Academic advising is both an important and an enriching component of your academic life at UMBC. Advising provides an opportunity for you to sit down one-on-one with a faculty or professional advising staff member and discuss a wide range of topics pertaining to your academic interests. Your advisor is there to help you choose an academic program consistent with your personal and educational goals, monitor your progress throughout the completion of that program, assist in identifying useful campus resources and help you understand university policies and procedures. In addition, you may discuss with your advisor any challenges you have regarding your transition to the academic culture at UMBC. Like any other resource on campus, however, your advisor can only help you if you actively seek that help. When both advisor and advisee work together as a team, the academic advising relationship can be very rewarding.
Academic advising at UMBC is provided primarily by a faculty member or professional advisor from your academic department. However, the professional advisors in the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising provide advising support to undecided and pre-professional students in allied health fields (including pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-nursing, pre-dental hygiene and pre-medical technology). Pre-professional students in medicine, dentistry, podiatry, veterinary medicine and optometry are advised primarily by their major department in conjunction with a dedicated pre-health professions advisor in the PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office.
Why should I see my academic advisor?
•To assist you in making academic and career choices or to receive more information about a particular major or minor
•To assist you in selecting courses for the following semester
•To inform you of degree and major requirements
•To inform you of university policies
•To assists you in developing strategies to improve academic performance
•To explain and refer you to campus resources
•To help you prepare to apply to graduate and professional programs
When should I see my academic advisor?
•During mid-semester, prior to advance registration, to discuss course selection for the following semester. This is mandatory for every student at the University, so make your appointment well in advance of your registration time
•Whenever you have a question or concern
What should I ask my academic advisor?
•What courses should I consider taking to fulfill the general education requirements?
•How many credits should I take
•Should I drop or add a course?
•Which concentration or track within the major would be best for me?
•How can I find out more about internship, research, study abroad, graduate school and career opportunities?
•How do I explore alternatives if I want to consider changing my major?
•Should I pursue a minor, certificate or pre-professional program at UMBC?
•What help is available if I am experiencing academic difficulties?
Click here for advising information for each academic department and major.
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS QUESTION:
How often are UMBC students required to meet with an academic advisor?
