University of Maryland Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

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 MyUM website (www.my.umd.edu/">www.my.umd.edu) at the close of each semester or request a semester grade report.

1. Residency requirement - Final 30-Hour Rule

a. All candidates for University of Maryland, College Park, degrees should plan to take their final 30 credits in residence since the advanced work of their major study normally occurs in the last year of the undergraduate program. Included in these 30 semester hours will be a minimum of 15 semester hours in courses numbered 300 or above, including at least 12 semester hours required in the major field (in curricula requiring such concentrations).

b. A student who at the time of graduation will have completed 30 credit hours in residence at the University of Maryland, College Park, may, under unusual circumstances, be permitted to take a maximum of 8 of the final 30 credits of record, comprising no more than two courses, at another institution. A student who has completed 75 credit hours in residence at the University, may, under unusual circumstances, be permitted to take a maximum of 16 of the final 30 credits of record, comprising no more than 4 courses, at another institution. In such cases, written permission must be obtained in advance from the dean and chair/director of the academic unit from which the student expects to graduate. Any course taken at another institution and intended to satisfy a specific major requirement at the University of Maryland must be approved as an equivalent course by the chair/director and the dean. Normally, no more than two courses required by the major, including major and supporting courses, will be approved. Exceptions beyond the articulated maximum credits and/or courses will be made only under highly unusual circumstances; requests for an exception must be made through the Dean's office to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

c. For students in the combined three-year, preprofessional programs, the final 30 hours of the 90-hour program at the University of Maryland, College Park, must be taken in residence.

2. Credit Requirements

While several undergraduate curricula require more than 120 credits, no baccalaureate curriculum requires fewer than 120. No baccalaureate will be awarded in instances in which fewer than 120 credit hours have been earned. It is the responsibility of each student to familiarize himself or herself with the requirements of specific curricula. The student is urged to seek advice on these matters from the departments, colleges, or the Office of the Dean for Office of Undergraduate Studies. To earn a baccalaureate from the University of Maryland, College Park, a minimum of 30 credits must be taken in residence.

3. 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 elsewhere in this chapter.

4. Grade Point Average
A minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average is required for graduation in all curricula.

5. 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.

Return to top

Produced by the Office of the Registrar

Send Feedback