Study human expression between, within, and across borders
Students wishing to major in Spanish should consult with their Major Advisor. Course listings, including those for other Five College Spanish departments, are available in Spire each semester. Majors are encouraged to select courses in a wide range of disciplines, historical periods, and geographical areas.
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.
III. Junior Year Writing
IV. Integrative Experience
- Spanish 394 (sophomore/junior year)
- Spanish 494 (junior/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 our primary majors must take Span 394PI (the preparation class) during their sophomore or junior year. In it, they begin to consider their reasons for choosing the major and their goals with it after graduation. In this first class, students also seriously consider their options for study abroad, service-learning, and/or internships—the Integrative Experience's second component—with the guidance of visitors from the International Programs Office, the Office of Civic Engagement & Service Learning, and Career Services. Students in this class also explore the way in which to incorporate other University and extracurricular opportunities, beyond the specific major requirements, into their career and personal goals.
Upon finishing their study-abroad, service-learning, and/or internship, students register for Span 494RI, where they get an opportunity to reflect upon these experiences and their relation to their broader University education in a group setting. 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.
