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 test. The Language Placement Exercise will be given during fall orientation.

Placement recommendations will be available before fall registration is complete. 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).
Students who test out of Fundamentals of Spanish II (SPAN 120) will have fulfilled the language capacity requirement (LA).
Students who place out of SPAN 120 are encouraged to take either Conversation and Composition (SPAN 210), or Advanced Grammar and Composition (SPAN 220).
Students who place into the 300 level courses are encouraged to pick a 300-level course that they find 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?

Placement recommendations will be available before fall registration is complete. 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).
Students who test out of Fundamentals of Spanish II (SPAN 120) will have fulfilled the language capacity requirement (LA)
Students who place out of SPAN 120 are encouraged to take either Conversation and Composition (SPAN 210), or Advanced Grammar and Composition (SPAN 220).
Students who place into the 300 level courses are encouraged to pick a 300-level course that they find 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?

Placement recommendations will be available before fall registration is complete. 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).
Students who test out of Fundamentals of Spanish II (SPAN 120) will have fulfilled the language capacity requirement (LA).
Students who place out of SPAN 120 are encouraged to take either Conversation and Composition (SPAN 210), or Advanced Grammar and Composition (SPAN 220).
Students who place into the 300 level courses are encouraged to pick a 300-level course that they find 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 1^st of their sophomore year.