Letters and Sciences

1117 Hornbake Library
Phone: 301-314-8418
Fax: 301-314-9394
askltsc@umd.edu
http://ltsc.umd.edu

Assistant Dean/Director: Eric Van Johnson
Associate Director: Ashleigh Brown

Letters and Sciences is the academic home for students exploring a variety of fields before selecting a major, for Freshmen Connection students, for post-baccalaureate students taking additional course work, and for non-degree seeking students taking undergraduate courses. Letters and Sciences may also serve as the academic home for students completing requirements for entry into a Limited Enrollment Program. Letters and Sciences advisors help students to select and schedule courses, engage in academic programs, and learn about campus-wide resources. Letters and Sciences collaborates closely with college advising offices, academic departments, and programs across campus and provides a coordinated advising network that features:

Choosing a Major

Letters and Sciences students receive information about and referral to a wide range of academic programs and services including workshops and information fairs. Letters and Sciences staff specialize in assisting students with major exploration and how to develop strategies and plans for entering Limited Enrollment Programs.

Business Exploration Series

The Letters and Sciences Business Exploration Series (BES) is a multidimensional advising resource that provides LTSC students with an opportunity to explore the world of business through: exploratory seminars; business-focused introduction to the university courses; valuable leadership opportunities; and access to guidance and support from knowledgeable advisors.

Stem Exploration Series

The Letters and Sciences STEM Exploration Series (SES) is a multidimensional advising resource that provides LTSC students with an opportunity to explore the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through: exploratory seminars; STEM-focused introduction to the university courses; valuable research and leadership opportunities; and access to guidance and support from knowledgeable advisors.

Interim Advising Program

Newly admitted transfer students with more than 60 credits, who were unsuccessful in gaining direct admission to a Limited Enrollment Program, receive advising and assistance from a Letters and Sciences professional staff member during their first two semesters on campus. For this group of students, the university waives the requirement that all students must declare a major by 60 credits.

Transitional Advising Program

Currently enrolled students with more than 60 credits, who are moving between colleges due to change of interest, inability to meet benchmarks, or lack of sufficient GPA, receive advising and academic support. For this group of students, the university waives the requirement that all students must be in a declared major after 60 credits, for one semester.

Credit-by-Exam

Any University of Maryland student interested in credit-by-exam should visit the Forms page on the Letters and Sciences website.

Pre-Law Advising

0110 Hornbake Library
Phone: 301-405-2793
prelawadvisor@umd.edu
http://prelaw.umd.edu

Associate Director: Gregory J. Shaffer, Esq.

Letters and Sciences offers specialized advising for students interested in law. For further information, see the section on Pre-Law Advising in this catalog, visit http://prelaw.umd.edu, or email prelaw@umd.edu.

The Pre-Law Advising Office within Letters and Sciences serves all current and former students at the University of Maryland interested in pursuing law school and careers in law. The program provides students with law school planning, including individual and group advising, career preparation workshops, admission information, and much more. While law schools do not require, favor, or prefer specific majors, the pre-law advisor can provide guidance concerning the choice of major. Pre-law does not serve as an undergraduate major, nor does the program require completion of a specific academic curriculum.

Four-Year Baccalaureate Program

Most law schools require applicants to have received a bachelor's degree prior to law school enrollment. A wide variety of majors give students an excellent foundation for law school. The student should select a major and plan an undergraduate experience in which they will be successful and helps them acquire skills that are essential in preparing to perform well on the LSAT, in law school, and ultimately as a lawyer. These skills include imaginative and coherent thinking, critical reasoning, accurate and perceptive reading, and a strong command of the spoken and written language, including grammar.

In some cases, law schools will consider truly outstanding applicants with only three years of academic work, as described below. Law schools do not require the completion of prerequisite courses for admission, but they do require that the student follow one of the standard academic majors offered at the student's undergraduate institution. The LSAT is offered nine times per calendar year and is accepted by all law schools. In specific situations, other standardized tests may be accepted in lieu of the LSAT. More information on the LSAT and related admissions material may be found at http://lsac.org or on various law schools' websites.

Three-Year Arts/Law Degree

The University of Maryland has cooperative agreements with the University of Baltimore School of Law and University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. These agreements provide students at College Park, who are enrolled in any recognized major and meet certain qualifications, with the opportunity to apply to law school one year early. If accepted, the Three-Year Arts/Law Degree program allows students to begin their law school studies prior to their receipt of their baccalaureate degree. Instead, the University of Maryland, College Park awards these students their baccalaureate degree in Arts/Law upon satisfactory completion of the first year of law school.  Participation in this program at the University of Maryland, College Park and application to the University of Baltimore Law School or University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law under this program does not guarantee admission.

This program is only available with the University of Baltimore Law School and University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and may not be an appropriate choice for all students. Students who consider this program should contact the pre-law advisor for more information or view the website, at http://prelaw.umd.edu.