College of DuPage offers a world of educational opportunities in your own backyard. At COD, you'll find:

•  Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
• Instruction utilizing our state-of-the-art facilities.
• Affordable courses to help you achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining your savings account.
• Small class sizes to ensure you receive personalized attention.

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. 

Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree or certificate that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.

• Spanish Transfer Pathway, Associate in Arts

Students who complete courses in any of the Foreign Languages disciplines will:

• Communicate effectively in more than one language in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes
• Interact with cultural competence and understanding
• Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations
• Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence
• Communicate and interact with cultural competence in order to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world

College of DuPage partners with several four-year institutions to help students seamlessly complete a bachelor’s degree in languages. Students can connect with Transfer Services for personalized guidance on transfer opportunities.

For more information about Transfer Pathways, visit the College of DuPage Catalog. The pathway outlines a typical two-year course plan for completing an AA or AS degree before transferring to a four-year program. Course requirements vary by institution, so consult your faculty or academic advisor for specific guidance.

Articulation Agreements

College of DuPage maintains transfer agreements with many colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition toward a bachelor’s degree. These agreements often include a defined course sequence. Students should regularly meet with a faculty member or Advising Services to stay on track.

• Elmhurst University. AA to BA in French
• Elmhurst University, AA to BA in German
• Elmhurst University, AA to BA in Spanish
• Northern Illinois University, AA to BA in World Languages and Cultures
• Temple University- Japan Campus, affiliation agreement

Transfer Guides

Beyond articulation agreements and guaranteed admission programs, College of DuPage courses transfer to many other institutions. Transfer Guides help students select COD courses that meet prerequisites for specific majors and include details such as contact information, major requirements, general education requirements, and transfer policies.

• Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, AA to BA East Asian Language and Culture (LCIS)
• Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, AA to BA Languages, Cultures, and International Studies (LCIS) French
• Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, AA to BA Languages, Cultures, and International Studies (LCIS) German
• Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, AA to BA East Asian Language and Culture (LCIS)
• Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, AA to BA Languages, Cultures, and International Studies (LCIS) Spanish