Choosing your academic path and the best classes for each semester requires knowledge of UMass offerings and a strategy for how you pace yourself through your program. Not all classes are the same. There are seminars, large lectures, service-learning classes, internships for credit, and team-based learning courses, just to name a few. Students can add a second major, minor, or certificate over time. Academic Advisors can help you find your way through the many choices. Jump start your major, minor or certificate exploration by attending the Majors Fair in the fall semester.
Learn how courses and an internship within a certificate program helped define the path of Shameen Akhtar in community organizing.
Questions
How do I register for classes?
SPIRE is your home base to see what courses are offered and to build your schedule for the coming semester. This video is a tutorial on course enrollment. The video will give you a step-by step guide on how to enroll in courses through SPIRE from going over an enrollment checklist to determining any holds that might prevent enrollment. Consider reviewing this quick tutorial before enrolling in any courses. Go to SPIRE.
How do I declare a major?
Some majors at UMass require an application to get in, but most are open to all students. Learning more about a major is always the first step in a decision to declare or apply. View the Major Declaration Guide.
Advisors in each department can tell you what coursework will prepare you for success in the major, and departments post details about course pathways and requirements on their web sites. View all majors.
What minors or certificates can I add to my major program?
Many, though not all, academic programs offer minors. Certificates award a credential similar to a minor, but the coursework spans different departments, sometimes requiring courses from our neighboring Five College partner schools. View all certificate programs.
