Students can schedule an appointment or attend a virtual drop in with BSOS advisors at any time during their college experience. 

Students can seek clarification from advisors regarding degree requirements and academic and career opportunities. 

Students can use the Major Checklist, Degree Audit Report, and Advising Resources for current and future graduation planning. 

Students can utilize Testudo, Undergraduate Catalog, and Registration Guide to review policies and course information.

A graduation plan is a flexible roadmap to assist students in completing their degree and can change based on course availability and developing academic interests. Students may meet with an advisor to discuss how changes in their plan may affect their graduation timeline.

BSOS will review each graduation plan and contact students if revisions are needed.  

BSOS will lift advising blocks and process major changes after plans have been reviewed and approved.

Successful completion of benchmark and gateway courses demonstrate continuing progress. Refer to the Major Checklist for the appropriate grades and deadlines.

The major checklist is a list of all major, benchmark/gateway, and general education requirements. The major checklist will show which major requirements also count towards general education requirements. 

Please note, completing the requirements listed on the major checklist does not fulfill the 120 (150 for Double Degrees) credits needed to graduate. Students will need to choose electives to fulfill the 120 (150 for Double Degrees) graduation credit requirement.

• All students must complete all General Education Requirements
• Fundamental Studies Math and Academic Writing courses need to be attempted by 30 credits and completed by 60.
• Fundamental Studies Professional Writing courses require that students have at least  60 completed credits (including transfer coursework).
• Signature courses will also fulfill a Distributive Studies category and may overlap with Diversity courses or Major requirements. 
• Diversity courses may also fulfill a Distributive Studies category and/or Signature courses. 

Using the degree audit tool before and after each semester helps students understand the requirements needed to satisfy their major requirements and tracks individual progress.

A balanced schedule: 

• Course selections include but are not limited to a combination of remaining Gen Ed courses, major requirements and electives (Minor or Double Major/Degree requirements). 
• Many departments restrict the number of major courses allowed per semester to three. 
• In addition to completing Gen Ed courses and major requirements, students will need to include elective credits as well.

Students can register up to 17 credits during pre-registration and would need permission for a credit overload to register for more than 17 credits prior to the first day of class; credit overload is not guaranteed and is typically restricted for students registering in their final semester. Students can register up to 20 credits beginning the first day of classes. 

Earning an Associates Degree at another Maryland Public institution satisfies all general education requirements, except for an upper-level writing course and any additional credits required to reach the minimum 40 general education credits.

If an Associates Degree is earned at a non-Maryland Public institution, each course will be reviewed to determine UMD equivalence and applicability to general education and additional requirements. Any remaining general education requirements will need to be satisfied and any additional credits required to reach the minimum 40 general education credits.  

Students should submit official transcripts for all prior learning and transfer credit to the Registrar’s Office to ensure appropriate advising on current and future degree requirements.

Earning a Bachelor's Degree from any regionally accredited college or university fulfills the University's general education requirements, regardless of when the degree was received.