The Office of Undergraduate Studies Programs

The Office of Undergraduate Studies strives to create and deliver an exceptional undergraduate experience through a wide range of university-wide programs of academic excellence, personal development, and professional preparedness.

• Academic Achievement Programs
  Academic Achievement Programs (AAPs) primarily serve educationally disadvantaged, low-income, and first-generation college students.  They provide academic support, advising and counseling, skill enhancement, and tutoring for these populations and for students with disabilities.  Academic Achievement Programs include the Intensive Educational Development (IED), Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair), the Summer Transitional Program, and Student Support Services (SSS). EOC, McNair, and SSS , are part of the Federal TRIO programs and are funded by the U.S. Department of Education to promote access, provide support services, and motivate as well as prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds for retention in and graduation from undergraduate and doctoral programs.
  
  


• Air Force ROTC
  The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) provides students the opportunity to earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force while completing their undergraduate or graduate degree.
   


• Army ROTC
  The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps offers students the opportunity to develop leadership skills plus earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army (Active, Reserve, or National Guard) while completing their undergraduate degree.
  
  


• Asian American Studies
  The Asian American Studies Program (AAST) provides students with the opportunity to study critically the experiences of Asian Americans. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students examine the histories, communities and cultures of Asian Americans as both distinctive from and connected to the broader themes for diversity, ethnicity, race, gender and migration in the Americas. AAST offers a 15 credit-hour minor.
   


• Carillon Communities
  Carillon Communities creates an inspiring and supportive living and learning environment for first year students. Carillon promotes academic success and innovative thought. In Carillon, students consider their own interests and knowledge, and become more active agents in their own education. Each Carillon Community is anchored in a small set of active learning courses during the fall semester and a shared living experience for both fall and spring semesters. The communities are led by University of Maryland faculty members and all students have a designated academic advisor. Students in Carillon Communities reside together during their freshman year in Easton Hall, in the Denton Community on North Campus. Students have the advantage of living among a group that shares academic goals and interests. Living in a community provides a small-school feel as students learn to take advantage of the big school resources and opportunities.
  
  


• College Park Scholars
  College Park Scholars is a nationally acclaimed living -learning program that offers outstanding students the best features of a small residential college along with the intellectual opportunities available only at a large research university.  Each of its thirteen, two-year programs for freshmen and sophomores provides a close-knit community and a challenging academic experience.  Students attend weekly, faculty-led colloquia promote active discussion and debate. Other courses in the curriculum satisfy General Education requirements. In the second semester of their sophomore year, students choose from independent research projects, service-learning projects experiences, or internships appointments--both on and off campus--to satisfy their Scholars practicum requirement.
  
  


• Faculty Fellows
  Each year the Office of Undergraduate Studies sponsors an opportunity for a small cohort of faculty to participate in a faculty learning community addressing an important issue relevant to undergraduate education. The Office of Undergraduate Studies leads the weekly learning community meetings.
  
  


• UMD Fellows Program: Maryland, Federal, Global
  The UMD Fellows Program is an innovative internship program designed to empower talented and diverse University of Maryland undergraduate students to pursue careers in public service and civic engagement. The program is centered around fall academic seminars taught by industry leaders, supported by additional coursework and professional development opportunities, that prepare students to excel in spring semester internships for credit. The program has three branches—Maryland, Federal, and Global—that allow students to concentrate on topics within the local and state, federal, and global levels, respectively. We offer thirteen fall seminars, or concentrations, spread across the three branches. This is a highly selective, year-long program offered within the Office of Undergraduate Studies, in conjunction with other colleges, programs, and campus initiatives.
  
  


• First Year Book
  Each year since 1993, the University has selected a book for all first year students. The goal of the First Year Book Program (FYB) is to provide a shared intellectual experience for all new students along with the opportunity to discuss the book from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Courses, departmental lectures, living-learning programs and student groups all sponsor events that complement a major address by the author and/or other important visitors to campus literary commentator on issues raised by the First Year Book.
  
  


• General Education Program
  General Education at the University of Maryland has many elements because the University of Maryland has many missions. The General Education program has the following goals for all students: (a) Develop the skills necessary to succeed in academic careers and in professional lives by establishing habits and understanding of clear writing, effective speaking and presentation, and critical and analytic reasoning; (b) Strengthen knowledge in major areas of study; (c) Broaden knowledge of civilizations past and present; (d) Establish the ability to thrive both intellectually and materially and to support themselves, their families, and their communities through a broad understanding of the world in which they live and work; (e) Define the ethical imperatives necessary to create a just society in their own communities and in the larger world.
  
  


• Global Studies Minor Program
  The Global Studies Minor Program provides opportunities for students from any discipline or major to study how evolving global connections affect the well-being of people throughout the world.  Students in this interdisciplinary program develop an understanding and appreciation of how and why interactions across national and ethnic borders are shaped by language, culture, politics, economic development, and conflict. The program includes minors in Global Poverty, Global Terrorism, International Development and Conflict Management, and International Engineering.
  
  


• The Honors College is home to Maryland's highly acclaimed programs and courses for students with exceptional academic talents. Honors creates a very special community of faculty and intellectually gifted undergraduates. Honors Living-Learning Programs include the Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students, Digital Cultures and Creativity, Gemstone, Honors Global Challenges and Solutions, Honors Humanities, Integrated Life Sciences, Interdisciplinary Business Honors, and University Honors. Small classes and outstanding teachers stimulate discussion and foster innovative thinking across academic disciplines. Honors students have exclusive access to Honors living-learning program courses, Honors seminars, and Honors versions of courses offered by the academic departments on campus. Acceptance of first-year students into the Honors College is by invitation based on each student’s academic qualifications.
  
  



• C.D. Mote Jr. Incentive Awards Program
  The Incentive Awards Program offers full financial support to the University of Maryland to exceptional students who demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence and maturity in the face of very difficult circumstances. Directed primarily toward graduates of select Baltimore City and Prince George's County schools who demonstrate financial need, the award is more than a prestigious scholarship. At the heart of the Incentive Awards Program is the development of individual character and community responsibility within an intimate community of staff, peers, advisers and mentors.
  
  


• Individual Studies
  The Individual Studies Program (IVSP) is a degree-granting academic program administered through the Office of Undergraduate Studies. The program enables students to design their own interdisciplinary majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Students draw primarily from the University of Maryland's course offerings to form an academic concentration not otherwise available to them at the institution. In collaboration with a Faculty Mentor, students prepare a written proposal that defines the student's major and outlines its curriculum. A defense of the proposal before the IVSP Faculty Board is required prior to approval.
  
  


• Letters and Sciences
  Letters and Sciences is the academic advising home for undergraduates who are deciding on a degree-granting major. The staff is dedicated to providing quality advising to its students, and it is a place where the curious can actively explore and prepare for the challenging, yet exciting road ahead.
  
  


• Maryland Promise Scholarship Program 
  The Maryland Promise Scholarship Program provides supportive educational and financial opportunities to undergraduate students from the state of Maryland and Washington, D.C. exhibiting strong academic and leadership potential.
  



• National Scholarships Office
  The National Scholarships Office focuses on approximately 60 scholarship programs offering a wide range of opportunities for students with many different goals and interests. National scholarships are highly competitive, prestigious awards that provide opportunities and support for many different a wide range of experiences, including study abroad, graduate study (and sometimes undergraduate study also), federal employment, teaching, research, and public service.
  
  


• Naval ROTC
  The Naval ROTC Program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The NROTC Scholarship Program plays an important role in preparing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical military environment.
  
  


• Phi Beta Kappa Society, Gamma of Maryland
  Organized in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most widely respected academic honorary society in the United States. Invitation to membership is based on outstanding scholastic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Students are elected entirely on the basis of academic excellence. There is no application process. Review of students is carried out twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. 
  
  


• Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars
  The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program honors the University of Maryland’s most successful seniors and their designated University faculty and K-12 teachers for their mentorship. As a University community, we honor the Merrill Scholars and their mentors in a special ceremony and bring teachers and faculty together in a workshop that leads to stronger collaboration between the University and K-12 schools. The legacy of academic excellence, teaching, and mentoring continues as scholarships are awarded in the K-12 teacher’s name to a new first year student from that teacher’s high school or school district. The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program builds a community of scholars, faculty members, and K-12 teachers who recognize and celebrate the importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation.
  
  


• Pre-College Programs
  Pre-College Programs generate the skills and motivation necessary for success in post-secondary education. They immerse high school participants in rigorous academic instruction, tutoring, counseling, and innovative educational experiences throughout the school year and during the a six-week summer residential program. Pre-College Programs are part of the Federal TRIO Programs that provide educational opportunity outreach to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  
  


• Pre-Transfer Advising
  The Pre-Transfer Advising program promotes academic success and excellence through assessing the readiness of students to transfer to the University of Maryland and estimating their time to degree completion. Pre-Transfer Advisors provide advising for students interested in transferring from community colleges as well as four-year schools. Advisors also work closely with staff at the Maryland community colleges.
  
  


• Southern Management Leadership Program
  The Southern Management Leadership Program (formerly Hillman Entrepreneurs Program) is a scholarship and academic support initiative targeted to students who have an interest in entrepreneurship and an enthusiasm for starting a business venture or leading a company. The goal is to support, develop, and graduate ethical leaders who want to energize and give back to their local communities. The Southern Management Leadership Program offers a new model in education. Students who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education are now starting their college career at either Prince George’s Community College or Montgomery College and then transferring to the University of Maryland to complete their degree in any major. They receive up to 2/3 tuition in scholarship funds. They also receive deep mentoring from full-time mentors at each institution. Students participate in community and team-building activities while taking classes in entrepreneurship and leadership.
  
  


• Office of Student Orientation and Transition
  The Office of Student Orientation and Transition programs are designed to introduce new students to the University of Maryland community. The Office of Student Orientation and Transition offers a wide range of transitional programming and services for students and their families as they prepare to attend the University of Maryland.
  
  


• Student Success Office
  The Student Success Office is a clearinghouse for services and resources to assist students in the completion of their undergraduate degrees. This includes: The office coordinates reenrollment; centralizes tutoring resources; manages data from exiting students; and provides leadership on other retention initiatives.
  
  


• Undergraduate Student Ombuds Office
  The Ombuds Office works to ensure that undergraduate students receive fair and equitable treatment in matters of concern or complaints involving the University. The office assists students with resolving issues with the University, including those in which students are unsure where to go for assistance or those that may not be easily addressed through established policies or procedures. The ombudsperson provides information on University policies and procedures, makes referrals to appropriate campus colleagues (who may be helpful with resolving issues), and sometimes facilitates the resolution of problems.