Getting Started
College: HFA
Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting starting with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore/Get Started in the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.
Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses
The basic language sequence is made of four courses. Both PORT 230 and 240 already count towards the major and minor.
- PORT 110, PORT 120, PORT 230 and PORT 240
Students who test out of the language sequence can take courses for the professions (business, translation, health professionals, etc), advanced language, linguistics, culture and literature. The Portuguese advisor can help students choose the right courses based on their academic and professional goals.
- PORT 408 – Brazil in Film and Fiction
- PORT 321 – Portuguese Literature
- PORT 322 – Brazilian Literature
Students who studied Portuguese in high school or who learned Portuguese at home should contact the Portuguese advisor (amaral@umass.edu) for a placement exam and/or credit processing. These students usually skip all the language preparation sequence for the minor and major and start by taking one of the 3rd year Portuguese courses:
- PORT 301 or PORT 302 (Conversation)
- PORT 311 (Advanced Grammar)
- PORT 312 (Advanced Composition)
- PORT 315 (Portuguese Civilization)
- PORT 316 (Brazilian Culture through Music)
Students who were placed above the 200-level in Spanish, Italian or French should enroll in one of the Portuguese courses for Romance speakers. Please consult the Portuguese advisor for details.
Students who have no background in the language should enroll in PORT 110.
How to Declare/Change into the Major
For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting. Students can declare at any time by contacting the Portuguese advisor.
Students enrolled in Portuguese as their primary major have the opportunity to work as translators, interpreters, language instructors, community liaisons, among other options, during their time at UMass. There are also opportunities for internships abroad. Please consult the Portuguese advisor.
Students who already speak the language usually declare Portuguese as their secondary major for professional and academic purposes. These students are encouraged to take courses in Portuguese for the professions (business, translation, interpretation, tourism, health, etc.) and improve their communication and analytic skills in a language other than English.
Transfer Students
If students have completed the equivalent to any of the courses offered at UMass, they should consult the Portuguese advisor to transfer the necessary credits and be placed at the appropriate level.
Summary of Requirements for the Major
Minimum total # of credits required: 33 plus Junior Year Writing
Ten courses are required for the major in Portuguese. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for courses in the major.
Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
Note: Summer, winter, or semester programs in Portugal or Brazil may also be used to earn credits towards the Portuguese major or minor. Students who spend the semester abroad in a Portuguese-speaking country usually transfer up to five courses towards their degrees in Portuguese. Please consult the advisor for available options abroad.
Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
A minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more
For further information, contact:
Professor Luiz Amaral
Herter Hall 404 (LLC)
amaral@umass.edu
www.umass.edu/spanport/