Modern Languages

Santa Monica College offers language development courses in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Linguistics, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

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Programs Offered

Degrees and Certificates

Certificates of Achievement

African and Middle Eastern Studies
Asian Studies
European Studies
Latin American Studies

Certificate of Achievement Requirements

A Certificate of Achievement is granted upon successful completion of a program of study with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) and a designated minimum number of units, including:

Completion of the area of emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course, or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher;
Completion of at least 50% of area of emphasis units at Santa Monica College. Department Chairs have the discretion to waive the 50% minimum units required at SMC to meet the major or area of emphasis. All major coursework must be completed with a “C” or better grade.

Catalog Rights

Transfer Preparation

Many colleges/universities offer baccalaureate degrees in this field. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should complete the lower-division major requirements and the general education pattern for the specific transfer institution. SMC has articulation agreements with the many UC and CSU campuses, as well as several private and out-of-state institutions.

Exact major requirements for UC and CSU campuses can be found online at assist.org.

A listing of private, nonprofit California colleges and universities can be found online at aiccu.edu. For articulation agreements between SMC and some of these institutions see smc.edu/articulation.

African and Middle Eastern Studies, Certificate of Achievement

The African and Middle Eastern Studies Certificate of Achievement prepares students for work with Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, French, Spanish, and/or Portuguese-speaking populations from Africa and the Middle East in the US and abroad. This certificate is designed to complement an Associate degree. Students will analyze and examine the countries and cultures of Africa and the Middle East.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate coherent and comprehensive analyses of the cultural and linguistic diversity of Africa and the Middle East and the differences and commonalities in their world views and systems.

Area of Emphasis: (16 units)

Required Language Courses: (10 units minimum)

ARABIC 1,Elementary Arabic 1(5)

ARABIC 99,Applied Learning in Arabic(1)

FRENCH 4,Intermediate French II(5)

FRENCH 8,Conversational French(2)

FRENCH 9,French Culture and Civilization(3)

FRENCH 20,Francophone Cultures Through Films(3)

FRENCH 99,Applied Learning in French(1)

HEBREW 4,Intermediate Hebrew 2(5)

HEBREW 8,Conversational Hebrew(2)

HEBREW 99,Applied Learning in Hebrew(1)

PERSIN 2,Elementary Persian II(5)

PERSIN 99,Applied Learning in Persian(1)

PORTGS 2,Elementary Portuguese 2(5)

SPAN 4,Intermediate Spanish II(5)

SPAN 8,Conversational Spanish(2)

SPAN 9,The Civilization of Spain(3)

SPAN 25,Spanish for the Professions(3)

SPAN 99,Applied Learning in Spanish(1)

TURK 1,Elementary Turkish 1(5)

Required Liberal Arts Courses: (6 units minimum)

AHIS 18,Introduction to African Art History(3)

ANTHRO 20,Traditional Peoples and Cultures of Africa(3)

ENGL 32,History and Literature of Contemporary Africa(3)

HIST 16,African-American History(3)

HIST 22,History of the Middle East(3)

HIST 38,African History I (3)

HIST 39,African History II(3)

POL SC 14,Middle East Government and Politics(3)

SOCIOL 30,African Americans in Contemporary Society(3)

Asian Studies, Certificate of Achievement

The Asian Studies Certificate of Achievement prepares students for work with speakers of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean in the US and abroad. This certificate provides broad preparation for liberal arts students who seek to develop expertise in China, Japan, or Korea. This certificate is designed to complement an Associate degree. Students will analyze and examine the countries and cultures of Asia.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate coherent and comprehensive analyses of the cultural and linguistic diversity of East Asia and the differences and commonalities in the world view and systems of China, Japan, or Korea.

Area of Emphasis: (16 units)

Select 1 “Language Track” from the choices below:

Chinese Language Track: (10 units minimum)

CHNESE 9,Chinese Culture and Tradition(3)

and

Complete a minimum of 7 units from the following:

CHNESE 3,Intermediate Chinese 1(5)

CHNESE 4,Intermediate Chinese 2(5)

CHNESE 8,Conversational Chinese(2)

CHNESE 99,Applied Learning in Chinese(1)

Japanese Language Track: (10 units minimum)

JAPAN 9,Japan: Culture and Civilization(3)

and

Complete a minimum of 7 units from the following:

JAPAN 3,Intermediate Japanese I(5)

JAPAN 4,Intermediate Japanese II(5)

JAPAN 8,Conversational Japanese(2)

JAPAN 99,Applied Learning in Japanese(1)

Korean Language Track: (10 units minimum)

KOREAN 9,Korean Civilization(3)

and

Complete a minimum of 7 units from the following:

KOREAN 3,Intermediate Korean I(5)

KOREAN 4 ,Intermediate Korean II(5)

KOREAN 8 ,Conversational Korean(2)

KOREAN 25 ,Korean for the Professions(3)

KOREAN 99 ,Applied Learning in Korean(1)

Liberal Arts Curriculum; select a minimum of 6 units from the courses below:

AHIS 17 ,Arts of Asia(3)

ENGL 40 ,Asian Literature(3)

ENGL 45 ,Asian Film, Literature, and Society(3)

ENGL 49 ,Asian Mythology(3)

HIST 24 ,History of East Asia to 1600(3)

HIST 25 ,History of East Asian Since 1600(3)

HIST 27 ,History of Southeast Asia(3)

HIST 62 ,Asian-American History(3)

HUM 9A ,South Asia: Culture and Civilization(3)

PHILOS 22 ,Asian Philosophy(3)

POL SC 8 ,The Modern Far East(3)

SOCIOL 32 ,Asian Americans in Contemporary Society(3)

European Studies, Certificate of Achievement

The European Studies Certificate of Achievement provides students with an opportunity to study European languages and cultures from the vantage points of several disciplines in arts and humanities. It prepares students to work with French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese-speaking populations from Europe, in the United States, and abroad.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken communication in European languages. Students will also demonstrate critical understanding of cultural issues relevant to European countries and analysis of the cultural and linguistic differences and commonalities in their world views and systems.

Area of Emphasis: (16 units)

Required Liberal Arts Courses: (6 units)

AHIS 2,Western Art History II (3)

AHIS 3,Global Art History Since 1860(3)

ENGL 56,20th Century European Literature(3)

HIST 1,History of Western Civilization I(3)

HIST 2,History of Western Civilization II(3)

HIST 28,Modern Europe: 1914 to the Present (3)

HIST 33,World Civilizations I(3)

HIST 34,World Civilizations II(3)

MUSIC 30,Music History I(3)

MUSIC 31,Music History II(3)

MUSIC 39,History of Opera(3)

PHILOS 3,Early Philosophers(3)

PHILOS 4,Modern Philosophers(3)

Required languages courses (select 10 units)

FRENCH 3,Intermediate French I(5)

FRENCH 4,Intermediate French II(5)

GERMAN 2,Elementary German II(5)

GERMAN 3 ,Intermediate German I(5)

GERMAN 4 ,Intermediate German II(5)

ITAL 2 ,Elementary Italian II(5)

ITAL 3 ,Intermediate Italian I (5)

ITAL 4 ,Intermediate Italian 2(5)

PORTGS 2 ,Elementary Portuguese 2(5)

RUSS 2 ,Elementary Russian II (5)

RUSS 8 ,Conversational Russian(2)

SPAN 3 ,Intermediate Spanish I(5)

SPAN 4 ,Intermediate Spanish II(5)

SPAN 9 ,The Civilization of Spain(3)

Latin American Studies, Certificate of Achievement

The Latin American Studies Certificate of Achievement prepares students for work with Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking populations in the US and abroad. This certificate is designed to complement an Associate degree. Students will analyze and examine the countries and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate coherent and comprehensive analyses of the cultural and linguistic diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean and the differences and commonalities in their world views and systems.

Area of Emphasis: (16 units)

Required Language Courses: (7 units minimum)

PORTGS 2,Elementary Portuguese 2(5)

PORTGS 99,Applied Learning in Portuguese(1)

SPAN 3,Intermediate Spanish I (5)

SPAN 4,Intermediate Spanish II(5)

SPAN 8,Conversational Spanish(2)

SPAN 12,Spanish for Native Speakers 2(5)

SPAN 25,Spanish for the Professions(3)

SPAN 99,Applied Learning in Spanish(1)

Required Civilization Course:

SPAN 20,Latin American Civilization(3)

Liberal Arts Curriculum; select a minimum of 6 units from the courses below:

AHIS 5,Latin American Art History 1(3)

AHIS 6,Latin American Art History 2(3)

AHIS 15,Mexican Art History(3)

ANTHRO 21,Peoples and Power in Latin America(3)

ANTHRO 35s,Archeological Field Techniques(3)

ENGL 57,Latin-American Literature(3)

ENGL 58,Literature of Mexico(3)

HIST 5,History of Latin America 1(3)

HIST 6,History of Latin America 2(3)

HIST 19,History of Mexico(3)

HIST 42,The Latina/o Experience in the United States(3)

HIST 43,Mexican-American History(3)

SOCIOL 31,Latinas/os in Contemporary Society(3)