UMass Amherst Course Guide
The best way to view all of the courses offered at UMass Amherst is to go to the online version of the Guide to Undergraduate Programs. This guide covers all of the details of a UMass Amherst undergraduate education, including university, college, and major requirements.
To find course listings, following the Departments & Programs link. You may then choose a major or department and see what they have to offer.
UMass Amherst Course Schedule
You can access the schedule of classes for the current term through SPIRE, our online registration system.
Go to the SPIRE logon page and click on Course Catalog and Schedule in the right navigation. This will allow you to search for courses offered this term.
FYI: SPIRE is not just a course guide—it’s an essential part of life at UMass Amherst. As a UMass Amherst Student, you will use SPIRE to:
· find courses
· register
· check class schedules, exam schedules, and grades
· view your degree progress, unofficial transcript, and advisor information
· check your account with the Bursar’s office and your financial aid awards
· apply for housing, reserve the same room for the next semester, or check your housing assignment notification
Five Colleges Course Guide
As you probably know by now, as a student at UMass Amherst you may also take courses at Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith Colleges through the Five Colleges Interchange. For details on this unique option, go to the Five Colleges section.
You may access the Five Colleges course catalog though the Five Colleges website. This will take you to a search engine that will allow you to look for courses by title, instructor, or keyword. This is also a way to check course available at UMass Amherst (and then you can compare it to similar courses at the other four colleges).
Cool courses at UMass Amherst
You’ll find a wealth of course options at UMass Amherst (one of the benefits of a large university). Some are the kinds of courses you’d expect, such as composition, calculus, biology, Shakespeare, and accounting. Others may surprise you. Here are some that you may not expect (this is just a few samples, you’ll find many more surprises in every department).
· African-American Studies 191: The Blues Came Down like Dark Night Showers of Rain
· Animal Science 102: Equine Skills
· Anthropology 106: Culture Through Film
· Astronomy 225: Galactic and Extragalactic Astronomy
· Biology 290H (Honors): Cosmos & Humanity—From the Big Bang to the Space Age
· Building Materials & Wood Technology 211: Energy Efficient Housing
· Chemical Engineering 320: Kinetics and Reactor Design
· Chinese 155: Chinese Myths and Legends
· Civil And Environmental Engineering 476: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
· Classics 330: Witchcraft and Magic in the Ancient World
· Communication 310: Persuasion Theory
· Comparative Literature 236: Digital Culture
· Computer Science 383: Artificial Intelligence
· Criminal Justice Program 347: Corporate Deviance and Official Corruption
· Dance 197D: Comparative Caribbean Dance
· Economics 374: Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy: Three Utopias and their Critics
· Educational Policy, Research And Administration 276: Erroneous Beliefs
· English 419: Games Thinkers Play
· Entomology 271: Using Insects in the Classroom
· Exercise Science 311: Anatomy of Human Motion
· Food Science 120: Food Preservation: Why and How?
· Forestry197A: Forest Fire Control
· French 280: Love and Sex in French Culture
· General Physical Education G40: Self-Defense for Women
· Geology 109: The Nature of Mountains
· Geography 250: Natural Disasters
· German Languages And Literature 270: From Grimm to Disney: The German Folktale
· Hospitality and Tourism Management 317: Casino Management
· Italian 497B: The Italian-American Experience
· Legal Studies 491: Gods and Governments
· Management 394G: Behavior in the Global Economy
· Mathematics 471: Number Theory
· Middle Eastern Studies 390A: The Arab World Today: Culture and Change
· Philosophy 394D: Death
· Plant & Soil Sciences 280: Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants
· Psychology 217 Cruelty & Kindness: The Psychology of Good and Evil
· Resource Economics 140: Managing Your Own Business
· Sport Management 202 History of Sport and Physical Activity
· Women’s Studies 297: Race, Gender and Science
