In Cascadia College’s Languages and Culture pathway, you will develop strong language and cultural competency skills. You will study at least two years of a language, often more. Additional coursework includes courses in literature and culture. You will have opportunities for study abroad experiences during your education.
Modalities
Coursework may be completed through a combination of in-person (web enhanced), hybrid and online modes, though not every course is offered in the same modality each quarter. Specific courses may be offered at certain times of the year. Consult the current Class Schedule.
Placement
Many courses at Cascadia College have placement prerequisites for reading, writing and math ability. The courses that you will place into determine how you progress through your pathway and how long your degree will take. There are a variety of ways to find your English and Math placement level.
In order to earn the Associate's degree connected to this pathway, students will need to complete at least one college-level math course. For this pathway, the following is recommended:
- MATH& 107 Math in Society
You will need to consult with an academic advisor after placement to be sure to enroll in a course that is consistent with your planned course of study.
If you have any questions about this pathway, contact: advising@cascadia.edu.
Planning Your Courses:
The information below assumes the following:
- You are beginning with an English placement of ENGL& 101
- You are beginning with a math placement of MATH& 107 or higher
- You will be attending full-time each quarter (3 classes)
- You will start in the fall quarter
- You are ready to take 100 and 200-level classes in your first quarter
- You are NOT taking courses during summer quarters
If any of these points do not apply to you, you can still complete the pathway! You will just need to make some adjustments to your course schedule. Talk with an Academic Advisor to create a long-term academic plan that meets your needs.
The Annual Course Planning Guide shows Cascadia’s tentative plan for classes and the quarters in which they are offered. It is intended for planning purposes only and should not be considered a guarantee of class offerings. Actual quarterly sections may be changed, added, or removed. Students should use the Searchable Quarterly Class Schedule to see up to date class offerings.
Quarter One (Fall)
Course Note:
- SPAN& 121: Spanish is listed as the default language choice for this pathway, however Cascadia offers the following languages:
- American Sign Language (ASL) (Three levels)
- Japanese (Six levels)
- Spanish (Six levels)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Quarter Two (Winter)
Course Note:
- SPAN& 122: Spanish is listed as the default language choice for this pathway, however Cascadia offers the following languages:
- American Sign Language (ASL) (Three levels)
- Japanese (Six levels)
- Spanish (Six levels)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Quarter Three (Spring)
Course Note:
- SPAN& 123: Spanish is listed as the default language choice for this pathway, however Cascadia offers the following languages:
- American Sign Language (ASL) (Three levels)
- Japanese (Six levels)
- Spanish (Six levels)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Quarter Four (Fall)
Course Note:
- SPAN& 221: Spanish is listed as the default language choice for this pathway, however Cascadia offers the following languages:
- American Sign Language (ASL) (Three levels)
- Japanese (Six levels)
- Spanish (Six levels)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Quarter Five (Winter)
Course Note:
- SPAN& 222: Spanish is listed as the default language choice for this pathway, however Cascadia offers the following languages:
- American Sign Language (ASL) (Three levels)
- Japanese (Six levels)
- Spanish (Six levels)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Quarter Six (Spring)
Course Note:
- SPAN& 223: Spanish is listed as the default language choice for this pathway, however Cascadia offers the following languages:
- American Sign Language (ASL) (Three levels)
- Japanese (Six levels)
- Spanish (Six levels)
- Find your community! Attend activities and connect with student clubs related to your long-term goals or interests.
- Meet with your Advisor and build a long-term course plan.
- If you have credits through AP testing or from another college, begin the process of having them officially evaluated.
Choice Classes: Distribution and Elective Requirements - Explore and align your interests.
The recommended choice classes listed below were thoughtfully chosen to help you gain the necessary skills in this pathway. You are welcome to choose other classes outside the recommended list, but consult with an academic advisor to be sure that the classes meet the specific requirements for this pathway.
Humanities
CMST 251 Intercultural Communication
DRMA& 101 Introduction to Theatre
DRMA 151 Introduction to Acting
ENGL& 111 Introduction to Literature
GS 150 Globalization, Culture and Identity
GS 230 Contemporary Japan
MUSC& 105 Music Appreciation
MUSC 130 Popular Music in the United States
Social Sciences
POLS& 101 Introduction to Political Science
POLS& 203 International Relations
PSYC& 100 General Psychology
PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology
Natural Sciences
Lab Science Recommendations:
150 Course and Equity, Diversity, and Power Course (10 credits)
To meet the Equity, Diversity, and Power completion requirement for graduation, you must complete:
- One 150-series EDP course
- At least one additional EDP-designated course
150-series courses ground students in the needed cognitive tools and background to critically analyze their position in our increasingly interconnected, complex, and diverse world so they can pursue further study and seek out their careers more intentionally.
EDP-designated courses (including the 150-series courses) may also apply toward Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, or General Elective distribution requirements as indicated.
Transfer Opportunities
For this pathway, Cascadia College recommends the Associate's degree linked at the top of this page. However, the College offers multiple degrees which are designed for transfer to public and private four-year institutions. Please consult with an Academic Advisor about which degree may be best suited for your long-term goals.
For a full list of related Bachelor's degrees in Washington state, visit WA Public Universities. Below are some examples:
University of Washington, Seattle
Out of State Transfer Opportunities:
Western Oregon University (American Sign Language)
View Cascadia’s Transfer Agreements for details of our partnerships with other colleges and universities.
Graduates with this degree pursue diverse careers. This degree complements and enhances work in almost any profession: translating and interpreting is one pathway. Other students will work in a variety of industries where their language and cultural competency skills are in demand. Paths: 1) education/academia, 2) non-profit sector, 3) business, 4) government, 5) non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 6) international governmental organizations (IGOs, e.g., NATO, UN). Other jobs might be: professor, K-12 teacher, international education administrator, human rights advocate, international development/humanitarian aid worker, diplomat, ambassador, political affairs officer, lobbyist, government affairs manager, military operations analyst, foreign affairs analyst, national security agent/analyst, international trade specialist, business consultant, public health practitioner, media consultant, marketing director, or sustainability consultant.
You can learn more about career possibilities related to your interests in this pathway through O*Net Online. O*Net Online shares information about related careers, salary, skills related to the industry and more.