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Earn an Associate Degree in Spanish at Aims

Do you have a knack for learning new languages? Are you curious about other cultures and how they communicate?  A Spanish degree from Aims will allow you to embark on a rewarding career that can connect you to people across the globe.

Choosing a world language-focused path allows you to learn a specific language while gaining a deeper understanding and perspective of other cultures. Fluency in other languages is also in high demand. According to a 2019 report from ACTFL, about one-third of employers reported a high dependency on language skills other than English. Whether you’re interested in a career reliant on foreign language proficiency or you’re seeking a profession where knowing another language is advantageous, being fluent in Spanish opens up many opportunities.

Earning an associate degree in Spanish from Aims puts you on an affordable path to getting your bachelor’s degree. Thanks to a statewide agreement between community colleges and universities, when you complete this liberal arts associate degree, you can transfer to any participating four-year public university in Colorado as a junior and earn your bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Taking your general education degree requirements at Aims instead of a four-year institution can save substantial costs. 

At Aims, your instructors, Pathway Advisors and Transitions Center coaches will work together to help your transfer go smoothly.

If you’re ready to embark on a career that allows you to communicate in Spanish and delve into Spanish-speaking cultures around the world, learn more about this degree from Aims.

Gain Knowledge in the Spanish Language

Earning an associate degree in Spanish is about so much more than expanding your communication skills and becoming fluent in another language. You’ll also learn how to integrate interpretive, interpersonal and presentational skills within specific cultural contexts.
 
Gaining Spanish language proficiency in a culturally immersive manner elevates your ability to connect with others around the world in a more meaningful way. This is a valuable and rewarding skill that also enhances your resume. 

In this two-year program, you’ll also become more proficient in the soft skills employers find valuable such as:

  • Effective presentation
  • Confident interaction
  • Active listening
  • Clear written communication
  • Increased memory
  • Cultural diversity awareness

Careers in Spanish

The demand for bilingual employees has grown rapidly across industries, with employment of interpreters and translators projected to grow 24 percent from 2020 to 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Earning a Spanish degree is an ideal starting point for building a career. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language when measured by native speakers. It is also the official language in over 20 countries.

A wide range of fields rely on fluency in the Spanish language. After earning a bachelor’s or higher degree in Spanish, you can pursue any number of careers, including:

  • Spanish teacher/professor
  • Translator/interpreter
  • International relations consultant
  • Social worker
  • Community service manager
  • Journalist
  • Travel agent

Continue Your Spanish Studies at a Colorado Four-Year Public University

Thanks to a Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement in Colorado, after graduating from Aims with a liberal arts associate degree in Spanish, you can go on to study at any participating public university statewide. Below is a list of colleges and universities in Colorado that are a part of this statewide agreement and offer bachelor's degrees in Spanish.

Adams State University

Colorado Mesa University (B.A. Spanish; Applies Professional Spanish or Literature & Language concentrations)

Colorado State University-Ft Collins (B.A. Foreign Language & Literatures; Spanish concentration)

Colorado State University-Pueblo (B.A. Foreign Language - Spanish)

Fort Lewis College

Metropolitan State University of Denver (B.A. Modern Languages; Spanish concentration)

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

University of Colorado Denver

University of Northern Colorado

Western Colorado University

Here’s what your journey from Aims to a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish will look like:

  1. An Aims Admissions Advisor can answer your questions about this degree transfer program and help you get started on the path to earning your degree.
  2. After becoming an Aims student, you’ll choose classes to earn your Spanish associate degree. Your Aims Pathway Advisor will help you ensure you follow the pathway that best suits you and helps you reach your goals.
  3. During your time at Aims, you'll also work with an Aims Transfer Coach to get help choosing the school you’d like to transfer to and researching what scholarships are available.
  4. You can also reach out to a transfer advisor at your chosen four-year school to make sure you're choosing classes that will support you when you go on to complete your bachelor's degree.
  5. Before graduating from Aims, your Transfer Coach will help you prepare for the transition to your new school as a junior.
Aims2UNC Program

The Aims2UNC Transition Program

Aims2UNC is a joint initiative streamlining the path for students to seamlessly transition between the two colleges. You'll get support from advisors specific to this program who will assist you as you earn your associate and bachelor's degree in Spanish.

Learn More

Leverage Your Associate Degree in Spanish to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Related Subjects

Not everyone who gets an associate degree in Spanish follows a path directly related to the language. You may also choose to enter a field where foreign language skills are increasingly valuable to employers. Bilingual graduates have a competitive advantage over prospective candidates in fields such as healthcare, government, business and more.

Spanish is a desirable language skill in the following fields:

  • Law
  • Humanities
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • Social work
  • Business
  • Humanitarian aid

World Languages Faculty and Staff

Aims Spanish faculty teach with your needs and interests in mind, in smaller class sizes than typically found at four-year colleges. Your instructors will jumpstart your ability to become fluent in the language while helping you understand how to create intercultural connections with the Spanish-speaking world as you prepare to transition to a four-year degree post-graduation.

  • Rebecca Sailor headshot

    Rebecca Sailor

    Department Chair - Humanities, Philosophy & World Languages
    Professor, Humanities
  • Headshot of Aims Spanish instructor Elizabeth Grounds

    Elizabeth Grounds

    Adjunct Instructor, World Languages
  • Portrait of  Amelia Bucklew

    Amelia Bucklew

    Associate Professor, World Languages
  • Headshot of Aims World Languages instructor Gloria Monzon

    Gloria Monzon

    Adjunct Instructor, World Languages
  • Fanny Chacon

    Adjunct Instructor, Spanish
  • Patricia Escobar headshot

    Patricia Escobar

    Adjunct Instructor, Spanish