Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies

Advising - Frequently Asked Questions

What if I did not get high passes on all parts of the LPE but I still want to go on to Span 3015?

Students are still able to take Span 3015, provided they passed all four parts of the LPE, but must realize that the course may be challenging.  The LPE high pass was developed as a tool to help proactively identify students who are likely to have difficulty in Span 3015 without significant remedial work first.  We therefore urge you, for your own benefit, to delay any attempt to continue in Spanish until you take significant steps outside our regular curriculum to improve your language skills. Such steps might include study abroad, remedial coursework through other area institutions, or individual study on your own or with a private tutor. It is not possible for students who have earned an overall pass on the LPE to re-test in attempts to earn a high pass. Therefore, such students who decide to continue on in Spanish in this curriculum do so at their own informed risk and should be aware that the rigorous requirements of Span 3015 may be above their level.

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Who do I go to if I think I am in the wrong level or have questions about my level and transfer credit equivalency, etc. that are not answered in this handbook?

Please use the following list for appropriate referrals. During the academic year while classes are in session, contact the following supervisors of language courses.  You may contact 51 Folwell, 612-625-5858 for email addresses or phone numbers.

Span 1022: Dr. Frances Matos Schultz
Span 1003: Dr. Angela Carlson-Lombardi
Span 1004: Monica Kenton
Span 3015/ 3021: Dr. Thomas McCallum
Port 1101-3003: Marilena Mattos

During the summer, for questions regarding the Spanish and Portuguese language programs (Span 1001-3021, Port 1101-3003) contact Dr. Susan M. Villar, Director of Language Instruction (DLI) at villa003@umn.edu. For questions about any level beyond those listed above, contact departmental advising staff throughout the year.

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General Requirements for all Majors/Minors

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SPAN 3021 Information

*Span 3021 may be substituted with 3-4 approved elective credits if the student earned a grade of B- or better in Span 3015 under semesters. Span 3015 taken under the previous quarter system does not qualify for this substitution.

These courses develop students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in Spanish beyond the intermediate level so that they are prepared to take coursework taught entirely in Spanish. Span 3015 is a prerequisite for Span 3021 (sem.). Under semesters, students who obtain a C-range grade or lower in Span 3015 will be required to take and pass Span 3021 with a C- (minus) or better in order to advance to the Critical Analysis courses.

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Departmental Residency Requirement for Majors

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Departmental Residency Requirement for Minors

Currently there is no residency requirement for Minors. However, this may be changing in the near future, so please keep posted.

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Retroactive/Transfer Credit

Students wishing to use credit for a 3xxx level class from another institution, either within the US or abroad, toward their minor or major must complete processes at both the College and Departmental levels. If studying abroad or at another institution, students should work closely with advisors in both the College and the Department in advance to maximize their options. It is understood that transfer students deal with this process backwards, but it is imperative for currently enrolled students to plan for accreditation and degree equivalency before taking courses away from the U of M. (See Study Abroad and Advising/Declaration Sessions).

Petitioning courses from outside the University of Minnesota toward Major/Minor credit:
(For the 3XXX Level Only)
Petition Process :
  1. Gather all syllabi, papers, exams and any other graded work from each course. Without the syllabi and actual graded materials you will not be able to receive Spanish/Portuguese credit from the Department. We must have evidence of coursework in order to award Spanish/Portuguese Department credit.
  2. Wait until the University of Minnesota has given you credit for the course(s) from your study abroad program.  This means that your study abroad coursework is showing up as individual classes, with either actual letter grades or a T on your APAS or unofficial transcript. Courses that show up individually, but have an IP, instead of a letter grade or a T, cannot be evaluated for Spanish/Portuguese credit. The Learning Abroad Center will assist you in this process. The Spanish/Portuguese Department cannot evaluate any course materials until this step has been completed.
  3. Separate the above materials from each class into individual folders and label the folders with your name, your ID number, your telephone number, your email address, the date you submitted the folder(s), the title of the class, and the credits the University of Minnesota granted you for the course.  Be sure to include a copy of your APAS or unofficial transcript with the study abroad courses listed individually, with grades or T credit. Then drop off all folders during walk-in advising hours to the Advising Office in 34 Folwell Hall.
  4. The evaluation of materials will take about 2 weeks. The Advising Office will email you when the evaluation is complete.  Once you have received confirmation that your materials have been evaluated, come into the Advising Office as soon as possible.
  5. It is rare to receive credit for Span 3015, so if you have not taken it at the University of Minnesota (or Toledo, Spain; Merida, Venezuela; or Cuernavaca, Mexico), expect to do so.  Also, if you have not taken Span 3015 you may be required to complete the course and receive a grade of B- or better before you can receive the transfer credit you are petitioning.  There is a form that needs to be signed before taking Span 3015 so that you and the Advising Office know that you understand the aforementioned agreement.
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Where to get an unofficial transcript or APAS Report: (TRANSCRIPT PREFERRED)

An unofficial transcript or APAS report must be brought to all advising meetings/sessions. To obtain a copy, please visit the following links:

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Closed Classes

If a class is closed, you must put yourself on the waitlist if available. If not waitlist is available and is above the 3211 or higher, you may try and contact the instructor to get permission to over enroll in their class. It is up to the instructor to decide if there is room in the class and he/she will issue a permission number to register. It is also advised to keep checking the registration system prior to the start of the semester as many people change their classes and seats occasionally open up.

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Permission Numbers

Some Departmental courses require permission numbers for all students for various reasons. The following courses always require a permission number. Permission Numbers are handed out beginning the first day of registration.

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Classes reserved for Majors/Minors

Many upper division classes in the Spanish & Portuguese Department are reserved for Majors and Minors only. To register for these classes you must declare as a Spanish major, a Spanish and Portuguese Combined major or a Spanish Minor. Failure to do so may result in not being able to access desired courses for desired terms.

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Equivalency Petition for Transfer Credit for Domestic (U.S. Colleges) 3XXX Level & Study Abroad

Please see Advising/Transfer Credit section.

The Spanish and Portuguese Department does NOT do equivalency petition and transfer credit for the 1XXX level classes. You must see your college advisor for this.

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Additional Academic Help Outside the Classroom

There are several places you can go for additional academic support:

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For answers to more questions, please come to walk-in advising hours.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Last modified on November 10, 2009