Advising FAQs

General 

Where is the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising located?

Do I have to make an appointment or can I just come in for a quick question?

 

Registration

I am trying to register but I have a hold on my account.  What does that mean and who can remove it?

When will the Schedule of Classes be available?

I need more credits to get my financial aid but the deadline to add classes has passed, what can I do?

I am a newly accepted student. When will I meet with an advisor and choose my classes?

I need an exception for dropping a course after the deadline.   Where do I go?

How do I know what day/time I can register?

 

Pre-Professional Advising

Why can’t my major be Pre- _____________?

I am a Pre-Physical Therapy student and need to complete volunteer hours.  Where can I do this and does UMBC help?

Where do I speak to someone about Pre-law advising?

Does this advising office work with Pre-Med/Pre-Dental students?

Are there clubs or organizations for Pre-Professional students on campus?

Do I have to have a major in addition to my Pre-Professional program?

 

Majors at UMBC

How do I declare my major?

How do I indicate that I am Pre-________ on the Declaration of Major form?

How do I declare a double major?

 

Academic Probation/Suspension

Can I appeal my suspension decision?

If my term GPA is above a 2.0 in my second consecutive semester of probation, will I be reviewed for suspension?

Are academic probation and suspension noted on my transcript?

Am I required to take LRC 101A if I am on probation?

If I take a summer or winter course, will it change my probation status?

 

Academic Advisors

If I am undecided about my major, what advisor should I contact for advising?

If I have declared a major, how can I find out who my advisor is?

I want to meet with a general advisor because my major advisor is not helpful or is recommending I see a professional advisor.   How can I do that?

Can I meet with an advisor before I enroll at UMBC?

Can an advisor get me into a class that is closed or that requires permission?

Can I speak to an advisor about what classes will fulfill requirements for my Pre-Professional track?

Can I meet with a different advisor than my assigned one?

 

General Education / GEPs

How can my 201 level language proficiency be evaluated?

Where can I find a list of GEP courses?

 

Excess Credit

How can I enroll in more than the maximum amount of credits?

When should I turn in my request to enroll in excess credits?

I was denied my request for excess credits.   Who can I talk to?

 


 

General

Where is the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising located?

Our office is located in Sherman Hall, B-Wing on the 2nd Floor, Suite 224. Click here for the campus map.

Do I have to make an appointment or can I just come in for a quick question?

Our office is open from 8:30 until 4:30 every day Monday through Friday when the campus is open.  Peer Advisors (trained undergraduate students) can answer quick questions at any time.   Walk-in advising with a professional advisor is available from 10am to 2pm. More complex situations, including registration advising, require an advance appointment.  Call 410-455-2729 to make an appointment.   When you call, you will be able to talk to an actual person.

 

Registration

I am trying to register but I have a hold on my account.   What does that mean and who can remove it?

Degree seeking students must meet with their Academic Advisor prior to being able to register for the fall and spring terms.   When you meet with your advisor, he/she will talk with you about your proposed schedule, answer any questions you may have and at the end of the meeting provide an electronic clearance that will then allow you to register at a specific time based on the number of credits you have earned.

If you still can’t register after you have advising clearance, you may have a financial hold or an administrative hold.   Follow the instructions in the attempted registration error message to resolve the issue.

When will the Schedule of Classes be available?

The Schedule of Classes will be available approximately one month prior to Advanced Registration.  You may visit the Registrar’s Office website for the most recent Schedule of Classes, or navigate through my.umbc.edu under the topic Classes & Grades.

I need more credits to get my financial aid but the deadline to add classes has passed, what can I do?

To learn more about your financial aid options, visit their website to find out who is your assigned Financial Aid Counselor.  If adding a class is absolutely essential, an internship or independent study class may be added for several weeks after the end of the schedule adjustment period.   Check the academic calendar on the Registrar’s website for the exact date.

I am a newly accepted student. When will I meet with an advisor and choose my classes?

All new students will attend New Student Orientation prior to the semester you plan to enroll.  On this day, you will meet with your Academic Advisor and register for classes.  New Student Orientation is mandatory and you have the choice of which date to attend. Learn more by visiting their website.

I need an exception for dropping a course after the deadline.   Where do I go?

In rare cases, a student may be allowed an exception to drop a course after the published deadline.  To apply for this type of exception, complete the online form on the website of the Office of Enrollment Management Division.  Look for  Exception to Enrollment Policy for complete instructions. Be sure to follow through as quickly as possible because there are time limits for such exceptions.

How do I know what day/time I can register?

Students register based on the number of credits they have earned.  Prior to Advanced Registration, students will receive an email with a link to a chart showing which day they can register based on their earned credits. Students are not eligible to register prior to this day/time, and must have already met with their Academic Advisor to receive their Advising Clearance.

 

Pre-Professional Advising

Why can’t my major be Pre- _____________?

The Pre-Professional curriculum at UMBC is a set of specific coursework designed to guide you toward meeting the entry requirements of the particular type of professional school you wish you attend.  Students may choose to follow a Pre-Professional curriculum in addition to their academic major but pre-professional courses cannot stand alone as their major. Students who wish to receive a bachelor’s degree from UMBC need to complete an academic field major such as Biology, History, or Chemistry.

I am a Pre-Physical Therapy student and need to complete volunteer hours.   Where can I do this and does UMBC help?

Our office has trained advisors who can help students interested in not only Physical Therapy, but Nursing, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, Dental Hygiene & Occupational Therapy reach their goals of applying to professional school.   Please see Allied Health Website for more information on contacting an advisor in these areas.

Where do I speak to someone about Pre-law advising?

The Pre-Law Advising Office is located within the Policital Science department, Public Policy Building, Room 357.   More information can be found here.

Does this advising office work with Pre-Med/Pre-Dental students?

Students who are interested in going to Medical, Dental, Podiatry, Veterinary, or Optometry school are advised by the Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Advising Office. Click here for more information.

Are there clubs or organizations for Pre-Professional students on campus?

For a comprehensive list of all student clubs and organizations, visit their website.  You can also visit the individual Pre-Professional Programs under the Allied Health section to get more information on any related clubs and organizations.

Do I have to have a major in addition to my Pre-Professional program?

Students who are pursuing Pre-Professional programs that require you to graduate first from UMBC (such as Physical Therapy) must pursue an academic major in addition to their professional program.   For those programs that do not require a degree (such as Pharmacy), academically strong students may be admitted directly into that program prior to completing their bachelor’s degree at UMBC.   For more information, visit the individual Pre-Professional Programs pages in Allied Health Programs.

 

Majors at UMBC

How do I declare my major?

To declare your major (or to change your major), you must fill out a Declaration of Major form, available in the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising, the Registrar’s Office, or online here.  Completed forms may be turned in to either office. As indicated on the form, a few majors will require an advisor signature from your new major department.

How do I indicate that I am Pre-________ on the Declaration of Major form?

Even though your Pre-Professional program is not a declared major, you can list the program under Major on the Declaration of Major form.   This will allow us to have a record of which program you are following, and it will be listed on your transcript under your academic major.  If you have a declared major, feel free to list your pre-professional program in the second column (where a second major would be entered).

How do I declare a double major?

You may list multiple majors/minors/certificates on the Declaration of Major form by entering them in separate columns.  The major you list first will become your Primary Major, the program that you will be earning your degree in and will be listed on your diploma.  Completion of the second major will be entered on your official transcript.

 

Academic Probation/Suspension

Can I appeal my suspension decision?

Yes,  Every student suspended or dismissed will have the opportunity to appeal the decision.  Specifically, a student can appeal if there were unusual or extenuating circumstances that influenced academic difficulty.  Students are expected to submit an appeal by the deadline established by the Academic Actions & Reinstatement Committee.

If my term GPA is above a 2.0 in my second consecutive semester of probation, will I be reviewed for suspension?

No.  If your term GPA is above a 2.0, and you’ve been on probation for two consecutive semesters, you will not be reviewed for suspension.  You will remain on probation until your cumulative GPA is above a 2.0.

Are academic probation and suspension noted on my transcript?

Yes.  Both probation and suspension are noted on a student’s transcript for each applicable semester.

Am I required to take EDUC 113 if I am on probation?

It depends…  If it is your first semester on academic probation, EDUC 113 is recommended, but not required.  However, it is required if it is your second time on academic probation.

If I take a summer or winter course, will it change my probation status?

We only review for academic probation in the regular semesters (i.e. Fall and Spring).  Therefore, if you were on probation in Fall, took a winter course, and brought your GPA above a 2.0, you will still be on probation for Spring semester.  After spring semester review, if you were still a 2.0, then you would be moved off probation.

 

Academic Advisors

If I am undecided about my major, what advisor should I contact for advising?

All undecided and exploratory students will be advised in our office.   To learn who your advisor is, contact our front office at 410-455-2729.

If I have declared a major, how can I find out who my advisor is?

Start by navigating to your myUMBC account and looking under the topic Advising and Student Support.  Then click on the blue link My Advisors.  You will find either the name of your advisor or a link to a table showing the Advising Coordinators for all departments.  In addition, some departments have provided more detailed information about how advisors are assigned.

I want to meet with a general advisor because my major advisor is not helpful or is recommending I see a professional advisor.   How can I do that?

The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising primarily advises students who are undecided/exploratory or who are pursuing professional school programs as well as certain students experiencing academic challenges.   However, we can answer general requirement and other related questions from all students. Students who do have declared majors must receive their advising clearance for registration from their academic major advisor.   Students who are interested in changing majors may make an appointment to be advised in our office.   When appropriate, completing an updated Declaration of Major form may become part of that advising session.

Can I meet with an advisor before I enroll at UMBC?

Academic Advisors can answer some general questions prior to your enrollment, but you will not be able to receive in-depth individual advising or register for classes without attending New Student Orientation.  During this day you will meet one-on-one with your Academic Advisor and register for classes.

Can an advisor get me into a class that is closed or that requires permission?

Academic Advisors can make recommendations about specific classes, but only the specific instructor of a course (or their designee) can authorize permission if the class is closed or requires special permission.

Can I speak to an advisor about what classes will fulfill requirements for my Pre-Professional track?

Absolutely!   If you have a declared major, we recommend that you meet with that advisor prior to your Pre-Professional advising so that you understand how your major requirements will compare to your professional school requirements.

Can I meet with a different advisor than my assigned one?

This depends on your major.   If you have a declared major, you should contact the Advising Coordinator for that department to learn how to switch advisors by visiting Departmental Advising List.   For students assigned to the Office for Academic & Pre-Professiional Advising, you are able in most cases to choose a different advisor when you make your advising appointment.   It is important to note that many times students pursuing Pre-Professional programs are assigned an advisor based on the advisor’s area of expertise and it is recommended that you meet with that advisor.

 

General Education

 How can my 201 level language proficiency be evaluated?

The Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication department works with students to determine their 201 language proficiency.   Their office is in Fine Arts (FA) 463.  Forms and policies can be found online.  For International Students, click here.  For questions about proficiency and high school language levels, click here.

Where can I find a list of GEP courses?

Link to all GEP courses under Students : Student Forms.  Although we update these lists regularly, the most up to date source for courses with general education designations is the undergraduate catalog on line at Undergraduate Catalog.

 

Excess Credit

How can I enroll in more than the maximum amount of credits?

The maximum amount of credits you can register for during the fall/spring semester is 19.5.   During the winter it is 4.5 and the summer is 16 (a maximum of 8 credits in each of the two summer terms).  For information on requesting approval to exceed these limits, please click here Students : Student Forms.

When should I turn in my request to enroll in excess credits?

You should request excess credits permission as soon as you know that your plans call for a course overload.   You may submit a form even before Advance Registration begins for the upcoming term. Your request must be for a specified set of courses and not blanket permission to take lots of credits as the mood strikes.  Excess Credit forms must be turned in 24 hours before the posted add/drop deadline.

I was denied my request for excess credits.   Who can I talk to?

The decision on your excess credits request will be communicated to you in an e-mail from this office.  If you have follow-up questions or concerns, simply reply to that e-mail and you will be contacting the person who knows your case.