College of Behavioral and Social Sciences students must complete two sets of academic requirements before graduating: university requirements and major requirements. These requirements constitute about two-thirds of the students' course work. The remaining one-third will be elective and prerequisite courses. There are no graduation requirements specific to the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
University requirements are those that the campus sets for all undergraduate students pursuing degrees. There are credit policies, GPA requirements and general education requirements (CORE). All students, regardless of their major, must fulfill these requirements.
Total Credits
Students must earn at least 120 applicable degree credits to graduate (150 credits for a double degree).
Final 30 Credit Rule
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).
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 eight 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 four 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.
Minimum GPA and Grades
To graduate, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. Students must receive a passing grade of a D or higher in courses used to fulfill CORE requirements. In major courses, a minimum grade of C is required; there may be additional major grade requirements.
Major Declaration and Credits
All students must declare their final major before registering for their final 15 credits. Students must complete at least 12 credits in their major at the University of Maryland.
Academic Plans
All students must develop an academic plan. All students pursuing a major in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences can register for an academic planning workshop by contacting the college's advising center. In order to complete a degree in four years, students should take at least 15 credits and/or five classes each semester. For more information on the Student Success Policy, please visit or contact the college's Advising Center at 5-1697.
Degree Completion Policy/Benchmarks
Full-time degree seeking students normally are expected to complete the undergraduate program in four years. Within this timeframe, all students are expected to demonstrate continuing progress in their majors by completing prerequisite or required courses with the appropriate grades, and by completing other requirements consistent with graduation progress or benchmarks established by their academic units (see 2, below). It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to meet these requirements. To help students meet these requirements, the university will facilitate student progress to degree by providing enhanced student advising through the following measures:
- Academic units will create four-year graduation templates that will specify the degree requirements for each major and provide semester-by-semester course schedule models that achieve graduation within four years. Students will prepare individualized plans for completing their degrees in accordance with the academic units' four-year graduation plans. Students are also encouraged to periodically update their plans with the assistance of their academic advisors.
- Academic units will establish graduation progress benchmarks for each academic major. These will specify the credit and course criteria that will indicate satisfactory progress to degree. Academic units will establish schedules for regular periodic reviews of student progress, and students who are in danger of falling behind the program benchmarks will be required to consult with an advisor prior to registration.
- Students who do not achieve the progress expectations or benchmarks will be permitted to continue in the major only upon the approval of the dean of their college. If it becomes necessary for students to change majors, they will be given assistance in identifying and enrolling in a suitable alternative major.
- When students change majors, they will be required to present an academic plan to the new major unit that demonstrates their ability to complete their degree in a timely manner.
While some students will have valid reasons to take additional time to degree, any student who completes 10 semesters or 130 credits (see footnote 1 for credits not counted towards these limits) without completing a degree will require mandatory advising in his/her college prior to registration for subsequent semesters. Students with exceptional circumstances, students whose programs include minors, double majors/degrees, enrichment activities or who need to pursue a degree part-time will have approved plans on record with approved program benchmarks. Program benchmarks will be developed by the student in consultation with and approved by an advisor.
Footnote 1: Degree credits include University of Maryland credits and all applicable transfer credits from other postsecondary institutions. The equivalent semesters applicable to the enrollment limit for transfer credits will be determined by dividing all transfer credits applicable to the degree by 15. However, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits, and credits earned for college courses taken while in high school and prior to matriculation at a postsecondary institution, will not count toward this semester or credit limitation. Such courses may, however, count toward degrees. Summer session and winter term will not be included in the semester count. Credits earned during summer sessions or winter terms will be included in the credit count.
Diploma Application
During the schedule adjustment period of the semester in which the student wishes to graduate, he or she must apply for graduation. Students can apply on the web at http://www.testudo.umd.edu/. The deadline for applying for diploma is the end of the schedule adjustment period for the semester in which the student plans to graduate.
Interrupted Degree
Students who began a degree at the university and who have not enrolled in the past 10 years must complete 15 credits (12 of which must be in their major field) on campus after their return in order to finish their degree. The assistant dean may request exceptions to this requirement. Since the field of study may have changed during the time in which the student was away, the department may apply different or additional major requirements, with the dean's approval, that must be satisfied for the degree to be awarded.
Additionally, the student may need to complete new general education requirements. Students who have interrupted their degree for more than five years must complete the general education requirements in place when they return. If the student had completed 60 percent or more of their general education requirements before leaving, the assistant dean will consider an exception. All students must complete the fundamental studies requirement in place upon their return, including professional writing. Completion of the former GED requirements will not be allowed. See the Undergraduate Catalog for more information.
CORE Requirements
All University of Maryland students must complete CORE requirements. This program consists of five general areas: fundamental studies, distributive studies, professional writing, advanced studies and human cultural diversity. Only courses found on the approved CORE list can be used to fulfill CORE requirements. This list can be found in the current edition of the Schedule of Classes. Substitutions are not permitted. Students must earn a grade of D or better in every course used to fulfill a CORE requirement. Courses used to satisfy CORE requirements may not be taken with the pass/fail grading method.
Fundamental Studies
There are two freshman Fundamental Studies courses, Introduction to Writing and Mathematics. Both of these courses must be attempted by the time the student reaches 30 credits and must be completed by the time the student reaches 60 credits. Some students may be required to complete these courses by 30 credits depending on individual major related benchmarks. Please note that the college diligently enforces this policy.
Students should refer to the Schedule of Classes for details about which courses to take and to determine whether they are exempt from a fundamental studies requirement on the basis of their SAT scores or AP test results.
Distributive Studies
The distributive studies requirement is intended to lay the foundation of a sound liberal arts education. Distributive studies courses cover a broad range of topics, including history, the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. These courses are primarily offered at the freshman-sophomore level. To complete the distributive studies requirement, students must complete nine courses from the approved CORE distributive studies list. This list can be found in the current edition of the Schedule of Classes. For additional information, please refer the student to the Schedule of Classes or an academic advisor.
Students should be encouraged to complete their distributive studies courses before they reach 60 credits because juniors and seniors are not guaranteed access to distributive studies courses.
Professional Writing
The Professional Writing course is intended to refine student writing skills. After completing 60 credits, students must complete an approved Professional Writing class with a grade of "D" or better. Students who earned a grade of "A" in ENGL 101 (not ENGL 101A or ENGL 101X) are exempt from the professional writing requirement. No exemption will be granted for achievement on SAT verbal exam. Exempted College of Behavioral and Social Sciences student are strongly urged to take a professional writing class because strong writing skills are a prerequisite for academic and professional success.
Diversity Course
The diversity requirement is intended to broaden students' perspectives beyond one narrow field of study by exposing them to gender, ethnic, racial and/or cultural differences. Diversity courses can be taken in the humanities, history and social sciences. These courses are offered primarily at the freshmen-sophomore level. To fulfill this requirement, students must successfully complete one course from the approved CORE diversity list with a grade of "D" or better. This list can be found in the current edition of the Schedule of Classes.
Advanced Studies
All students must complete two advanced courses. The Advanced Studies courses are any upper level courses (300-400), taken after 60 credits, that are NOT used to fulfill major requirements. Experiential learning courses (any 386 class), internships, practica, any CORE distributive studies courses or professional writing class cannot be used to fulfill the advanced studies requirement. The following exception applies to these limitations: students may substitute a CORE-approved capstone course (within their major after 86 credits) or a senior or honors thesis (within the student's major) for one of the two required advanced studies courses.
Mathematics Requirements
MATH Placement
Many students in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences find that math is one of their most challenging subjects; many students come to the university with inadequate math skills. To avoid placing students in math courses which are too difficult for their current abilities, the math department administers a math placement test at orientation. The test assesses students' math preparation and determines the math course that the student is most qualified to take. Students are allowed to take a math course below their placement, but they are not allowed to take a course above their placement except in rare, unusual circumstances; a student must meet with a college advisor to make an appeal. Transfer students with math credit (even developmental) can be placed into math on the basis of transfer work. Math placement results are distributed and explained at orientation.
Note: Learning Assistance Service, which is located on the second floor of the Shoemaker Building, can provide excellent math assistance to those students who have difficulties in math at any level, but especially for the Developmental Math Program.
MATH Requirements
Although the university only requires completion of a basic level math course (MATH 110) or higher, the student's major may require additional math and/or statistics courses. This is especially true for many social science majors that include statistics courses as part of the required curriculum. Department handouts will tell students if there are additional math or statistics courses required by your major. It is also wise for students to ask a department advisor whether additional math is recommended before taking a required statistics course.
Developmental Math Program
Many students require additional preparation in math before taking a college-level math course. The university's Developmental Math Program provides the needed review of mathematics material and skill development that students need before moving on. If a student is placed into this program, please be aware that it is a serious course of study and should be treated as one would any other course in his or her studies. If utilized appropriately, students are able to proceed quickly through their fundamental math courses and cut down on the number of semesters necessary for math success. Students should see a college advisor or an advisor from their major's department if they are concerned about this program, or about their performance in it. For more information, please visit the Developmental Math Program.
The college's Advising Center retains the right to apply certain restrictions to a student's registration at the university if the student's math requirements are not completed in a timely manner.
