Courses and Registration
- How do I receive a PTA number for my Spanish course?
- PTAs may be needed for a variety of reasons even if a course does not have a waitlist. Students request PTA numbers from their instructors for courses without waitlists. Requests may be made after Pass 2 Registration has ended during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter.
Step 1: Consult with the instructor to determine if you are able to receive a PTA.
Step 2: Request written confirmation from your instructor via email.
Step 3: Forward the email confirmation to the Spanish Advising staff, [email protected].
Step 4: You will be emailed a PTA number by staff in the Department.
Step 5: You must use the PTA number within 72 hours of issuance or it will expire. Please also note that the Registrar's Office charges students a $3 fee to your account for using a PTA. - How do I drop my Spanish class after the drop deadline? How do I request a PTD?
- The Department of Spanish does not have the authority to issue PTD numbers to drop courses after the drop deadline. Only a student's College Dean's Office has the authority to issue PTD numbers. PTDs can only be issued for extenuating circumstances. Go to the College of Letters and Science Late Actions webpage for information about their PTD policies and request process.
- How do I know when Spanish courses will be offered?
- Before Schedule Builder publishes the detailed schedules for the upcoming terms, tentative course schedules for the upcoming academic year can be found on the Department's course page.
- How do I earn academic credits for independent study, special study, or senior thesis (or honors thesis)?
- SPA course 194H, 198, 199
Students who wish to enroll in one of the above courses must first identify and contact a faculty person whose academic expertise is related to their proposed project. If the faculty person agrees to sponsor the student's research or special study project, the student and faculty sponsor will need to email the Advising staff ([email protected]). Additional eligibility requirements may need to be determined based on university requirements and/or department policies.
Spanish Major and Minor
- How often should I visit my Major or Minor advisor?
- It is recommended to meet with your Academic Advisor at least once per quarter. This gives students an opportunity to ask any questions they might have, check major progress, etc. Make an appointment here.
- How do I declare Spanish as my new major or as a second major?
- You will need to declare your major with the Change of Program Petition form in OASIS. You can access this petition in the "Forms & Petitions" tab in OASIS; click on "Submit a New Form" and choose "Change of Program Petition". You will then select the "Change Major(s), Degree Type (A.B., B.S.), or Academic Options" option and click "Next". On the next page, you will choose Spanish from the drop down menu to change your major or click on the "Add Major" box to add Spanish as your second major. From here, you can you can click "Submit" or you can choose to add comments or upload documents (not required, but an option) before submitting.
- Can I choose P/NP for my Spanish major courses?
Students may take up to two regular, letter-graded courses that are used for major requirements as a P/NP grade.
Note: If you choose to take a course as P/NP, you will receive a P if you earn a C- or higher and an NP if you earn a D+ or lower.
In the college of Letters and Science there are limits on how many overall units can be taken as P/NP. You can read more about the P/NP restrictions here.
- I am interested in a Spanish minor. What do I need to do?
- Make an appointment with the Academic Advisor to discuss the minor requirements and placement exam process, if you have lower division language requirements to take first.
- When should I declare a Spanish minor?
- Minor declarations require a Change of Program Petition form in OASIS and can be submitted once you have completed your first upper-division course for the minor OR have registered for your final minor course. You can access this petition in the "Forms & Petitions" tab in OASIS; click on "Submit a New Form" and choose "Change of Program Petition". You will then select the "Change Minor(s)" option and click "Next". On the next page, you can add Spanish as your minor from the drop down menu. From here, you can click "Submit" or you can choose to add comments or upload documents (not required, but an option) before submitting.
- Can I choose P/NP for my Spanish minor courses?
Students may take one regular, letter-graded course that is used for minor requirements as a P/NP grade.
Note: If you choose to take a course as P/NP, you will receive a P if you earn a C-or higher and an NP if you earn a D+ or lower.
In the college of Letters and Science there are limits on how many overall units can be taken as P/NP. You can read more about the P/NP restrictions here.
Spanish Language Placement
- Is the Placement Exam mandatory?
- The Spanish placement exam is no mandatory, however, it is encouraged to take the exam for best course placement with consultation with the Spanish advisor. You can make an appointment or email [email protected].
- What is the difference between the Placement Exam and the Proficiency Exam?
The Placement Exam is only used for course placement; this is for students with a background in the language who are planning to continue their language study at UC Davis and not sure where to being their language learning.
The Proficiency Exam is used for satisfying the foreign language requirement and for course placement. This is a proctored, in-person exam taken at the UC Davis Language Center in Olson 53.
Please visit the UC Davis Language Center for more information.
- How does taking Spanish in High School work for UCD language course placement?
- If you have completed the second or third year of the Spanish language in the tenth or higher grade in high school you are eligible to receive credit for SPA 001 (you do not have to take this course). You will satisfy the foreign language requirement by taking SPA 002 and SPA 003.
- Am I required to take the course the Spanish Placement Exam places me in?
- No, it is a suggestion based on your Spanish language skills. Make an appointment or send an email to the Academic Advisor, [email protected]
- If I believe the first course of a series is at a lower-level than my language skills, can I skip to a higher-level course or another Spanish language series?
- Yes, however, recommended to make an appointment or send an email to the Academic Advisor, [email protected]. This will help in discussing what course a student will be able to skip and place
- What are the requirements for Spanish language preparatory subject matter to go into upper division coursework?
- Not all the preparatory courses are required, there are different factors such as: AP or IB Scores, previous history taking Spanish courses in High School, and personal comfort with Spanish Language skills that can determine which lower division course a student should start in. However, SPA 24 and SPA 33 are prerequisites for many upper-division courses. If you would like to skip SPA 24 and 33 you can speak to the Spanish Advisor to discuss it. For more information: https://spanish.ucdavis.edu/navigating-lower-divs.
- What if I am taking a series merely to satisfy the Foreign Language requirement?
- You can satisfy the Foreign Language requirement by taking the Elementary Spanish series SPA 001-003(Traditional), SPA 001Y-003Y(Hybrid), or SPA 001V-003V (Virtual/Online).
- What if I have a passing AP score but have lost my Spanish language skills? Can I take a lower-level course than my AP exam score?
- No, because taking a lower course level than the course equivalent would be considered an illegal repeat. However, if you want to strengthen your Spanish skills, there are many tutoring services offered through the Department as well as the Spanish Peer Advisor.
Study Abroad
- I am interested in Study Abroad. What do I need to do?
UC Davis offers opportunities for study abroad for Spanish from all over the world. These programs vary in length from a summer abroad, a quarter abroad, a full year abroad, and summer internships (both abroad and virtual). Check out the Global Learning Hub study abroad programs for more details and make an appointment with a study abroad advisor for more information on programs and figuring out which is the best for you!
During your planning phase, or when in doubt, be sure to check in with your Academic Advisor to discuss planned courses and if they can be used toward your major/minor.
- Can I study abroad in a program that is not a part of UC Education Abroad (UCEAP) and have the credit count towards a major or minor requirement?
There are many programs that are not affiliated with the UC system. You are welcome to participate in these, but you need to be prepared for extra steps when you try to get UC credit for them; the process may be time consuming and there is no guarantee that your courses will be accepted for UC credit or your major or minor. After your program ends, you will need to request transcripts from your host university to be sent to UC Davis and contact Undergraduate Admissions to discuss coursework transfer-ability. This process can take several months.
Approval of credits by Undergraduate Admissions does not automatically mean major or minor approval. During your planning phase and after your return to UC Davis, you will need to meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your study abroad courses; courses you are considering need to be reviewed for course equivalency and approved by the academic advisor.