Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: HFA

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore / Get Started in the Major 

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

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 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 such as SPANISH 320, 321, 322, 323, 324 and 378. Primary majors should also take SPANISH 394PI.

How to Declare the Major

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, plus Junior Year Writing and 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. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in all courses counted towards the major. The Integrative Experience is a three-part sequence: Students take SPANISH 394PI (two credits) in their sophomore or junior year, then engage in study abroad, an internship or service learning, and return from their experience to take SPANISH 494RI during their junior or senior year.

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
Yes. A total of five courses distributed as follows is required:

  • SPANISH 311
  • SPANISH 312
  • Two of the following: SPANISH 320, 321, 322, 323, 324
  • One upper level elective which must be numbered 400 or above

For further information, contact:
Patricia Gubitosi 
423 Herter Hall
545-2887 or 545-4923
gubitosi@spanport.umass.edu