Transfer Student FAQs - University of Maryland

1. What if I was admitted to UM in the past but did not attend?

2. Are there evening, weekend, online courses?

3. What are the opportunities at Universities at Shady Grove?

4. I am currently an Honors Program student. Can I take Honors courses at Maryland?

5. I have not yet selected a major. How do I contact my advisor?

6. What are Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP)? How do I find out more information about them? Why are they limited?

7. What is a course credit?

8. Can I get credit for military service or studies?

9. Why are some credits accepted, but not for the major?

10. Do international credits transfer?

1. What if I was admitted to UM in the past but did not attend?
An offer of admission is for a particular term. If you do not attend for that term and cancel your application and registration, you must contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and apply for a subsequent term. If you attend and withdraw from the first semester, you must apply for reenrollment. The Reenrollment Office is located through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions; see http://www.uga.umd.edu.

2. Are there evening, weekend, online courses?
UM offers a wide range of formats with Fall Semester, Winterterm, Spring Semester, and two Summer Sessions. UM does offer a very small number of evening and online courses. For offerings check the Schedule of Classes at http://www.testudo.umd.edu/ScheduleOfClasses.html.

3. What are the opportunities at Universities at Shady Grove?
UM offers several majors at the Universities at Shady Grove. At present the majors include: Business, Biological Sciences; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Communication. For further information see http://www.shadygrove.umd.edu/institutions/umcp/

4. I am currently an Honors Program student. Can I take Honors courses at Maryland?
The University Honors Program is primarily a program for students in the first- and second year of college and opportunities are limited. Many UM majors have departmental honors programs focused on courses in the major. Please contact individual academic departments. Department contact and web addresses are available in Chapter 7, Departments and Majors, of the Undergraduate Catalog at http://www.umd.edu/catalog/ or see the University Honors Program web site for more information.

5. I have not yet selected a major. How do I contact my advisor?
Letters and Sciences (L&S) advisors are available by calling 301-314-8418, or by visiting Room 1117 Hornbake Library. Students may send an email inquiry to askls@deans.umd.edu.
Department contact and web addresses are available in Chapter 7, Departments and Majors of the Undergraduate Catalog at http://www.umd.edu/catalog/
Department web site information is available on the Undergraduate Admissions web site.

6. What are Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP)? How do I find out more information about them? Why are they limited?
Certain majors require a limit on the number of students they can accommodate and are designated Limited Enrollment Programs. These majors have gateway course requirements. Information is available about these programs online at http://www.lep.umd.edu/

7. What is a course credit?
Generally one course credit is awarded for each fifteen contact hours of lecture per semester and for each 30-45 hours of studio or laboratory work per semester at regionally accredited institutions in the United States. Sending-institutions outside these parameters may vary their credit awards.

8. Can I get credit for military service or studies?
UM does not award credit for military service, but will evaluate military credit earned through regionally accredited institutions including the Community College of the Air Force, the Defense Language Institute, the National Cryptologic Institute, and the service academies. Credit for ROTC work at other institutions will also be evaluated and accepted to the limit allowable in the student’s program. UM does not accept the American Council of Education (ACE) recommendations for credit.

9. Why are some credits accepted, but not for the major?
In a few cases, credit that is acceptable to UM may not be applicable to the major. Credits in business, engineering, journalism and education are sometimes excluded from the degree because of the quality control expectations of external accrediting associations. Should a student switch out of a professional major, the transfer credits may be re-applied to the new degree program. See an advisor for further information.
NOTE: On the Transfer Credit Center screens, most courses excludable from a major will be marked with a footnote.

10. Do international credits transfer?
Transcripts from overseas institutions are reviewed by UM’s Office of International Education Services. UM requires original transcripts and, where applicable, translated course descriptions or catalog access. For more information, see http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/.