UniversityofMaryland,Baltimore 20142015UndergraduateCatalog

County
AcademicStandardsandAdministrativeRequirements

StudentResponsibility
ApplicationforGraduation
Registration
GradesandAcademicRecordsGradingSystem
AcademicHonors

AcademicStanding
AcademicClemency
NonapplicableSemester
AcademicIntegrityatUMBC

UMBCsstandardsandrequirementsonacademicmattersaresubjecttochange.
Theacademicpoliciesfoundinthissectionareintendedtosupporttheprimarypurposeofauniversitytheacquisitionof
knowledgebyestablishingstandardsofperformanceandacceptableconditionsforattendingUMBC.
Assuch,thesepoliciesrepresentthevaluesoftheuniversityasdevelopedovertimeandcustomarilyareenforcedvigorouslybyits
facultyandstaff.Theuniformapplicationofpolicyaffordsequitabletreatmentofstudentsandfurther,byholdingthemtohigh
standards,enhancesthestatureofUMBCanditsdegrees.
Accordingly,exceptionstopolicyaregrantedonlyinrareinstancesnotbecausetheuniversityisunfeelingtowardindividualneeds,
butbecauseitcaresabouttheintegrityofitsacademicstandardsandbelievesthatbymaintainingthatintegrity,theuniversity
ultimatelyprovidesagreaterservicetotheentirecommunity.

StudentResponsibilityforMeetingRequirements
AsamatterofUMBCpolicyandprocedure,studentsareresponsibleforthemanagementoftheiracademiccareers.Theyare
expectedtofamiliarizethemselveswithresourcessuchastheundergraduatecatalog,thedegreeaudit,andtoremaininformedofall
publisheddegreerequirementsandacademiccalendardates.Failuretodosodoesnotprovideabasisforexceptionstoacademic
requirementsorpolicies.
Althoughstudentsreceiveguidancefromacademicandfacultyadvisors,studentsmustassumefullresponsibilityforcompleting
publisheddegreerequirements.Studentsarealsoexpectedtomaintaincommunicationwiththeuniversityaboutacademic,
financial,andotheressentialmatters.Asemailistheuniversitysprimarymediumofofficialcommunicationwithstudents,
studentsareresponsibleforreadingofficialmessagessenttotheirUMBCemailaddresses.Studentsarealsoexpectedtomaintain
theircurrentpostaladdressandtelephonenumberintheUMBCDirectory,sincecertainimportantmessageswillbesentviaU.S.
mail.

AcademicIntegrityStandardsatUMBC
Integrityliesattheheartoftheacademicendeavor.TheUndergraduateStudentAcademicConductPolicy(Policy)definesand
strivestoensureacademicintegrityatUMBC.ThePolicydefinesstandardsforacademichonestyanddescribestheprocessfor
addressingallegationsofundergraduatestudentacademicmisconduct.TheunderlyingphilosophyofthisPolicyisthatmembersof
theuniversitycommunityviewacademicintegrityasaseriousinstitutionalvalueandthatacademicmisconductincidentsshouldbe
resolvedbyfacultymembersandstudentsinacooperativemanner.
Somecasesofacademicmisconductmayseemmoreseriousthanothershowever,allinstancesofacademicmisconductasdescribed
inthePolicyshouldbereportedtotheAcademicConductCommittee.Filingareport,evenwhentheoffensedoesnotappeartobe
extensive,flagrant,repeated,orintentionallydeceitful,producestwoworthwhileresults:itcreatesarecordthatcanidentifya
studentwhosemisconductisrepeatedinmorethanonecourseorovermorethanonesemester,anditclarifiesthatUMBCtakes
academicmisconductseriously.
Tothatend,theUMBCFacultySenateadoptedthefollowingstatement,withtheexpectationthatitwouldbeincludedonthesyllabus

foreachundergraduatecourse:
Byenrollinginthiscourse,eachstudentassumestheresponsibilitiesofanactiveparticipantinUMBCsscholarlycommunityin
whicheveryonesacademicworkandbehaviorareheldtothehigheststandardsofhonesty.Cheating,fabrication,plagiarism,and
helpingotherstocommittheseactsareallformsofacademicdishonesty,andtheyarewrong.Academicmisconductcouldresultin
disciplinaryactionthatmayinclude,butisnotlimitedto,suspensionordismissal.ToreadthefullStudentAcademicConductPolicy,
consulttheUMBCPolicywebsiteavailableathttp://www.umbc.edu/policies/

Registration
ThescheduleofclassesandassociatedpolicyandproceduralinformationforeachtermaremadeavailableontheUMBCWebsite.
StudentsenrollinUMBCclassesonlineviatheuniversitysmyUMBCWebportal,aftermeetingwithanacademicadvisor.Students
maynotregisterforclassesinaregularsemester(FallorSpring)untiladvisinghastakenplace.
Studentsareresponsiblefortheirowncourseregistration.Thisincludesfollowingestablishedproceduresforenrollingincoursesfor
whichtheywanttoreceivecredit,aswellasdroppingcoursesorwithdrawingfromcoursesortermstheydonotintendtocomplete.
StudentsarestronglyencouragedtoreviewtheirscheduleviamyUMBCpriortothefirstdayofclassestoverifytheirenrollments,
classmeetingtimes,androomlocations.StudentsalsoneedtorememberthatBlackboardaccessdoesnotequatetoofficial
registrationinthatcourse.Further,studentsmaynotparticipatein,andwillnotbeawardedcreditsorgradesfor,classesinwhich
theyarenotenrolled.
Studentresponsibilityforcourseregistrationincludesfollowingtheestablishedprerequisites,coursesequences,andother
enrollmentrequirements,whetherornotsuchrequirementsareenforcedbytheregistrationsystem.Inregisteringforclasses,
studentsarealsoresponsibleforfollowingtheuniversityspolicieswithrespecttopass/failenrollment,courserepeats,and
maximumcourseload.
Unlessspecificallynotifiedotherwise,studentsarenotenrolledinanyclasswithouthavingcompletedtheregistrationtransaction
themselvesaccordingtotheestablishedprocedures.Studentsshouldbemindfulthatiftheyelecttobeplacedonwaitlistsforfull
coursesections,theresponsibilityforenrollmentinthecoursesisassumedatthetimethestudentisplacedonthewaitlist.This
responsibilityincludesassumingfinancialobligations.Astudentwhohasdecidednottoassumethatresponsibilitymayremovehis
orhernamefromthewaitlistforacourse.
AstudentsfirstregistrationindegreeseekingstatuswilloccurduringorientationprecedingtheirfirstsemesteratUMBC.For
subsequentsemesters,continuingstudentsmayregisterforthenextsemesterduringAdvanceRegistration(conductedonacredit
earnedprioritybasis)orduringGeneralRegistration.LateRegistration,beginningonthefirstdayoftheterm,maybeassessedlate
feesaspublishedontheStudentBusinessServiceswebsite.

CourseLoad
UMBCconsidersstudentsenrolledfor12creditsormoreinafallorspringsemesterorsummertermtobefulltimestudentsFull
timestatusmaybedefineddifferentlybyoutsideagenciesandbysomefinancialaidprograms.

Toregisterformorethan19.5creditsinafallorspringsemester,morethan4.5creditsinawintersessionormorethan8creditsin
oneofthetwosummersessions,studentsmusthavepriorwrittenapprovalfromtheiradvisorandtheOfficeforAcademicandPre
professionalAdvising.

ClassificationofStudents
UMBCstudentsareclassifiedaccordingtothenumberofearnedcreditsasfollows:
Freshman029credits
Sophomore3059credits
Junior6089credits
Senior90ormorecredits

UndergraduatesTakingGraduateCoursesforUndergraduateCredit
Subjecttorequirementsdeterminedbytheprogramofferingthecourse,undergraduatestudentsmayregisterintheundergraduate

collegeforgraduatelevelcourses(i.e.,thosenumberedfrom600to898,withtheexceptionof799)forundergraduatecredit.A
studentseekingthisoptionnormallywillbeinthesenioryearhaveearnedanaccumulatedgradepointaverageofatleast3.0have
successfullycompleted,withagradeofBorbetter,theprerequisiteandcorrelativecoursesandbeamajorintheappropriateora
closelyrelateddepartmentofferingthecourse
EnrollmentinagraduatelevelcoursedoesnotinanywayimplysubsequentdepartmentalorGraduateSchoolapprovalforcreditfor
agraduatedegreeatUMBC,exceptinrelationtoapprovedacceleratedbachelors/mastersprograms.

UndergraduatesTakingCoursesforGraduateCredit
UniversitySystemofMarylandundergraduatestudentswhohaveagradepointaverageofatleast3.0inthedisciplineinwhichthe
graduatecourseistobetakenmayregisterintheundergraduatecollegeforcertain600levelandhighercourses,whichmaylaterbe
countedforcredittowardagraduatedegreeatUMBC.Exceptinapprovedacceleratedbachelors/mastersprograms,thecredits
mustbeinadditiontothoserequiredforthestudentsundergraduatedegree.Creditsinthesenioryearexceedingthoserequiredfor
graduationcannotbeusedforgraduatecreditwithoutpriorwrittenapprovaloftheappropriatefaculty.

ChangesinRegistration
Onceregisteredforaparticularsemester,studentsmayaddordropcoursesaccordingtotheAcademicCalendarpublishedonthe
RegistrarsOfficewebsite.Aftertheendofthescheduleadjustmentperiod,droppedcourseswillbereflectedonofficialtranscripts
withagradeofW.Studentswillreceivegradesforallcoursesnotdroppedbypublisheddeadlines.Studentswhofailtoattendclass
withouthavingdroppedthecoursewillreceiveagradeofFunlesstheyhaveofficiallywithdrawnfromtheuniversity.Students
mustfollowallregistrationproceduresaspublishedontheRegistrarsOfficewebsiteeachsemester.
StudentswhohavebeenadministrativelyderegisteredfromUMBCorfromaspecificclasswillbenotifiedinwritingviaemailsent
totheirUMBCemailaddress.Deregistrationcanresultfromaclassbeingcancelledduetoinsufficientenrollment,academicor
disciplinarysuspension,orotherreasons.

WithdrawalfromUMBC
StudentswishingtowithdrawfromallcoursesforwhichtheyhaveregisteredmustnotifytheRegistrarsOfficebyfilingasemester
withdrawalnolaterthanthelastscheduleddayofclassespriortofinalexams.TheirtranscriptwillhaveanotationofWithdrawn
forthatsemesteriftheirwithdrawaloccursafterclasseshavebegun,andaWwillappearonthetranscriptforeachcourse.The
effectivedateofwithdrawal,forrefundandgradingpurposes,willbethedatethewithdrawalisreceivedintheRegistrarsOffice.
Whenwithdrawing,studentsshouldbecertaintofollowallprocedures:Failuretodosowillresultinthestudentremaining
academicallyandfinanciallyresponsibleforthecoursesinwhichheorsheisenrolled.Failuretoattendclassesdoesnotconstitute
officialwithdrawalandwillresultinFgradesforallcoursesandliabilityforallcharges.Stoppaymentonchecks,failuretopaythe
semesterbill,orfailuretoattendclassesdoesnotconstituteofficialnotificationofwithdrawalandwillnotreleaseastudentfrom
financialoracademicliability.
AstudentwhowithdrawswillbeeligibleforAdvanceRegistrationforthenextterm.Ifnotenrollinginthenextterm,thestudentwill
beeligibleforGeneralRegistrationforthesubsequentterm.Ifnotenrollingfortwosemestersinarow,thestudentisrequiredto
applyforreadmissionorreinstatementtotheUniversitythroughtheOfficeofAdmissionsandOrientation.

RetentionofRegistrationRecords
WhiletranscriptrecordsarepermanentlyheldbytheRegistrarsOffice,documentationpertainingtotheregistrationforeach
semesterisheldforaperiodoffiveyears.Ifanyquestionsshouldariseregardingdocumentationofenrollmentmorethanfiveyears
beyondregistrationforacourse,itwillbethestudentsresponsibilitytoproduceproperdocumentationtosupportanyclaimfor
changeinrecords.Studentsareurgedtoresolveanyquestionregardingacademicrecordsinatimelymanner.

GradesandAcademicRecordsGradingSystem
Forallcoursesinwhichastudentisenrolledattheendofthe10thweekofthesemester,thefollowinglettersymbolswillbepostedto
thepermanentrecord:A,indicatessuperiorachievementB,goodperformanceC,adequateperformanceD,minimal
acceptableachievementF,failureandI,incompletework.WindicatesacoursedroppedaftertheendoftheSchedule
AdjustmentPeriod.NA(nonapplicable)denotesacoursethatdoesnotapplytoadegreeprogramanddoesnotenterintoGPA
(gradepointaverage)calculations.
UMBCcalculatesgradepointaveragesbyassigningnumericalvaluestolettersymbols:

A=4qualitypoints
B=3qualitypoints
C=2qualitypoints
D=1qualitypoint
F=0qualitypoints
Thesemestergradepointaverageisdeterminedbymultiplyingthecreditvalueofeachcoursebythenumericalequivalentofeach
gradetoproduceaqualitypointtotalandthendividingtotalqualitypointsbytotalcredithoursattemptedincoursesthatare
includedintheGPA.Thesamemethodisusedtocomputecumulativegradepointaverages.
CoursesthatareincludedintheGPAcalculationare,ingeneral,coursestakeninresidenceatUMBCforacademiccreditandfor
whichalettergradehasbeenearned.Followingthisprinciple,gradesfromstudyabroadcoursestakenundertheauspicesofUMBC
andfromcoursestakenthroughinterinstitutionalenrollmentareincludedintheGPAcalculation.Althoughcoursestakenona
Pass/FailbasisareusuallyexcludedfromtheGPA,suchcoursesareincludedintheGPAifagradeofFailisearned.Explicitly
excludedfromtheGPAcalculationaregradesfromdevelopmentalcourses,zerocreditcourses,transfercourses,andcreditbyexam.
AlsoexcludedfromtheGPAcalculationarecoursesforwhichaWorIgradeisdisplayedandcourseswithgradesmarked
excludedornonapplicableduetooperationofthepoliciesoncourserepeats,academicclemency,andthenonapplicable
semester.

Pass/FailGradingOption
Whenstudentshavecompleted30ormorecreditsandareingoodacademicstandingatUMBC,theymayenrollforonepass/fail
(P/F)coursepersemesterforatotalof12creditstowardgraduation.
Studentsmayelecttotakeanycourseonapass/failbasisexceptthoseexplicitlyexcludedbythedepartmentorthoseusedtofulfill
generaleducationormajor/minor/certificaterequirements.StudentsmaydesignateacourseasP/Fduringregistrationorchangea
coursetoorfromaP/FoptionwithinthepublishedtimeframeaslistedintheAcademicCalendar.
Thepass/failgradingoptiondescribedaboveisinadditiontoanycoursesthestudentmayhaveenrolledinthatareofferedonlyona
pass/failbasis,suchasPhysicalEducation,certainresearchexperiencecourses,andinternshipcourses.
ApassgradeundertheP/FoptionindicatesachievementintherangeofA,B,C,orD.AgradeofPisnotcalculatedinthe
GPA,butagradeofFiscalculatedintothestudentsGPAinthesamemannerasallFgrades.

IncompleteGrades
AgradeofImaybesubmittedatthediscretionofthecourseinstructorunderexceptionalcircumstancesforcourseworkthatis
qualitativelysatisfactorybut,forreasonsbeyondstudentscontrol,cannotbecompleted.Incomplete(I)gradesmaynotbeawarded
unlessspecificallyrequestedbyastudent.Allworkmustbecompletedbeforeadatespecifiedbytheinstructor,whichwilltypically
notbelaterthanthelastdayscheduledforfinalexaminationsduringthenextregularsemester.Ifagradechangehasnotbeen
submittedbythedategradesaredueattheendoftheregularsemesterfollowingtheoneinwhichtheIwasissued,agradeofF
willbeawardedautomatically,unlesstheinstructorrequestsaonetime,onesemesterextensionoftheIgradetotheRegistrars
Office.
Studentsshouldnotreregisterforthecourseinthesemesterduringwhichtheworkistobecompleted.Theoutstandingcoursework
mustbecompletedundertheguidanceoftheoriginalinstructorbythedatespecified,evenifthecourseisnotoffered,theinstructor
isnotinresidence,orthestudentisnotenrolledintheuniversity.
IncompletecourseworkmustbecompletedorIgradeswillbeconvertedtoFgradesbeforedegreescanbeawarded.

GradeChanges
Onceacoursegradeisrecordedonthetranscript,agradechangemaybesubmittedbytheoriginalcourseinstructoronlyifthereis
anexceptionalcircumstancethatisdocumented.
Gradechangessubmittedwithinoneyearfromtheoriginalgradepostingdeadlinerequireapprovalbytheoriginalcourseinstructor
andthedepartmentchairperson.
Gradechangessubmittedmorethanoneyearafterthegradepostingdeadline,postdegree,orintheabsenceoftheoriginalcourse
instructorrequireadditionalapprovalbytheViceProvostandDeanofUndergraduateEducation.

InstitutionalCredit

PhysicalEducationcoursesandcoursesthataredevelopmentalinnaturecarryinstitutionalcreditonly.Thesecreditsareusedto
determinesemestercreditloads(fulltime/parttime).DevelopmentalcreditsarenotcalculatedintothecumulativeGPAhowever,
PhysicalEducationcreditsarecalculatedifanFgradeisearnedinthecourse.Institutionalcreditsarenotcountedtowardthe
minimum120requiredforgraduation.

RepeatingCourses
Anycoursemayberepeated,butifagradeofA,B,C,D,orPalreadyhasbeenearnedforthatcourse,thesubsequent
attemptdoesnotincreasethetotalcreditsearnedtowardthedegree.Creditsforrepeatedcourseswillonlybecountedoncetoward
graduationrequirements.Onlythehighestgradewillbeusedinthecomputationofthecumulativegradepointaveragehowever,all
gradesearnedremainonthepermanentrecord.Somecoursesarerepeatableforadditionalcreditsasspecifiedinthecourse
descriptions.Intheseinstances,allcreditsandgradeswillbeappliedtothestudentsrecord.
UMBChasseverallimitationsthatapplytorepeatingcourses:Studentsmaynotregisterforacoursemorethantwotimes.Theyare
consideredregisteredforacourseiftheyareenrolledaftertheendofthescheduleadjustmentperiod.Studentsmaypetitionthe
OfficeofUndergraduateEducationforathirdandfinalattemptofacoursetakenatUMBCoranotherinstitution.
Additionally,studentsmaynotrepeatacourseforahighergradeoncetheyhavesuccessfullycompletedanysubsequentcourseofa
higherlevelinanacademicsequence(forexample,studentsmaynotretakeFREN101aftersuccessfullycompletingFREN102).
Permissiontorepeatacourseforasecondattemptatanotherinstitutionmayberequestedbyfilingaverificationoftransferability
formintheRegistrarsOffice(recommendationbyastudentsfacultyadvisorisrequiredifthecourseisamajor/minor/certificate
requirement).Gradesintransferredcoursesdonotreplaceastudentsgradeinanypriorattemptsofthecourse.Studentsrepeating
aUMBCcourseatanotherinstitutionmustrequestthatthetransferredcoursebeacceptedasarepeat(withtheUMBCattempt
designatedasnonapplicabletotheUMBCgradepointaverage)whichmayimpactthestudentscumulativeUMBCgradepoint
average.

AuditingCourses
Astudentwhowishestoshowthatheorshehasattendedacoursebutdoesnotseekacademiccredit,mayregisterinacourseasan
auditor.ThenotationAUislistedforauditedcoursesforwhichnocreditsareattemptedorearned.
Auditedcoursescountaszerocredittowardallenrollmentcertifications,suchasfulltimeenrollment.Parttimestudentsmustpay
tuitionandfeesforauditedcourses.Auditedcoursesdocounttowardmaximumenrollmentlimits.
CoursesmaybedesignatedtoorfromanauditoptionwithinthepublishedtimeframeaslistedintheAcademicCalendar.When
theauditoptionisselected,thefacultyteachingtheauditedclassmaysetcertaincriteriawhichtheauditormustmeet,suchasclass
attendance.

CreditsbyExamination
Degreeseekingundergraduatesmayestablishasmanyas60creditstowardthebachelorsdegreebyUMBCadministered
examinationsorbytheCollegelevelExaminationProgram(CLEP),AdvancedPlacement(AP)ortheInternationalBaccalaureate
(IB)examinations.OfficialscorereportsmustbesenttoUMBCfromtheCollegeBoard(orequivalentforIB).Creditsby
examinationearnedthroughCLEP,APorIBmaybeusedtofulfillGeneralEducationRequirements,whenequivalenttoaUMBC
generaleducationcourse.EachacademicdepartmentdetermineswhethercreditsearnedthroughCLEP,AP,orIBmaybeappliedto
majorrequirements.
CreditsearnedthroughCLEP,AP,andIBtestshavenoeffectonthecalculationoftheUMBCgradepointaverage,norarethey
appliedtotheminimumnumberofcreditsneededtoqualifyforhonorsatgraduation.DetailedinformationaboutUMBCpolicies
aboutacceptanceofCLEP,AP,andIBscoresforacademiccreditiscontainedinAppendixII.
UMBCadministeredexaminationsmaybeavailableonceastudenthascompletedatleast12UMBCcreditswithanaverageof2.0or
better.StudentsmustearnagradeofCorhighertoestablishcreditbyexamination.P/Fispermissiblewithinregulations
applyingtoP/FcoursesatUMBC.GradesofDorFareposted,eventhoughnocreditisearned.Theseexamsmaynotbeusedto
repeatacoursenordotheyapplytowardgeneraleducationrequirements.
Creditbyexammaybeearnedforacoursebyobtainingapprovalfromtheheadofthedepartmentsponsoringthecourse.A
completedrequestforcreditbyexaminationform,signedbythedepartmentchairperson,thenisforwardedtotheRegistrarsOffice
forprocessing.Afterpaymentofanonrefundablefeeof$5percredit,theexammaybeadministered.Gradesthenareforwardedto
theRegistrarsOfficeforpostingonthestudentsofficialrecord.

Transcripts
InresponsetoastudentswrittenorelectronicrequestviamyUMBC,theRegistrarsOfficeissuesofficialtranscriptsofscholastic
recordsforstudentsandalumni.Transcriptrequestsshouldincludefullname,formernamewhereapplicable,address,datesof
attendanceandthecompleteaddresstowhichthetranscriptistobesent.Incompliancewithfederalregulations,awrittenrequest
mustbesignedbythestudent.
Requestsfortranscriptsshouldbemadeatleasttwoweeksbeforetheyactuallyareneeded.Transcriptsarenotfurnishedforany
currentorformerstudentwhohasanoutstandingfinancialobligationtotheuniversity.

ConfidentialityofRecords
UMBCmaintainsrecordsofmattersrelevanttotheeducationalprocessofeachstudent.Theserecordscannotbedisclosedto
individualsotherthanthestudentexceptbywrittenconsentofthestudent,bylegalorderorincarefullycircumscribedinstances
basedontheUniversitySystemofMarylandsclearlydefinedpolicy,whichcomplieswiththefederalFamilyEducationalRightsand
PrivacyActof1974.SeeAppendixIVforacopyofthispolicy.
Studentshavetherighttohavecertaininformationthatisconsidereddirectoryinformationwithheldfromthepublicbynotifying
theRegistrarsOfficeinwritingatleastonceeachyearoftheirdesiretohavethisinformationwithheld.ContacttheRegistrars
Officeforfurtherinformation.

AcademicHonors
GraduationHonors
Degreecandidateswhosecumulativegradepointaverageatthetimeofgraduationisbetween3.5and3.7499receivethedegree
CumLaudebetween3.75and3.9499,MagnaCumLaudebetween3.95and4.0,SummaCumLaude.Tobeeligibleforthese
honors,studentsmustcompleteatUMBCaminimumof45creditsthatareapplicabletowardsGPAcalculations.

PresidentsList
Ifstudentsearnasemestergradepointaverageof4.00orhigherforasemesterinwhichtheyareenrolledforatleast12hoursof
gradedcredits(noP/F),theywillhavethenotationofPresidentsListpostedtothetranscriptforthatsemester.

DeansList
Ifstudentsearnasemestergradepointaverageof3.75orhigherforasemesterinwhichtheyareenrolledforatleast12hoursof
gradedcredits(noP/F),theywillhavethenotationofDeansListpostedtothetranscriptforthatsemester.

SemesterHonors
Ifstudentsearnasemestergradepointaverageof3.5orhigherforasemesterinwhichtheyareenrolledforatleast12hoursof
gradedcredits(noP/F),theywillhavethenotationSemesterAcademicHonorspostedtothetranscriptforthatsemester.

GeneralHonors
Duringtheirfreshmanandsophomoreyears,studentsadmittedtotheHonorsCollegeenrollinhonorscourses(typicallyatleastone
eachsemester)thathavelimitedenrollmentandprovideanopportunityforcloseinteractionwithdistinguishedmembersofthe
teachingfaculty.DetailedrequirementsfortheHonorscurriculumcanbefoundontheHonorsCollegewebsite,
www.umbc.edu/honors.

DepartmentalHonors
Advancedlevelhonorsworkisgenerallyundertakenbyjuniorsandseniorsinthedepartmentoftheirmajorfieldofstudy.Those
departmentsthatofferdepartmentalhonorsprogramsenrichthemajorbyprovidingspecialcoursesanduniqueopportunitiesfor
independentstudyandresearchundertheguidanceofdepartmentalfaculty.Tograduatewithdepartmentalhonors,studentsmust
completeatleastninecreditsindepartmentalhonorscourses,haveaGPAof3.5orhigherintheirmajor,andsatisfyanyother
requirementsspecifiedbytheirmajordepartment.

AcademicStanding

AcademicStanding
MinimumStandardsforContinuedEnrollment
Allundergraduateswithacumulativegradepointaverage(GPA)of2.0oraboveareingoodacademicstandingandareacademically
eligibletoreturnforsubsequentsemesters.

AcademicWarning
AstudentingoodacademicstandingwhosecurrentsemesterGPAfallsbelow2.0foranyfallorspringsemesterwillreceivean
academicwarningandmayberequiredtoparticipateinadvising,tutoringoracademicskillsinterventionsdesignedtoimprove
academicperformance,aswellasapossiblelimitonthenumberofcredithoursattempted.Academicwarningisnotrecordedonthe
studentsofficialrecord.

AcademicProbation
AstudentwhosecumulativeGPAfallsbelow2.0asoftheendofafallorspringsemesterwillbeplacedonacademicprobation.A
studentmaybeenrolledinclassesduringaprobationarysemester,butmayberequiredtoparticipateinintensiveadvising,
academicskillscoursesorworkshops,andmayberequiredtolimitthenumberofcredithoursattempted.Academicprobationis
recordedonthestudentsofficialrecord.

AcademicSuspension
Followingtwoconsecutivesemestersonacademicprobation,astudentwhosecumulativeGPAandcurrentsemesterGPAareboth
below2.0willbeacademicallysuspendedfromtheuniversityasofthestartofthenextregularsemester.
Astudentwhohasreceivedasuspensionnotificationmayattendtheupcomingsummerorwintersessionbutisineligibletobe
enrolledforthenextfallorspringsemesteroranysubsequenttermunlessformallyreinstated.Academicsuspensionisrecordedon
thestudentsofficialrecord.
IfthecumulativeGPAremainsbelow2.0butthecurrentsemesterGPAis2.0orhigher,suchastudentwillbeplacedonacademic
probationforanadditionalsemester.

ReinstatementafterSuspension
TheAcademicActionsandReinstatementCommitteereviewsallreinstatementapplications.Coursescompletedatotherinstitutions
whilethestudentwassuspendedfromUMBCwillbeconsideredfortransfercreditundertheusualrulesfortransfer.Generally,a
reinstatedstudentwillhavesubsequentlycompletedatleast12creditsofacademicworkatanotherinstitution,withaGPAofatleast
2.5,orthestudentwillhavebeenabsentfromUMBCforasignificantperiodoftime.

AcademicDismissal
Afterastudenthasbeenreinstated,thefirstinstanceofacumulativeGPAoflessthan2.0atthecloseofafallorspringsemesterwill
resultinacademicprobation.ThesecondconsecutivesemesterofacumulativeGPAlessthan2.0willresultindismissalfromthe
universityifthestudentscurrentsemesterGPAwasalsobelow2.0.Ingeneral,astudentwhohasbeenacademicallydismissedwill
notbeconsideredforfuturereinstatement.IfthestudentscumulativeGPAisbelow2.0butthesemesterGPAis2.0orhigher,the
studentisplacedonacademicprobationforanadditionalsemester.

NonapplicableSemester
Studentsmayrequesttodeclareaparticularsinglesemester,inwhichatleastninecreditswereattempted,nonapplicabletotheir
record.Toqualify,thestudentmusthaveearnedaminimumof90credits,atleast45ofwhichwereearnedatUMBC,andthe
qualityoftheworkforthespecifiedsemestermustbeclearlyoutoflinewiththerestofthestudentsrecord.Inordertobe
consideredforanonapplicablesemester,theGPAforthespecifiedsemestermusthavebeenlessthan1.5.Additionally,thestudent
mustclearlyhavechangedthefocusoftheiracademicprogram.StudentsmaypetitiontheOfficeofUndergraduateEducationtobe
consideredforanonapplicablesemester,inwhichanemailofsupportfromthestudentsacademicadvisorwillalsoberequired.
Ifthepetitionisapproved,thesemesterwillbemarkedonthepermanentrecordasnonapplicable(NA),however,allgradesearned
willstillappear.Creditsattempted,creditsearnedandqualitypointswillnotbeusedincalculatingthecumulativegradepoint
average.Toreceiveadegree,studentswillhavetorepeatanycoursesrequiredforgraduationthatweretakenduringthesemester

madenonapplicable.

AcademicClemency
StudentswhoarereadmittedorreinstatedafteralapseoffivecalendaryearsormoremaypetitiontheRegistrarsOfficeduringthe
firstsemesterofreturntoUMBCtohaveupto16creditsoffailinggradesexcludedfromthecalculationoftheirUMBCgradepoint
average.Ifthepetitionisapproved,thespecifiedcourseswillbemarkedonthepermanentrecordasnonapplicable(NA),however,
allgradesearnedwillstillappear.Coursesapprovedforexclusionfromgradepointaveragecalculationsmaynotbechanged
thereafter,evenifthestudentchangeshisorhermajor.

ApplicationforGraduation
StudentsmustfileaformalapplicationforgraduationwiththeRegistrarsOfficeduringtheirfinalsemester.Thedeadlinefor
applyingforMaygraduationisFebruary15forAugustgraduation,June15andforDecembergraduation,September15.
UMBCcommencementceremoniesareheldinDecemberandMay.StudentswillbeeligibletoparticipateintheDecember
commencementceremonyiftheyhavebeengrantedanundergraduatedegreeforthepreviousAugustgraduationperiodorifthey
areenrolledforthefallsemesterinallcourseworkneededtofulfillabachelorsdegree.
StudentswillbeeligibletoparticipateintheMaycommencementceremonyiftheyhavesuccessfullycompletedallgraduation
requirementsorareenrolledforthespringsemesterwithallcourseworkneededtofulfillabachelorsdegree.
Studentsparticipatinginthecommencementceremonyaregraduationcandidatesactualdegreeswillnotbeawardeduntilthe
RegistrarsOfficehascertifiedsuccessfulcompletionofallrequiredcourses.Basedonthatcertification,adegreecompletionnotation
ispostedtoeachstudentstranscriptanddiplomasaremailed.
Studentsshouldreviewtheirprogresstowardcompletionofgraduationrequirementsinconsultationwiththeiracademicadvisors
onaregularbasis.Whiledegreeauditreportsareforadvisingpurposesonlyandarenotofficialrecordsofacademichistoryor
completionofdegreerequirements,studentsareencouragedtoreviewtheirdegreeaudittoassistinassessingcompletionofgeneral,
universityandmajorspecificrequirements.Studentsshouldconsultwithanadvisorintheappropriateacademicdepartmentswith
regardtothecompletionofprogramrequirements.