Degree Information
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs
In a combined bachelor's/master's program, some graduate level courses initially taken for undergraduate credit may also be applied towards the graduate credit requirements for a master's degree program at the University of Maryland. A bachelor's/master's program may be developed for an individual student, or it may be a structured program. Only graduate programs on the semester term are eligible for the combined degree. Each student can pursue one combined bachelor's/master's program. Students admitted to a combined bachelor’s/master’s program may not defer the start of their master’s program, but may request a leave of absence in their first year in the master's program. Students who do not begin their master’s program the term after completing their bachelor’s degree will have the double-counted credits converted to being counted only for the bachelor’s degree.
Individual Student Bachelor's/Master's Program
An individual bachelor's/master's program may be developed by a current UMD undergraduate student in consultation with his/her academic advisor. Such a program is available only to students whose academic performance is exceptional. It is to be developed according to the individual career interests and goals of the student and should be an integrated learning experience rather than merely the completion of a certain number of graduate and undergraduate credits. The proposed program requires the approval of the Directors of both the undergraduate and the graduate programs involved and of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School. Normally no more than nine credits of graduate courses applied to the bachelor's degree may also be counted for graduate credit in an individual student's program. Courses to be double-counted must be at the 600-level or above and must be passed with at least a "B-" grade. Individual study courses, internships, or courses given credit by examination are not eligible. The credits to be double-counted will be designated as applicable to the graduate program after the student receives the bachelor's degree and matriculates in the Graduate School. This designation will be canceled if the student withdraws from the graduate program before completing the master's degree.
Structured Bachelor's/Master's Program
A structured bachelor's/master's program is an articulated curriculum combining an existing undergraduate program and an existing master's program at the University of Maryland, offered by the same or by different departments. Such a program is to be designed for students whose academic performance is exceptional and should be an integrated learning experience rather than merely the completion of a certain number of graduate and undergraduate credits. A proposal for such a program should be submitted by the college(s) housing the academic programs concerned and requires the approval of the Graduate Council, the Graduate Dean, the Senate PCC Committee, and the Provost.
Necessary features of a structured bachelor's/master's program include the following:
- There must be specific requirements for admission to the combined program that speak to the exceptional performance of the students to be admitted. At a minimum, students accepted for the program must be clearly admissible to the graduate program portion.
- The program should be designed so as not to unduly delay the student's receipt of their bachelor's degrees. Taking graduate credits should not unduly limit the breadth of the student's experience through premature specialization. Where appropriate, graduate courses taken while an undergraduate may substitute for courses required in the undergraduate major program.
- Formal admission to the Graduate School will require completion of all requirements for the bachelor's degree.
- The credits to be double-counted will be designated as applicable to the graduate program after the student receives the bachelor's degree and matriculates in the Graduate School.
A structured bachelor's/master's program may normally include up to nine credits of graduate level courses that are counted both for the bachelor's program and the master's program. More than nine double-counted credits may be allowed if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
- The additional graduate credits applied to the undergraduate program do not unduly limit the breadth of the student's experience through premature specialization.
- The master's program requires more than thirty credits.
Degree Requirements
The requirements for graduation vary according to the character of work in the different colleges, schools, departments and academic units. It is the responsibility of the colleges, schools, departments and other academic units to establish and publish clearly defined degree requirements. Responsibility for knowing and meeting all degree requirements for graduation in any curriculum rests with the student. Specific degree requirements are listed in this catalog under the college and/or department as appropriate.
Each student should check with the proper academic authorities no later than the close of the junior year to ascertain his or her standing with respect to advancement toward a degree. For this purpose, each student should be sure to review their semester grades and unofficial transcript on the Testudo website (http://testudo.umd.edu) at the close of each semester or request a semester grade report.
Completion of Interrupted Degree
Students whose registration at the University of Maryland, College Park, has lapsed for more than 10 years shall be required to complete a minimum of 15 credit hours at College Park after their return to campus in order to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Recommendations about courses needed to satisfy the remaining degree requirements will be made at the department level, with approval of the Dean's Office required. The reason for requiring these credits is that many fields change sufficiently in 10 years to require that students take current courses if they are to be awarded a current degree. Exceptions to the requirement for a minimum of 15 credits earned at College Park upon return to the campus can be recommended by the Deans for approval in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Credit Requirements
No baccalaureate degree will be awarded in instances where fewer than 120 credit hours have been earned. Many undergraduate curricula at the University of Maryland, College Park, require more than 120 credits. It is the responsibility of each student to familiarize themself with the requirements of particular curricula. The student is urged to seek advice on these matters from the departments, colleges, or the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies. To earn a baccalaureate from the University of Maryland, College Park, a minimum of 30 credits must be taken in residence (see below).
Credits in Residence
- All candidates for undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, must take a minimum of 15 credits in courses numbered 300 or above, including at least 12 credits in the major field.
- All candidates for undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park must take a minimum of 30 credits in residence. Normally these 30 credits will be the final 30 credits counted toward the degree. However, credits from university-approved study abroad and internship programs, and a maximum of 6 credits that are not part of such programs, may be included in the final 30 if approved in advance by the dean of the academic unit from which the student expects to receive the degree.
Enrollment in Majors
A student who is eligible to remain at the University of Maryland, College Park, may transfer among curricula, colleges, or other academic units except where limitations on enrollments have been approved. By the time they complete 60 credits, students are expected to declare a degree-granting major. Students must be enrolled in the major program from which they plan to graduate, when registering for the final 15 hours of the baccalaureate program. This requirement also applies to the third year of the combined, pre-professional degree programs. Also see information on double majors and double degrees below.
Grade Point Average
A minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average is required for graduation in all curricula. A higher average may be required by the individual department, college, school, or program.
Students who matriculated to the university in Fall 2012 and after must have a minimum "C" (2.00) cumulative grade point average across all courses used to satisfy major degree requirements, minor requirements, and undergraduate certificate requirements, respectively. Individual department, college, school, or program requirements may exceed this minimum.
Refer to policy for details: III-7.00(A) University of Maryland, College Park Degree Requirements
Minors
Minors afford students the opportunity to pursue a limited but structured concentration in a coherent field of study outside their major. The minor may be a truncated version of a major or a distinctive intellectual subset of a discipline. Minors are not offered in every field of study. Students should inquire with departments for current availability of minors or see individual listings on this site.
The structures of minors vary in detail, but, with rare exceptions, they all require no fewer than 15 and no more than 24 credits with at least 9 credits in upper division courses (300-level or above). No more than six credits (or two courses) may be applied to satisfy both the requirements of a minor and a major program. No course may be used to satisfy the requirements of more than one minor. All courses taken for a minor must be completed with a minimum grade of "C-". A minimum C (2.00) cumulative grade point average across all courses used to satisfy the minor is also required.
To ensure appropriate academic advising, students who wish to pursue a minor should inform both the college responsible for their major and the unit offering the minor as early as possible, but in no case later than one full academic year before the expected date of graduation. When a student has completed all requirements for the minor, the unit offering the minor shall notify the student's college, which verifies that the student has met all requirements and officially notifies the Office of the University Registrar. The completion of a minor is posted on the student's official transcript only when the student completes all requirements for the bachelor's degree.
In February 2004, the University Senate voted to phase out academic citations and replace them with minors. Students pursuing an academic citation should contact the respective department or program for information on this conversion process.
Second Majors and Second Degrees
Post-Baccalaureate Second Degree
Students who matriculate to the university with a bachelor's degree from any regionally accredited college or university will be considered to have satisfied the university's general education requirements, regardless of when the degree was received.
Second Degrees Taken Sequentially
A student who has completed the requirements for, and has received one baccalaureate and who wishes to earn a second degree from the university must satisfactorily complete all of the prescribed requirements for the second degree and enough additional credits so that the total, including all applicable credits earned at the university or elsewhere, is at least 150 credits. At least 18 of the credits applied to one degree must be in course work not applied to the requirements of the other degree program. In no case will a second baccalaureate be awarded to a student who has not completed a minimum of 30 credits in residence at the university.
Second Degrees Taken Simultaneously
A student who wishes to receive two bachelor's degrees simultaneously must satisfactorily complete the regularly prescribed requirements of both degree programs and a minimum of 150 credits. At least 18 of the credits applied to one degree must be in course work not applied to the requirements of the other degree program. As early as possible, but in no case later than one full academic year before the expected date of graduation, the student must file with the department or programs involved, as well as with the appropriate deans, formal programs showing the courses to be offered to meet the major, supporting area, college, and general education programs. If two colleges are involved in the double degree program, the student must designate which college will be responsible for the maintenance of records and certification of general education requirements. Final approval of a double degree program must be obtained from each of the appropriate departments and college(s).
Second Majors
A student who wishes to complete a second major concurrently with his or her primary major of record must obtain written permission in advance from the appropriate departments or programs and colleges. As early as possible, but in no case later than one full academic year before the expected date of graduation, the student must file with the department or programs involved and with the appropriate deans, formal programs showing the courses to be offered to meet requirements in each of the majors and supporting areas as well as those of the college and general education programs. A student who wishes to add a Limited Enrollment Program as a second major must do so at the earliest possible opportunity to assure that specific credit and GPA requirements can be met. In order to obtain approval, students must complete all of the requirements specified for both the primary and secondary major. Courses taken for one major may be counted as appropriate as part of the degree requirements for the general education programs. If two colleges are involved in the double major program, the student must designate which college will be responsible for the maintenance of records and certification of general education requirements. Final approval of a double major program must be obtained from each of the appropriate departments and college(s).
Student Academic Success and Degree Completion
The goal of the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy is to promote undergraduate student success. The policy establishes a structured framework to guide all students to completion of an undergraduate degree within a reasonable period of time. Academic units provide 4-year templates that students can use to develop a program of study that will meet the course requirements for a degree. Students are responsible for developing plans of study, with the assistance of their academic advisors. Academic units monitor student progress and assist students at risk of falling behind benchmarks in their plans. The policy in essence establishes a process to provide a pathway to completion of a degree for each student, initially created and then adjusted over time as needed to meet each student’s particular circumstances. The policy is described in more detail in the section on Academic Advising.
References to the policy: http://www.ugst.umd.edu/academicsuccess.html and to frequently asked questions: http://ugst.umd.edu/faqs-successpolicy.html