Spanish Program

Immerse yourself in the Spanish language and culture at Bakersfield College, where you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to communicate fluently and explore the rich traditions of the Spanish-speaking world.

Bakersfield College offers an Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Spanish. This program teaches students how to speak, read, and write in Spanish. You’ll also learn about the people, history, and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. The program includes fun activities to help you practice and grow your skills. It’s great for students who want to keep studying Spanish or find a job where knowing Spanish is helpful.

What is Spanish?

Spanish is a language spoken by millions of people around the world. It started in Spain and is now used in many places, including Latin America and parts of the U.S. Spanish is used in books, music, movies, and everyday life. There are different types of Spanish, but most people learn a version called Castilian Spanish.

Is Studying Spanish Right for Me?

This program is great for students who like learning languages and want to connect with other cultures. It can help you get ready for jobs in areas like business, education, health care, and law enforcement. It’s also useful for traveling or studying in Spanish-speaking countries.

You might enjoy studying Spanish if you are:

Curious about new languages and cultures
Good at remembering words and details
A strong communicator
Creative and open-minded
Patient and willing to practice
Interested in helping others and learning about the world

Spanish Degree

Spanish Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T)

The Associate in Arts in Spanish for Transfer degree helps students build strong language skills and learn about Spanish-speaking cultures. It also makes it easier to transfer to a four-year college to study more.

Select the degree title for the catalog description and requirements.

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Non-Heritage Speaker Track

Students should register in the Spanish course according to the following scenarios:

Spanish B1

The student has never taken Spanish before.
The student has taken two years of high school Spanish.
Spanish is not spoken at home.

Spanish B2

The student successfully completed Spanish B1 at Bakersfield College and received a grade of 'C' or better.
The student successfully completed the first semester of Spanish at a college or university.
The student has taken at least four years of high school Spanish and passed with a grade of 'C' or better.

Spanish B3

The student successfully completed Spanish B2 at Bakersfield College and received a grade of 'C' or better.
The student has taken four years of high school Spanish and passed with a grade of 'C' or Better.
The student has successfully completed one year of Spanish at a college or university.

Spanish B4

The student successfully completed Spanish B3 at Bakersfield College and received a grade of 'C' or better.
The student has taken three semesters of Spanish at a college or university.
The student took the A.P. Spanish Language Exam and received a score of 3, 4 or 5.
The student lived in a Spanish speaking country and studied at a high school level in that country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I test out of a lower level Spanish class or classes?

The students who feel they don't need to take Spanish B1 and B2 but want the units for those courses are encouraged to take the CLEP test in the Assessment Office at Bakersfield College.

How does the CLEP test show on the student's transcripts?

CLEP looks like an additional transcript for the student. It lists the subjects/courses on the transcript and how many units the student will receive for the specific CLEP test the student took.

Please note, when transferring to colleges/universities, they may not grant the same credits that BC granted for the CLEP.

When can I take the CLEP test?

CLEP exams are given on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. It is recommended that you register one week in advance. Seating is limited.

The CLEP exams are 1½ hour and by appointment only.

Cost for the CLEP: Fees for each exam:

$25.00 payable to Bakersfield College at the time of registration by check or money order.
$85.00 payable to CLEP the day of the exam by check, money order or credit card
CLEP set a fee of $10.00 to cover the processing and handling of the optional essays for: Freshman College Composition, English Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, and American Literature. This fee must be paid in advance.

Additional Requirement

The unit total for the required Spanish Language ADT portion of the degree is 16 units. An additional 3 unit course must be taken from the following courses:

Course #	Course Name	Units
ENGL B24	Latino/a Literature	3.0
HIST B30A	Early Chicano History	3.0
HIST B30B	History of Chicanos in the Southwest	3.0
HIST B33	Latin American History	3.0
SOCI B36	Sociology of the Chicano	3.0
SOCI B45	Minority Relations	3.0

Heritage Speaker Track

The Department of Foreign Languages now offers tracks for heritage speakers. The following guidelines should help students to be placed in the right course. These guidelines will allow students to take the course that best suit them.

Spanish B35 (4 units)

Spanish is the language predominantly spoken at home.
The student understands spoken Spanish.
The student speaks Spanish most of the time or sometimes. Sometimes Spanish and English are blended.
The student can read enough in Spanish to get the main ideas and meaning in the reading.
The student needs to learn grammar and spelling and develop vocabulary.
The student attended some years of elementary or secondary education in a Spanish speaking country.
The student has the consent of the instructor or counselor.

Spanish B36 (4 units)

The student has taken Spanish B35 and received a grade of 'C' or better.
The student passed an exam containing the material covered in Spanish B35, or took Spanish B1 and B2 and passed with a grade of 'C' or better.
The student has the consent of the instructor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I test out of a lower level Spanish class or classes?

Students who feel they don't need to take Spanish B1 and B2 but want the units for those courses are encouraged to take the CLEP test in the Assessment Office at Bakersfield College. Students can take the CLEP and receive 8 credits of Spanish that will cover SpanB1 and Span B2. HOWEVER, the CLEP must be taken and passed before completion of any higher level course to receive credit.

How does the CLEP test show in the student's records?

CLEP looks like an additional transcript for the student. It lists the subjects/courses on the transcript and how many units the student will receive for the specific CLEP test the student took.

Please note, when transferring to colleges/universities, they may not grant the same credits that BC granted for the CLEP.

When can I take the CLEP test?

CLEP exams are given on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. It is recommended that you register one week in advance. Seating is limited.

The CLEP exams are 1½ hour and by appointment only.

Cost for the CLEP: Fees for each exam:

$25.00 payable to Bakersfield College at the time of registration by check or money order.
$85.00 payable to CLEP the day of the exam by check, money order or credit card
A fee of $10.00 has been set by CLEP to cover the processing and handling of the optional essays for: Freshman College Composition, English Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, and American Literature. This fee must be paid in advance.

Spanish Associate of Arts for Transfer (AAT) - Heritage Speaker Track

Placement: Spanish for Heritage Speakers Span35

Students can take the CLEP and receive 8 credits of Spanish that will cover Span B1 and SpanB2. HOWEVER, the CLEP must be taken and passed before completion of any higher level course to receive credit.

Suggested PATH

Take and Pass the CLEP test for Spanish before taking a higher level Spanish course.
Enroll in Spanish for Heritage Speakers B35 and pass with a C or better.
Enroll in Spanish for Heritage Speakers B36 and pass with a C or better.

Additional Requirement

The unit total for the required Spanish Language ADT portion of the degree is 16 units. An additional 3 unit course must be taken from the following courses:

Course #	Course Name	Units
ENGL B24	Latino/a Literature	3.0
HIST B30A	Early Chicano History	3.0
HIST B30B	History of Chicanos in the Southwest	3.0
HIST B33	Latin American History	3.0
SOCI B36	Sociology of the Chicano	3.0
SOCI B45	Minority Relations	3.0

BC students walking and talking on campus

Paying For Education

Don’t let finances get in the way of your goals. Get help paying for college costs like tuition, books, or sometimes even the rent with a variety of financial aid options to help you reach your educational and career goals.

I Can Afford College

Spanish Careers

With an Associate in Arts degree in Spanish, you can start a career where speaking Spanish is a big help. You’ll be ready for jobs where knowing another language and culture makes a difference.

Some possible careers include:

Bilingual customer service representative
Interpreter or translator
Language teacher or tutor
International business or trade specialist
Cultural ambassador or program coordinator
Social worker or community outreach coordinator
Healthcare professional, such as a nurse or medical assistant
Law enforcement officer or legal assistant
Travel or tourism industry professional
Freelance writer or journalist.

This degree can also help you keep studying Spanish or related subjects at a four-year college. It’s a great way to build skills for many careers where understanding people and cultures is important.

Beyond BC

Bakersfield College's Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) guarantee admission with junior standing to the CSU system with priority admission to your local CSU campus in a similar program. Consult a counselor and/or transfer specialist for details.

Transfer Pathways

Academic Department: Foreign Language

Career & Learning Pathway: Arts, Communication, and Humanities (ACH) Pathway

Courses: Spanish (SPAN)

Meet with a Counselor

Take the classes that meet your education and career goals. Create your Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP) with your Counselor or Ed. Advisor.
Call (661) 395-4421.

Counseling and Advising

Not sure about your career path?

Take the career quiz to discover the perfect career based on your personality type and interests.

Career Quiz

Spanish Program

What is Spanish?

Is Studying Spanish Right for Me?

Spanish Degree

Spanish Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T)