Course Planning

Spanish - Where to Start?

Course planning advice here is limited to majors. For a full description of degree requirements, please see this overview of the Academic Program and refer to the Catalog for details and official rules. Any discrepancy between the Course Planning Pages and the Catalog will be resolved in favor of the Catalog.

Where should I start if I am just sampling this subject as a non-major?

All entering students who have prior experience with Spanish, including native and heritage speakers, are required to take a Placement Exercise. The Spanish Language Placement Exercise can be found online through a link made available to you by the Office of Advising and Academic Success before the registration process begins. 

    • Placement recommendations will be immediately available upon taking the Placement Exercise. Unless these recommendations indicate otherwise, students should enroll in Fundamentals of Spanish I (SPAN 110).
    • Any student who is placed in Fundamentals of Spanish II (SPAN 120) or above and completes that higher-level course with a grade of C or better, will automatically receive college credit for Fundamentals of Spanish I (SPAN 110). A maximum of one credit can be earned this way.
    • Students will have fulfilled the language capacity requirement (LA) upon receiving credit in a language class at the 120 level or above regardless of where they place.
    • Students who place out of SPAN 120 should take Conversation and Grammar (SPAN 210).
    • Students who place into the 300 level courses are encouraged to pick the 300-level course that they find most interesting, even in their freshman year. The Spanish program offers a wide variety of courses ranging in topics and approaches. All of them offer a good starting point.

Where should I start if I might use this as part of a major or as a potential major?

Students who are considering a major in Spanish should begin their language classes as early as possible. This will allow students the flexibility necessary to consider studying abroad later in their career.  

    • Placement recommendations will be immediately available upon taking the Placement Exercise. Unless these recommendations indicate otherwise, students should enroll in Fundamentals of Spanish I (SPAN 110).
    • Students who place out of SPAN 120 should take Conversation and Grammar (SPAN 210).
    • Students who place into the 300 level courses are encouraged to pick the 300-level course that they find most interesting, even in their freshman year. The Spanish program offers a wide variety of courses ranging in topics and approaches. All of them offer a good starting point.

Where should I start if I have some experience in this discipline before college?

    By taking the placement exercise, students will gauge where they are best suited to start their college level Spanish language experience.

    • Placement recommendations will be immediately available upon taking the Placement Exercise. Unless these recommendations indicate otherwise, students should enroll in Fundamentals of Spanish I (SPAN 110).
    • Students who place out of SPAN 120 should take Conversation and Grammar (SPAN 210).

    Students who place into the 300 level courses are encouraged to pick the 300-level course that they find most interesting, even in their freshman year. The Spanish program offers a wide variety of courses ranging in topics and approaches. All of them offer a good starting point.

When should I declare a major?

  • All students must declare a major by March 1st of their sophomore year.