Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about Letters and Sciences and its services. If the answer to your general questions cannot be found here, please send your questions via email to askls@deans.umd.edu ; for questions related to Law and Health Professions, please send your questions via email to preprof@deans.umd.edu .

. General Questions
. Orientation
. Advising Services
. Interim Advising Program (I.A.P.)
. Scholastic Transitions Educational Program (S.T.E.P.)
. Learning Communities
. Allied Health
. Pre-Law
. Transfer Students

General Questions

What is Letters and Sciences?
Letters and Sciences is an academic unit designed primarily to suit the needs of the incoming student as they search for, identify, and enroll into one of the degree granting programs offered at the university. Letters and Sciences is also home to the Pre-Medical, Pre-Allied Health, and Pre-Law programs. Each degree seeking student in Letters and Sciences is assigned to an academic advisor who will assist them with course selection and guide them in the selection of a major.

Who are the students in Letters and Sciences?
Students in Letters and Sciences typically fall into one of the following categories:
. They have not declared a major and are exploring their options here at UM
. They are completing the gateway requirements for Limited Enrollment Programs
. They are non-degree seeking and are taking classes at UM on a part time basis
. They are taking classes concurrently at UM and another institution (including high school)

What special programs do LTSC students participate in?
Letters and Sciences students participte in many campus programs including the following:
. University Honors Program
. College Park Scholars Program
. Banneker Key, Presidential, and Deans Scholars
. NCAA-regulated sports

How does LTSC prepare students for degree granting majors?
All degree seeking students are assigned to an academic advisor who will assist them in identifying majors that are suited for them based on their interests. Academic advisors will refer students to campus resources and services that will help them identify major requirements, four year academic plans and career/internship opportunities.

Will being in Letters and Sciences affect my progress toward a degree?
No, students in Letters and Sciences graduate at the same rate as students who begin in a degree granting major. All students must complete the general education courses (CORE) regardless of their major. Therefore, students in majors and in Letters and Sciences are taking CORE courses during their first four semesters. Fortunately, there are many CORE courses that can apply to degree granting majors, and most majors on campus have room for elective credits.

How long can I remain in Letters and Sciences before I must declare a major?
You can declare your major at any point, but you must declare a major by the completion of your 60th credit.

What majors are offered in Letters and Sciences?
Letters and Sciences is not a degree granting major. Thus, all students in Letters and Sciences must select a major to graduate. Nearly all Letters and Sciences students declare a major by their fourth semester of enrollment.

How do I get into a major?
• In order to declare a major, you must visit the appropriate college or department of choice. The advising staff in those units will assist you with changing your major. However, declaring a major in a Limited Enrollment Program requires fulfillment of a specific set of requirements before you can apply for admission to that program. The major requirements for degree granting programs are available at http://www.uga.umd.edu/admissions/academics/majors.asp and the requirements for Limited Enrollment Programs are available at http://www.lep.umd.edu.

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• Orientation

Is orientation mandatory for new Letters and Sciences students?
All newly admitted freshman and transfer students MUST attend an orientation program. In the summer, freshmen attend a two-day program and transfers attend a one-day program. In the winter, the Orientation program is a one-day event for both transfer students and for freshmen.

How do I sign up for an orientation program?
To sign up for an orientation program, you must first confirm your admission to UM and visit the following website to register: https://www.sis.umd.edu/servlets/orientation .

How should I prepare for Orientation in LTSC?
In order to have a productive Orientation experience, it is strongly recommended that you do the following things before you arrive on campus for Orientation:
• Have official copies of your transcript, SAT scores, and/or AP/IB exam scores sent to UM.
• Visit the website of majors that you are interested in to obtain more information about the major and download the major requirements (https://www.sis.umd.edu/servlets/orientation).
• Download the Four Year Academic Plan for your intended major (http://www.4yearplans.umd.edu).
• Generate a list of classes that you would like to register for or create a VENUS printout of your preferred schedule (http://www.sis.umd.edu/bin/venus).

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Advising Services

How do I find out who my advisor is?
During the fourth week of classes each semester, you will receive an email from your assigned academic advisor. If you do not receive an email by the 4th week of classes, call (301) 314-8418 or stop by 1117 Hornbake Library to obtain that information.

How do I schedule an appointment to meet with my advisor?
You can call Letters and Sciences at (301) 314-8418 or stop by 1117 Hornbake Library to make an appointment with your advisor.

How should I prepare for my advising appointment?
Advising appointments are scheduled to last 30 minutes. Usually, for your first appointment you will not need to bring anything with you. However, feel free to bring a list of topics that you would like to discuss.

What can you expect during individual advising appointments?
In your first appointment you will discuss your transition to the University of Maryland. Be prepared to discuss how you are progressing in your courses and possible majors. The advisor will inform you of various campus resources that are helpful when trying to decide upon a major. The advisor will also review the university's general education requirements (CORE) to prepare you for your second meeting.

The second appointment will be primarily focused on discussing the classes you selected for the next semester. The advisor will check to make sure that the selected courses fulfill requirements for the major you might be exploring as well as CORE . Also you will review your academic plan.

What is walk-in advising? What is virtual advising?
Virtual Advising is a program for students who have been assigned to have their advising needs met via email because they are in good academic standing and are near the 60 credit major declaration deadline. To receive advising, these students must send an email to askls@deans.umd.edu and an advisor will promptly respond to them. Upon receiving assistance via email, if students still require assistance, they may be directed to use Walk-In advising hours to obtain additional assistance.

What do I need to do in order to register for classes?
In order to register for classes, you must resolve all of your registration blocks. If you have not completed your mandatory advising requirements, you will not be able to register until you have done so. You can go to the Records and Registration section of http://www.testudo.umd.edu to determine your registration date and if you have any appointment blocks.

How can I get permission to take classes at another institution?
If you are interested in taking courses at another institution, you must first obtain permission to enroll prior to registering at the other institution. You can expedite the permission to enroll process by obtaining the following information before coming to LTSC:
• Where you wish to attend school.
• Which class(es) you plan to take.
• Which CORE requirement(s), if any, the class(es) fulfill(s).

Next, visit the Transfer Credit Equivalency Search at www.sis.umd.edu/TCC to determine the UM course equivalencies for your intended course. If a course does not appear on the website, take a description of the course to the corresponding UM department for evaluation. Finally, obtain a Permission to Enroll form from the Letters and Sciences office, 1117 Hornbake Library, and discuss the request with your assigned advisor, if you have questions. Then fill out the form and submit it to the Letters and Sciences office.

When and how do I file an exception to academic policy?
Consider the reasons for your request very carefully and discuss them with an advisor. Often, an advisor can help you discover solutions that do not require an exception to policy. Should you decide to proceed with the request, you can complete a form by visiting our web site at http://www.ltsc.umd.edu/exceptions.html. You must include a written explanation detailing the exception and the reasons. Please take the time to make a clear, thoughtful, and legible presentation. The better we understand your situation the more likely it is that we can help you.

Although we make every attempt to respond to your request as soon as possible, it takes time to arrive at a fair decision; therefore, it is critical that you take whatever actions necessary in the event your request is denied. Requests take a minimum of five to seven business days to process.

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Interim Advising Program (I.A.P.)

What is I.A.P.?
Transfer students who initially applied to the University of Maryland and expressed interest in a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) but were not directly admitted are assigned to the Interim Advising Program (IAP). There are 9 Limited Enrollment Programs that require the completion of additional requirements before students can obtain admission to them. This program has its own advisor who will work with students and aid them in fulfilling the necessary requirements to apply to the LEP of their choice, and/or help them select an alternative major.

How can I.A.P. assist me in getting into a Limited Enrollment Program?
The IAP advisor will assist students in the creation of an academic plan that will prepare you to apply to the Limited Enrollment Program of your choice and also prepare you for admission to an alternative major.

How do I choose a major?
Choosing a major is one of the most important decisions that you will make here at the University of Maryland and involves many different factors. First, the subject matter must interest you. Detailed information about each major is available in the Undergraduate Catalog and online http://www.uga.umd.edu/admissions/academics/majors.asp. Second, you must take into account your personal career aspirations and the courses that are required of that major.

Before you decide on a major, make sure you review the major requirements and the website to obtain more information about the program. If you are interested in a Limited Enrollment Program, and you are eligible to apply, you should complete the gateway requirements and submit the application upon their completion. If you are interested in other majors, you should meet with an advisor in the major to begin the major change process.

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Scholastic Transitions Educational Program (S.T.E.P.)

What is S.T.E.P.?
S.T.E.P. is the acronym for the Scholastic Transitions Educational Program. This program was instituted to assist a select group of students with the transition from high school to the university during a four-week summer residential program. The summer program provides students with instruction in either math or writing to aid them in their successful completion of the university's freshman math and writing requirements. Students take an introduction to the University course designed to familiarize them with university learning and living while also participating in community building activities both on and off campus.

How are students selected for S.T.E.P.?
Students are invited to participate in the S.T.E.P. program based on a multitude of factors. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions extends offers of participation to students based on the high school academic record and guidelines established by admissions.

I have been selected for S.T.E.P., am I required to participate in the program?
Yes. If you are selected for S.T.E.P. participation in the program is a requirement of your admission. Therefore, to maintain your admitted status you must attend. Questions regarding admission to S.T.E.P. should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 301-314-8385.

I have decided to participate in S.T.E.P., what should I do next?
Once you have decided to participate in S.T.E.P. you should confirm your acceptance of admission to the University of Maryland. Once you have confirmed your admissions, you will be provided with additional information. When you confirm/accept your admission to the university you automatically confirm your participation in S.T.E.P. Additionally, you will be automatically registered for an orientation program that is associated with S.T.E.P. Further information about S.T.E.P. will be mailed to you.

What are the costs associated with participation in S.T.E.P.?
Since the university is requiring that you participate in S.T.E.P., there are no immediate out-of-pocket expenses. S.T.E.P. assumes all fees associated with the summer program to include: tuition, meals, housing, textbooks, activity costs, etc. Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from S.T.E.P., their own classroom supplies and any personal items and non-programmatic expenses. Students are also required to pay for the orientation fees incurred as required for all students.

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Learning Communities

What are Learning Communities?
Learning Communities are course clusters that offer new students an opportunity to take several courses with the same group of students. kind of academic map. Courses included in the clusters are 100- and 200 level and fulfill CORE (General Education) requirements. Only 20-25 seats are available in each cluster and space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Are there Learning Communities for LTSC students?
Yes, LTSC students can participate in one of three Learning Communities:
. Markets and Society
. Media Literacy
. Contemporary Moral Issues

What is the Media Literacy Learning Community? How can I participate?
This learning community engages students in the subject and processes of Media Literacy: How do we understand and analyze what these messages are and what they are not? Who is sending them? How? And for what purpose?

First-year students, in small groups of twenty, come together to explore issues related to Media Literacy through two classes: Media Literacy (JOUR175) and The Student in the University (UNIV100). These classes will consider the role of media literacy across many disciplines and topics, and therefore, are useful to students considering any major or career path. The cluster allows for students to complete a CORE general education Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (IE) and Diversity (D) requirement along with an additional credit for the UNIV class.

To register for a cluster, speak with your academic advisor during Orientation.

What is the Contemporary Moral Issues Learning Community? How can I participate?
In this learning community students will gain the philosophical tools necessary for an effective critique of many of the issues that polarize this country.

First-year students, in small groups of twenty, come together to explore philosophical issues through two classes: Contemporary Moral Issues (PHIL 140) and The Student in the University (UNIV100). These classes will consider the role of Philosophy across many disciplines and topics, and therefore, are useful to students considering any major or career path. The cluster allows for students to complete a CORE general education Humanities (HO) requirement along with an additional credit for the UNIV class.

To register for a cluster, speak with your academic advisor during Orientation.

What is the Markets and Society Program?
The Markets and Society Program is a program for students interested in exploring the world of business. Students in the program take courses together allowing them the opportunity to meet others with similar academic interests.

How are students selected to participate in the Markets and Society Program?
In the early spring, a select group of high school seniors are invited to participate in the program based on their high school record and interest in the business major. Please note that the program is open only to entering first year students at the University. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions extends offers of participation to students who have expressed an interest in business and meet their established..

How do students benefit from participating in the Markets and Society Program?
Students take 2-3 courses together (Clusters) during their first two semesters with the same small group of students with similar interests.
• Seats are reserved for these students in courses that all students are required to complete in order to apply for admission to the Business School.
• Students have an assigned advisor who will work with them to create a plan for completing the requirements for applying to the Business School and to also help them create an alternative plan if they decide not to pursue Business as a major.
• Through the clusters and other events, the Markets and Society Program provides students with a small, close-knit community within the larger University setting.

Can I still apply to the Robert H. Smith School of Business if I am not a part of the Markets and Society Program?
Yes! In fact, there are students who graduate with business degrees from the University of Maryland who did not begin their first year in the Business School. Students can apply to the Smith School of Business once they have completed the requirements.

How does participation in the Markets and Society Program prepare students for application to the Robert H. Smith School?
M&S assists students in defining and refining their goals through its informative and experiential curriculum and by guaranteeing spaces in most courses required for admission to the School of Business. Students in the program will also have an opportunity to participate in programming and activities that will allow them to gain exposure to the field of Business. The Robert H. Smith School of Business has a competitive admissions process. All students interested in a Business major are required to complete a set of gateway requirements and submit an application for review.

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Allied Health

What services are available for students who interested in the Allied Health Professions?
For information about advising services for students interested in Allied Health Professions, visit the following website: http://www.prehealth.umd.edu

How do I obtain a degree in Pharmacy, Nursing, or Physical Therapy?
• Students cannot obtain a degree in Pharmacy, Nursing or Physical Therapy at the University of Maryland College Park. The professional programs of study for Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Nursing are all located at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.
• The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree is a 2+4 program. You must complete 2 years of prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university and then apply for admission to a professional school to complete 4 years of professional coursework that includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical education. Admission to professional schools is competitive and is not guaranteed by the University of Maryland. Please see the Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Requirement sheet at www.ltsc.umd.edu/pharmacy.html.
• The Traditional Baccalaureate degree program for a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a 2+2 program. You must complete 2 years of prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university and then apply for admission into a professional nursing school to complete 2 years of coursework that includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical education. Admission to professional schools is competitive and is not guaranteed by the University of Maryland. Please see the Pre-Nursing Pre-Requirement sheet at http://www.prehealth.umd.edu/nursing.html
• You must complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university and then apply for admission to a professional school to complete the 2 year Masters or 3 year Doctoral professional coursework, which includes classroom laboratory, and clinical education. Admission to professional schools is competitive and is not guaranteed by the University of Maryland. Please see the Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Requirement sheet at: http://www.prehealth.umd.edu/HealthPhysicalTherapy.pdf.

• What if I have a question about a program that is not answered here?
• For questions related to law professions, go to http://www.prelaw.umd.edu , and for questions related to the health professions go to http://www.prehealth.umd.edu. On both of these web sites you will find additional questions and answers.

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Pre-Law
For information about advising services for students interested in Law Professions, visit the following website: http://www.prelaw.umd.edu (return to top)

Pre-Medicine (Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, Optometry, Dentistry)
For information about advising services for students interested in Medical School and other Health Professions, visit the following website: (http://www.prehealth.umd.edu)

Transfer Student FAQs
For information about resources and services for transfer students, visit the following website: http://www.transferfaqs.umd.edu/

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