.
Note:

  • Local departmental placement evaluation determines the course level where individual students begin the core courses.
  • Credit or placement equivalent to two years of college level Spanish is required.