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.
MAJORS WEEK 2020
The annual Majors Fair will take a different form during the predominantly remote Fall 2020 semester. The re-envisioned fall event will support student exploration of majors through themed online and virtual offerings during the week of October 19 – October 23rd.
Learn how courses and an internship within a certificate program helped define the path of Shameen Akhtar in community organizing.
Questions
What do I need to know if I want to get an exemption from a language class?
Exemption Testing for French, Latin, German and Spanish will be offered remotely during Fall 2020!
- Students must schedule a brief information meeting with Sheila Brennan in Student Success.
- At that meeting students will be provided all the pertinent information regarding the process for the exemption test and the test will be scheduled.
- Students should have taken the appropriate foreign language placement test prior to scheduling the exemption exam: https://www.umass.edu/newstudent/umass-placement-exams
- Heritage Spanish speakers should not take this exemption exam but should go to https://www.umass.edu/hfa/academics/advising/forms and fill out a request for a proficiency exam.
To schedule your information meeting with Sheila:
- Sign into Navigate with your net id and password: umass.campus.eab.com
- Select "Success and Wellness"
- Make an appointment for a Foreign Language Exemption Test Info Meeting in Student Success
- Having trouble making an appointment? Email Sheila at sbrennan@umass.edu
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.
