Study human expression between, within, and across borders
Requirements for the Major
(11 courses are required plus JYW and the IE sequence for primary majors) A minimum of 15 units counted toward the major must be earned in courses taught at the university or in programs abroad sponsored by the SpanPort unit, and a grade of C or better must be earned in every course.
I. Advanced Language Preparation (three courses)
Take three of the following electives:
- Spanish 301 Conversational Spanish
- Spanish 306 Spanish Pronunciation
- Spanish 310 Advanced Language through Culture
- Spanish 311 Advanced Grammar (or SPAN 314 Spanish Native/Heritage speakers)
- Spanish 312 Oral and Written Expression
II. Upper-Level Courses (eight courses)
- Take five courses at level 320 or above in consultation with your advisor [Spanish 354 does not count as an upper level]. Only two courses may be taken in English in areas related to the Spanish major with the advisor's approval.
Take three upper level courses numbered 400 and above.
The following are required for PRIMARY majors only:
III. Junior Year Writing
IV. Integrative Experience
- SPAN394N (Fall of your Junior or Senior year)
Our Integrative Experience
Our Integrative Experience is designed to give a longer-term opportunity for our students to explore the way in which their major relates to their broader experiences, both at the university and the Spanish or Portuguese-speaking worlds.
All primary majors take SPAN 394N in the fall of their junior or senior year. This required course gives students time to reflect on what they’ve learned and to connect their General Education classes with their major. Students practice applying what they know in real‑world settings, consider different perspectives, and think more deeply about their academic and personal goals. Students also use the Integrative Experience Blog to share their experiences with each other and with future generations of majors. We encourage you to explore the Integrative Experience Blog, which is organized by categories. As an example, you may begin by looking at students' reflections about their changing perception of the major and other milestones in their UMass education.
