Spanish
13 courses · College of the Desert · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
SPAN 001 Elementary Spanish I
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 90
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with unit limitation)
- C-ID
- SPAN 100
This course presents the fundamentals of Spanish. Fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing within the context of Hispanic society, history, and culture is emphasized. (C-ID SPAN 100)
SPAN 002 Elementary Spanish II
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 90
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 001 or 2 years high school Spanish.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- SPAN 110
This course builds upon the material presented in SPAN 1 and further develops the conversational skills in confirming and correcting information and using correct response behaviors. Fluency in understanding, speaking, reading and writing within the context of Hispanic society, history and culture is emphasized. (C-ID SPAN 110)
SPAN 003 Intermediate Spanish I
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 72
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 002.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- SPAN 200
This course strengthens the students' communication skills in the spoken and written language. Emphasis is on the customs and culture of the Hispanic world. Hispanic literature is introduced. (C-ID SPAN 200)
SPAN 004 Intermediate Spanish II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 72
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 003.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- SPAN 210
This course expands the students' ability to communicate in Spanish. Emphasis is on the discussion of socio-cultural selections and literature of the Hispanic- speaking world. (C-ID SPAN 210)
SPAN 007 Spanish Conversation and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 004.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course develops proficiency in writing and presentational modes of communication, through more complex forms of expression, including advanced grammar and formal structures of communication. Thematically, the course examines representative Hispanic cinema that emphasize historical social issues to explore cultural topics in their social context while learning formal and informal registers as well as the linguistic variation of Spanish. The course familiarizes students with authentic texts written in different styles to provide a platform from which to practice the presentational mode and various rhetorical modes of writing, such as description, compare, exposition, and argumentation.
SPAN 020 Latin American Culture and Civilization
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 54
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 003 or faculty approval.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Traces the development of the culture of Hispanic-speaking nations including history, philosophy, political ideas, literature, music, art, science, geography, customs and its influence on America and the world. Conducted in Spanish. Fluency in Spanish is required.
SPAN 021 Spanish for Heritage Speakers I
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 90
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 003 or Heritage Speaker of Spanish or equivalent.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- SPAN 220
This course introduces Heritage Speakers of Spanish to the demands of reading and writing in the academic setting, as well as, building global competence. A Heritage Speaker is defined as someone who speaks and understands the heritage language (in this case Spanish) and who is to some degree bilingual in English and the heritage language (Valdes, G. 2001). Students learn the basics of critical thinking and research techniques as they apply to the three modes of communication: presentational (speaking, writing), interpretative (listening and reading), and interpersonal (speaking and writing). Students then learn to apply the different types of writing such as expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative in response to their analysis of literary works. (C-ID SPAN 220)
SPAN 022 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 90
- Prerequisite
- SPAN 021 or Heritage Speaker of Spanish or equivalent.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- SPAN 230
This course exposes Heritage Speakers of Spanish to the demands of literary analysis and film critique in the academic setting, as well as, building global competence. A heritage speaker is defined as someone who speaks and understands the heritage language (in this case Spanish) and who is to some degree bilingual in English and the heritage language (Valdes, G. 2001). Students advance their critical thinking and research techniques as they apply to the three modes of communication: presentational (speaking, writing), interpretative (listening and reading), and interpersonal (speaking and writing). Students then learn to evaluate verbally and in writing various aspects of narrative (short story and novel), poetry, drama, and film critique in response to their analysis of literary works and film screenings. (C-ID SPAN 230)
SPAN 024 Latin American Short Story
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture Hours: 72
- Advisory
- SPAN 021 and SPAN 022.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course introduces students to the Latin American short story, through critical discussion and analysis of the genre's elements, structure, devices, and meanings. Students will read a substantial and representative collection of short stories, all while considering the genre's characteristics and its relationship to other literary genres. Focus is primarily in the twentieth and/or twenty-first century.
SPAN 325A Translating in Spanish in the School Environment
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- Noncredit Hours: 16
This course provides a basic training in translating in Spanish to students who are interested in pursuing a career as translators in the school environment. It also supports students who are already working as translators in this field but need the appropriate training. This course will be conducted in both Spanish and English. Students need to take a proficiency exam in Spanish and English as a requirement to be enrolled in the course.
SPAN 325B Interpreting in Spanish in the School Environment
- Units
- 0
SPAN 326A Translating in Spanish in Health Care
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- Noncredit Hours: 16
This course provides a basic training in translating in Spanish to students who are interested in pursuing a career as translators in health care. It also supports students who are already working as translators in this field but need the appropriate training. This course will be conducted in both Spanish and English. Students need to take a proficiency exam in Spanish and English as a requirement to be enrolled in the course.
SPAN 326B Interpreting in Spanish in Health Care
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- Noncredit Hours: 16
- Prerequisite
- SPAN-326A.
This course provides a basic training in interpreting in Spanish to students who are interested in pursuing a career as interpreters in health care. It also supports students who are already working as interpreters in different health care settings but need the appropriate training. This course will be conducted in both Spanish and English.