Getting Started

College: HFA

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started 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

Assuming students have sufficient background in Spanish to place beyond the 240-level, they should take three of the following:

SPANISH 301
SPANISH 306
SPANISH 310
SPANISH 311 (Spanish 314 is recommended for heritage speakers of the language)
SPANISH 312

Students who have not reached a Spanish level equivalent to SPANISH 240 (as indicated by scores on the Spanish Placement Exam, AP or SAT II) should complete the SPANISH 110, 120, 230, 240 sequence (or SPANISH 126, 246) as soon as possible.

If students have completed the equivalent to the courses listed above or achieved an appropriate score on the Spanish Placement Exam, they should take more advanced courses at Spanish 320 and higher. Primary majors should also take SPANISH 394PI and SPANISH 494RI.

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 the major at any time, but should remember that for primary majors, the Integrative Experience is a three-semester sequence.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of courses required: 11, Junior Year Writing + Integrative Experience sequence for primary majors

All courses required for the major must be at the 300-level or above, with at least three courses at the 400-level or above. Students must achieve a C for a course to count towards the Spanish major program.

The Integrative Experience is a three-part sequence: Students take SPANISH 394PI (2 credits) in their fall semester of sophomore or junior year, then engage in study abroad, an internship or service learning in a Latino community, and return from their experience to take SPANISH 494RI (1 credit) during fall of their junior or senior year.

Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
Yes – A minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

For further information, contact:
Patricia Gubitosi
422 Herter Hall
gubitosi@umass.edu