UMBC Transfer Viewbook

2023 TRANSFER VIEWBOOK

Musician. TEACHER. FIRST GENERATION STUDENT. Historian. Doctor. Accountant. GINEER. VOLLEYBALLER. Paramedic. MATHEMATICIAN. PH.D. STUDENT. Business

Historian. Doctor. SOCIAL WORKER. WORLD TRAVELER. Mechanical Engineer. CO-FOUNDER CEO. ECONOMIST. LAWYER. Veterinarian. Psychologist. SOCIAL WORKER. PARENT. Player. Public Policy Analyst BIOLOGIST. TRANSFER STUDENT LEADER. Actor. Journalist. leader. Singer. INFORMATION SYSTEMS EXPERT. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT. Neuroscientist. Scholar. MECHANICAL ENGINEER. VETERAN. TEACHER. FIRST GENERATION

Historian. Doctor. Accountant. Environmental Scientist. CHEMICAL ENGINEER. VOLLEYBALLER.

Paramedic. MATHEMATICIAN. PH.D. STUDENT. Business leader. Singer. Historian. Doctor. WORKER. WORLD TRAVELER. Mechanical Engineer. CO-FOUNDER AND CEO. ECONOMIST. LAWYER. Veterinarian. Psychologist. SOCIAL WORKER. PARENT. Gamelan Player. Chemical Public Policy Analyst BIOLOGIST. TRANSFER STUDENT LEADER. Actor. Journalist. Business Singer. INFORMATION SYSTEMS EXPERT. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT. Neuroscientist.

1966 YEAR FOUNDED

13,991 TOTAL STUDENTS

90+ COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

100+ MAJORS AND PROGRAMS

17:1 STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO

TOP 3.7% OF UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE — CENTER FOR WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

GRIT. It’s an attitude, defined by courage, resolve, and strength of character, that sits at the center of our indomitable UMBC spirit. And that’s why we named our mascot True Grit. This aptly named Chesapeake Bay Retriever represents the values of our university: academics, community, wellness, and civic agency. More than a mere statue, True Grit is the essence of what it means to be a Retriever. And grit goes a long way at UMBC and beyond

YOU’VE GOT BIG DREAMS. AT UMBC, WE’LL REACH TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THEM.

GREAT THINGS HAPPEN when you’re part of a community that supports and believes in you. When you transfer to #RetrieverNation, you’ll work with professors who are recognized nationally not only for their expertise, but for their commitment to undergraduate teaching.

You’ll discover that curiosity and determination know no limits at UMBC. Our collaborative culture both challenges and supports everyone to push boundaries and make big breakthroughs. Here, you’ll build the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in whatever you set out to do.

COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

THE COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES spans the disciplines, the centuries, and the globe. True to the liberal arts mission, we ask questions fundamental to human existence:

Who are we?

Where have we been?

What matters?

Through diverse, challenging programs of study, with countless opportunities for research, creative work, internships, and other co-curricular activities, our students develop skills and knowledge that prepare them for a variety of careers and a lifetime of thoughtful citizenship and leadership in a complex world.

MAJORS AND PROGRAMS

Africana Studies

American Studies

Ancient Studies

Anthropology, Cultural

Art (see Visual Arts)

Asian Studies

Dance

Economics

Education

Early Childhood

Elementary

Secondary

Emergency Health Services

Management

Paramedic

English

Environmental Science and Geography

Financial Economics

Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies

Geography and Environmental Studies

Global Studies

History

Media and Communication Studies

Middle Grades STEM Education

Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

French

German

Russian

Spanish Applied Linguistics

Music Jazz Studies

Music Composition

Music Education - Choral

Music Education - Instrumental

Music Performance - Instrumental

Music Performance - Vocal

Music Technology

Philosophy

Political Science

Psychology

Public Health

Sociology

Theatre

Acting

Design/Production

Theatre Studies

Visual Arts

Animation

Art History and Museum Studies

Cinematic Arts

Design

Intermedia

Photography

Print Media

PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHERS.

We believe that the best way for you to make real change in the world is to get out into it. That’s why we’ve created partnerships like the one we have with Lakeland Elementary/Middle School, focused on school- and family-centered strategies that address student and community needs. It gives our students the chance to get real teaching experience while they help Lakeland students improve reading and math test scores.

IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

VANESSA GONZALEZ ’19 AMERICAN STUDIES

HOMETOWN: Washington, D.C.

Dreaming Big

Vanessa Gonzalez has been completely independent since age 17 and is the first member of her family to graduate from college. Despite working several jobs at once and struggling with health challenges, she earned an associate degree from Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) and graduated from UMBC as a Sherman Teacher Scholar with a 4.0 GPA. She has big dreams that she’s on the path to achieving: to teach math in Baltimore City and one day travel with the Peace Corps.

Pursuing What She Loves

“Every now and then there are hiccups, but I went from never believing that I would make it past 18 years old to being 24 and accomplishing so much… And I’m pursuing exactly what I love,” she says. “I’m excited every day. It’s just nice having happiness.”

A Chance to Give Back

Now that she’s made it this far, with the support of the Sherman Scholars staff and her American studies mentors, Gonzalez wants to give back to the community. “My goal is to be a part of the change that I’d like to see,” says Gonzalez, voicing the goal of so many UMBC students. “I want to be part of helping lift up a community that deserves more.”

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY is constantly asking what’s next, with our focus on research, innovation, and education.

We create a space for our students that allows them to cross disciplines in both their research and their classes. As a result, our students become adept problem solvers who are poised to tackle modern technological challenges.

In all that we do, we work to include diverse voices, conduct cutting-edge research, and prepare students to join a global workforce.

MAJORS AND PROGRAMS

Business Technology Administration

Management

Chemical Engineering

Biotechnology/Bioengineering

Environmental Engineering and Sustainability

Computer Engineering

Computer Science

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

Cybersecurity

Data Science

Game Development

Information Systems

Mechanical Engineering

A FISH OUT OF WATER

The challenges of building a human-powered amphibious sculpture include working without a blueprint in sight, avoiding flying sparks from your professor’s power tools, returning to the theatre department’s dumpster again and again seeking out items to upcycle, and—oh yeah —not sinking in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor when all is said and done. And those are exactly the challenges that Professor Steven McAlpine and his students—whose majors range from mechanical engineering to psychology and environmental science to music technology—take on each year. Most recently they’ve given an upcycled shark sculpture named MC Hammerhead a second life by building it a three-tricycle chassis, complete with pontoons and three pilots to compete in Baltimore’s annual Kinetic Sculpture race. This—in all its fishy, gear-filled glory—is what interdisciplinary learning looks like at UMBC.

FROM THE LAB TO THE COURT

One of the first things that Nicole got involved with at UMBC was club volleyball. She’s played since she was little, and she says joining the team immediately made her feel comfortable.

“It was something I knew how to do,” she explains, “but I was also meeting new people.” In her time on the team, she made some of her best friends and even traveled to nationals.

HEALTH CHALLENGES WITH ENGINEERING

NICOLE COUTURIER ’19 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING HOMETOWN: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Blending Disciplines

Although she knew she wanted to be a scientist, Nicole Couturier started her college career at Montgomery College as part of their humanities program. As she earned an interdisciplinary associate degree that crossed the arts, history, and literature, she deepened her work by layering on classes in science and bioengineering.

Finding Her Path

When Nicole, a U-RISE scholar, began exploring options to get involved with research, she wasn’t sure which direction to take. She was intrigued

to learn about the interdisciplinary approach taken in UMBC Labs that combine engineering, biology, and human health.

She joined the lab and began studying the properties of gold nanoparticles that can potentially be used as immunotherapy agents. She’s fascinated by all the possibilities offered by immunoengineering.

“Our lab looks at how we can engineer the immune system to do what we want,” she explains. “We want to influence it so that we can treat diseases like cancer.”

Embracing Uncertainty and Exploration

Mentors encouraged Couturier to explore and expand the scope of her work and helped her keep her expectations in check.

Thanks to her experiences at UMBC and guidance from faculty, Nicole’s embracing the spirit of discovery as she pursues a graduate degree in biomedical engineering at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES emphasizes research experiences as teaching and learning tools and creates opportunities for our students to work side-by-side with faculty, post-docs, and graduate students using state-of-the-art equipment. We create space for students to explore, testing various hypotheses and making personal discoveries. This work, combined with our emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, gives our students the chance to test the waters for future academic and career pursuits.

MAJORS AND PROGRAMS

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Biological Sciences

Biology Education

Chemistry

Chemistry Education

Biochemistry

Physical Chemistry

Mathematics

Physics

Physics Education

Statistics

Translational Life Science Technology*

*Upper-level courses for the TLST major are only offered through UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Maryland

FROM RESEARCHING TO RESEARCHER: MENTORING IS KEY

At UMBC, you’ll find that your professors are more than lecturers— they’re mentors who will get to know you and work alongside you to help you achieve your goals. Mentors are able to create a safe environment where students can explore their interests in research and determine their path for the future. These mentors have deep and long-lasting impact on the students who work with them, and the students’ creativity and fresh perspectives inspire their mentors.

The TRANSFER STUDENT ALLIANCE (TSA) )is a member benefit program for Maryland community college students interested in transferring to UMBC, including UMBC-Shady Grove. From day one, TSA members enjoy a number of benefits, such as an application fee waiver, a tuition discount for one concurrent enrollment course per semester, joint-programming and advising, and eligibility for merit scholarships and on-campus housing. Learn more about TSA on page 47.

MATHEMATICIAN

JUAN LUQUE CHANG ’19 MATHEMATICS

HOMETOWN: Panama City, Panama

A Chance to Shine

There were points at which Juan Luque Chang wasn’t sure he’d go to college. He was 11 when his family moved to the U.S., and he says he went through a bit of a rebellious phase. “I did okay in school,” he explains, “but I wasn’t excelling.” Instead, he imagined himself as an EMT or a firefighter. Nonetheless, he decided to apply to Montgomery College. “I didn’t have the confidence or the funds for a four-year school,” he explains. The smaller class sizes and the faculty’s nurturing approach helped him to thrive. “Community college was really great for me,” he adds. “It let me shine and find myself, particularly in mathematics, which I thought I hated.”

Getting a Head Start

With a new passion uncovered, Juan was ready to take his education to the next level. “I wanted to come to a school I knew was strong in STEM,” says Juan. After hearing a presentation from UMBC’s Sherman Teacher Scholars Program, he knew he’d found that strength. He also learned about UMBC’s Transfer Student Alliance, which provided support as he began to consider UMBC.

The Support to Succeed

The transition to UMBC was tough at first, because Juan was still living in Rockville without a car—he’d spend as many as four hours a day commuting. But, he was able to turn to the Sherman program staff for guidance. “The Sherman administration was always helpful,” he says. “They supported and listened to me.”

And he was loving his classes, thanks to the engaging math department faculty who opened their doors to him. “I came to UMBC knowing I wanted to really challenge myself with math and STEM,” Juan explains. “I wanted to make the most of the curriculum here.”

He did that and more, and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science.

ADDITIONAL AREAS OF STUDY

THE ERICKSON SCHOOL OF AGING STUDIES

The Erickson School at UMBC began with a vision to educate the next generation of aging services professionals. Our Management of Aging Services Program meets real-world demand as it helps our students to become innovative leaders who can improve society by enhancing the lives of older adults.

SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM

The Baccalaureate Social Work Program at UMBC is part of the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work. We guide our students through a program that helps them build the skills and techniques they’ll need for a generalist practice focused on individuals, families, groups, and communities.

INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY PROGRAM

Our Individualized Study Program gives students a chance to chart their own course as they design a major that allows them to explore multiple interests. A sampling of majors our students have recently created includes:

Biomedical Ethics

Chinese Language and Culture

Community Health

Criminal Justice

Environmental Ethics and Policy

Human-Computer Interaction

International and Global Studies

Leadership in Technology and Sports Performance

Music and Religious Studies

Neuroscience

Science Journalism

Social Advocacy and Transformative Justice

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

UMBC offers a range of two-, three-, and four-year pre-professional programs designed to help our students propel themselves into the allied health and other professional fields. Our programs include:

Pre-Accounting

Pre-Business

Pre-Dental Hygiene

Pre-Dentistry

Pre-Law

Pre-Medical Research Technology

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Nursing

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Physical Therapy

Pre-Podiatry

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

UMBC AT THE UNIVERSITIES AT SHADY GROVE

UMBC-Shady Grove gives students the option to earn a UMBC degree in Rockville, MD at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG). Upper-level coursework is offered in select undergraduate programs:

Computer Science

History

Mechanical Engineering

Political Science

Psychology

Social Work

Translational Life Science Technology

WHAT IS UMBC-SHADY GROVE?

The Universities at Shady Grove brings nine Maryland universities together on one campus, where you can earn a UMBC degree in Rockville, MD and benefit from the same quality of education and top-tier teaching as our students at UMBC’s campus in Catonsville, MD.

Consider UMBC-Shady Grove if you have earned or will earn 45 to 60 college credits prior to graduation or transfer from a previous high school or college and would like to complete your bachelor’s degree in the Washington, D.C., area.

Learn more at shadygrove.umbc.edu

There are so many resources in USG like the Writing Center and even a Counseling Center that offers free counseling and free family and couples counseling for students. I think that’s the most amazing aspect—it’s right there on campus.

— chanell h.

A CALLING

CHANELL HEDGEPETH ’19 SOCIAL WORK HOMETOWN: Kensington, Maryland

Earning a Degree Close to Home

There was never any doubt in Chanell’s mind that she’d go to college. But she needed to find a school that would help her pursue her passions while supporting her family. That meant staying close to home, so she decided to begin with an associate degree from Montgomery College. While at Montgomery College, she learned about the Raptor to Retriever program, which helps students make a smooth transfer to UMBC-Shady Grove to earn a bachelor’s degree. That’s how she met Chelsea Moyer, director of UMBC-Shady Grove

“She helped me put everything together,” says Chanell. “She helped me figure out all the things I had already done that I didn’t even know I had done.”

Exploring Her Options

Right away, Chanell knew she wanted to work in a health-related field. She initially considered nursing, but it just wasn’t the right fit.

“I realized I was more interested in the mind than the body,” says Chanell. “So I focused more on psychology.”

She was drawn to the possibilities of counseling and working with children and teenagers, and with guidance from mentors like Professor Jeanette Hoover and Dr. Diane Alonso, she began digging into sociology and social work courses and found her calling.

From Montgomery County to St. Maarten

As soon as she graduated, Chanell began a year-long international social work internship on the Carribean island of St. Maarten, where she focused on drug abuse and behavioral issues. Her next step? Earning her master’s in social work.

WANT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND?

WE’LL HELP YOU GET THERE.

What does it mean to be an honors university? It means we set high expectations and then give you the support you need to meet them. And you can take that a step further with our Honors College and prestigious scholars programs. In every class and with every professor, you’ll find a network that wants you to succeed.

HONORS COLLEGE SEMINARS

MEET THE HONORS COLLEGE AT UMBC

When you transfer to UMBC, you’ll find that the Honors College will get you connected to a supportive community that is committed to intellectual inquiry, hard work, and the life of the mind. Your honors classes and seminars will help you cultivate your distinctive skills and abilities with some of UMBC’s best professors and most capable students. Plus, transfer students are such an integral part of our Honors College community that we create unique events and workshops throughout the year designed to help you get the resources you need to be successful.

DISCOVER OUR COMMUNITY OF INQUIRING MINDS

At UMBC, we’ve built a unique set of programs dedicated to helping you make big change in the world. In these programs, you’ll earn scholarships to help finance your education, but you’ll also find a supportive community that is focused on giving you a launchpad for your academic, career, and life goals.

The CYBER SCHOLARS program is perfect for students who are ready to take on the cybersecurity challenges of today and tomorrow.

The CHARLOTTE W. NEWCOMBE SCHOLARSHIP creates opportunity and community for undergraduates to complete their first bachelor’s degree.

The SHERMAN TEACHER SCHOLARS program supports and prepares students who want to teach science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in historically underserved, urban schools and STEM classrooms.

The T-SITE (TRANSFER SCHOLARS IN IT AND ENGINEERING) program provides faculty and peer mentorship and a supportive community to incoming transfer students, helping them build leadership skills, secure industry internships, and explore career options.

The U-RISE program is a research training scholarship opportunity for juniors and seniors with a strong desire to pursue a Ph.D. degree and career in biomedical research or mathematics, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing underrepresented groups in these fields.

In the HONORS COLLEGE, you can supplement your classes with unique and interdisciplinary seminars like:

Physiology of Dinosaurs

Race, Poverty, and Gender in Baltimore

Feast and Fast in Medieval Literature

Spies, Assassins, and Cyberwarriors: Modern National Security Law

PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR RETURNING ADULT LEARNER STUDENTS

Being a returning adult student—a student seeking their first undergraduate degree—can present a unique set of challenges not often faced by other students. That’s why our Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarship offers everything from scholarship support to monthly workshops and programs that focus on the academic, personal, and professional aspects of life as a returning woman student (sometimes referred to as adult learners).

HOME AWAY

MARIE PESSAGNO ’18

SOCIAL WORK AND GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES

HOMETOWN: Harwood, Maryland

Support from Day One

The first day of school conjures up images of new outfits and crisp notebooks, right? For Marie Pessagno, things looked a little different.

Marie’s a returning woman student, and by the time she got to UMBC, she’d already racked up years in the mental health field, moved across the country twice, and had kids. She’d recently separated from her husband, and on the day school started, he wasn’t able to take the girls.

“I showed up and walked into [my professor’s] office with my daughters and sat down and cried,” remembers Marie. “She had me just come into

class anyway—I had both girls with me, I even nursed one of them in class.” That moment was pivotal for Marie, who had stepped onto campus unsure any of this would work out and instead found herself immediately and wholly supported.

Taking the Next Step

Marie had chosen UMBC because of its strong social work program. As she began classes, she found faculty who pushed and supported her, all with an eye on helping her achieve her goals. She also found a home in the Women’s Center, where she met other returning women scholars who supported and encouraged one another. After graduating, Marie entered the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She plans to work for Child Protective Services and perhaps even earn her Ph.D.

What Drives Her

Throughout her academic journey, two inspirations have pushed Marie to always do her best: her two daughters. Calling her children the “driving force” for her success, she shares, “I am finishing school so that I can give them the best opportunities in this world that I can.”

YOU’LL BE READY FOR CAREER SUCCESS.

When you choose UMBC, you’re choosing a university with a reputation for preparing students for careers or graduate school. That reputation comes not only from strong academics and career programs, but also our proximity to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. And the Career Center is the perfect place to jump start your search for employment, with friendly staff and a huge database of jobs to pique your interest.

400+ EMPLOYER VISITS to recruit UMBC students

87% of EMPLOYED UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE RECIPIENTS are in positions directly related to their career goals

90,000+

ALUMNI in the Maryland and D.C. area for a strong network and career pipeline

GRADUATES ARE WORKING...

39 STATES plus Washington, D.C.

Note: All career and internship data shown here is from the 2021-2022 academic year.

WHERE YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT

We’ve forged strong relationships with top employers that will give you a pipeline for rich and engaging internships and careers. Here are just a few examples of the organizations who often recruit our students and alumni:

GET REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE WITH INTERNSHIPS

Competition in today’s workforce is intense even for entry-level positions. That’s why we focus on helping you secure internships that will not only give you the chance to gain experience and contribute to companies and government agencies during your undergrad years, but also help you make the connections you’ll need to secure a job that matches your skills and interests.

79% 1,515

student enrollments in experiential learning through the Career Center

of undergraduates had engaged in applied learning, such as internships, research, service-learning, study abroad, student teaching and leadership positions while at UMBC

BREAKING DOWN ROADBLOCKS

For many students, taking an unpaid internship means serious sacrifice, or even an obstacle to future success. That’s why UMBC created a special fund to provide stipends to students interested in otherwise unpaid internships and service opportunities.

COVID-19 VACCINE RESEARCH

UMBC CAN TAKE YOU PLACES.

If you’re looking to embark on a career in academia and scholarship that takes you to grad school and beyond, UMBC will help you get there. Many of our students continue their studies, pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees. Some also earn prestigious scholarships that take them around the U.S. and the world as they attend graduate school and conduct research.

UMBC GRADS MAKE WAVES

After completing their degrees at UMBC, our graduates go on to some of the most impressive and well-known universities to pursue graduate and professional studies and even to join the faculty:

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

DUKE UNIVERSITY

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

M.I.T.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

OUR ALUMNI ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF COVID-19 EFFORTS. Immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett ’08, M16, biological sciences and sociology, assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, previously led a vaccine development team at the National Institutes of Health. The team she led, which included Olubukola Abiona ’17, M25, biochemistry and molecular biology, and Darian Cash ’02, M10, chemistry, developed the highly effective COVID-19 vaccine from the biotech company Moderna.

I’ve witnessed Anna’s metamorphosis from a student who was unsure of her academic capabilities to a young woman who is positioning herself to impact the economic and public policy field. Her superpower is her ability to foster connections and collaborations to make a difference.

— Jacqueline King, Ph.D. ’09 Associate Director of U-RISE and Anna’s Mentor

ANNA GIFTY OPOKU-AGYEMAN ’19

MATHEMATICS AND ECONOMICS

HOMETOWN: Kumasi, Ghana and Columbia, MD

Finding Her Footing

The discovery of our passions and dreams is rarely a linear process, as Anna can attest. She began her college journey as a business major, but it just didn’t fit. “It just wasn’t satisfying the itch I had in terms of the career I wanted,” says Anna. After a semester, she transferred to UMBC to pursue biology. She was conducting a project that examined the experience of school-aged children in Malawi. Although she was excited about the project, she constantly found herself leaning away from the biological implications and instead looking at things through a policy lens.

The Courage to Shift Gears

The more she thought about it and talked with friends and family, the more Anna realized that she felt

drawn to mathematics and economics. Despite that pull, Anna worried about changing directions again, but Dr. Jacqueline King ’09, psychology— her mentor and associate director of the U-RISE program—put her mind at ease.

“I asked if she thought I could change my major,” says Anna, “and she said, ‘You can do whatever you want.’” That implicit trust and encouragement was the push Anna needed, and she made the shift.

To Harvard, and Beyond

There’s no doubt it was the right step. Following that change, Anna was able to deepen her research and she won an internship with a nationally known economist.

What’s more, Anna co-founded the Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Conference for Economics and Related Fields—the first formal space for black women in economics to convene and benefit from the resources of a supportive network. Now, she’s earning her doctorate in Public Policy at Harvard.

“The field needs me as a black woman,” says Anna. “Especially as someone with passion.”

WITH YOUR REAL DISCOVERIES

DISCOVER YOURSELF THROUGH RESEARCH.

We believe that research is an important key to making big change in our world. That’s why we create unparalleled opportunities for you to get involved in our labs and research projects here on campus. Working alongside professors and graduate students, you’ll lead the design and implementation of creative and challenging research projects. That independence will propel you forward as you develop your identity as a researcher.

Our students are researching and publishing across every academic discipline, and they’re MAKING REAL DISCOVERIES and change in the world as a result. Here is a handful of the topics they study:

Restoring Forests Around the World

The Evolution of Korean Art Support for Families Experiencing Trauma

Artificial Intelligence and its Ability to Impact Business

The Intersection of LGBTQ and Faith-based Identities

Laser-based Technology to Detect IEDs and other Combat Zone Hazards Options in Social Work Delivery

UMBC IS AMONG 146 INSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION THAT HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RESEARCH PERFORMANCE, KNOWN AS R1 (RESEARCH 1)

Having undergraduates in the lab has extended our capability to ask more complex questions than we would otherwise take on.

— DR. CHUCK BIEBERICH, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

WHERE TRANSFER STUDENTS LIVE

Want to make the most of your college experience? Join the other transfer students who choose to live on campus. You’ll be plugged in to a welcoming and supportive community from day one as you study and live alongside your classmates.

FROM HAGERSTOWN TO

DEREK COSS ’18, BIOLOGY

HOMETOWN: Hagerstown, Maryland

Finding the Right Fit

For Derek, transferring to UMBC was a no-brainer. He’d attended Hagerstown Community College, where he’d studied in the STEM program. One of his mentors there, Dr. Kristen Lennon, recommended UMBC for the strength of its programs and the research opportunities it offered.

“When I came to UMBC, I felt attached to it from my first visit,” says Derek. “It was the campus, the people I talked to, and the program itself. And the focus on research was also important to me—[these were] faculty I wanted to do research with.”

Getting Connected on Campus

“The Transfer Student Network was a great resource,” says Derek. “Some of my first friends I met at Transfer Student Day.” Those friendships have lasted through the years, he adds. “I’m still in touch with them now,” he explains. “It surprised me because I always thought of those things as silly.”

Derek also made important connections within the Honors College, which helped ease his transition to UMBC. “[The Honors College] had transfer mentors,” Derek recalls, “I later became a transfer student leader working to help new transfer students.”

In the lab and in the field

Derek also joined Dr. Kevin Omland in his lab, where he was able to study Eastern Bluebird song. Derek is quick to note that the opportunity he had to work alongside his mentors in the lab helped him secure research publications and even put him on the path to graduate school.

Derek went on to pursue his master’s, with his research focused on behavior and sound in frogs. “I study multimodal signaling, which means [frogs] have visual and acoustic ways of communicating,” explains Derek.

That work has taken him from Maryland to Panama and back again, and it’s just the beginning.

FROM DAY ONE WE SUPPORT OUR TRANSFER STUDENTS.

At UMBC, you’re a part of our community from the moment you arrive on campus. But we also know that our transfer students have unique needs. That’s why we’ve created a variety of services, events, and organizations tailor-made for transfer students.

WELCOMING TRANSFER STUDENTS TO CAMPUS

We know that you’ll have needs and questions that are a bit different from entering first-year students, so we start your time at UMBC with a variety of special transfer programs, including:

Transfer-only Orientation programs

Dawg Days: Transfer Experience

Transfer Welcome Day

At each program, you’ll get the chance to get to know UMBC and your fellow transfer students, ensuring that you start your time here off on the right foot.

TRANSFER SEMINARS

At UMBC, we offer unique courses that help incoming transfer students in their first semester navigate a new university. Created at the request of our current transfer students, these courses will help you connect quickly with your major department and move forward with your academic and co-curricular planning to ensure you’re ready for the job market.

TRANSFER STUDENT NETWORK

Adjusting to a new campus can be difficult. Fortunately, the Transfer Student Network (TSN) is here to help you. Membership includes monthly 1:1 mentor check-ins, free events and trips, opportunities to meet other transfers, and access to campus resources. We also offer special transfer student workshops that cover topics like:

Transfer Hacks

Speed Networking

How Not to Waste Your Time

Travel Like a Transfer

Academic Advising 101

JOIN OUR T.E.A.M.

The Transfer Engagement and Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) program is dedicated to increasing the persistence and retention of underrepresented male students at UMBC, with emphasis on black men. T.E.A.M. emphasizes mentorship and creating a comfortable environment in which students of color can have fun, discuss important issues, motivate each other, and find success.

TAU SIGMA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

This honor society was created specifically for transfer students to recognize and promote their academic excellence and involvement. Our UMBC chapter provides a chance to bond with other transfer students through networking and social events.

COMMUTER LOUNGE

Many of our transfer students choose to live off-campus, so we‘ve created a lounge space to give you a home away from home while you’re on campus. We can also help you secure study space in the library or a locker in the Retriever Activities Center if you need a place to store your stuff while you’re here.

NEPALI STUDENT ASSOCIATION

At UMBC, you’ll find a wide array of student organizations focused on different activities and interests. The Nepali Student Organization is one of our many cultural student organizations. It’s focused on teaching people about and celebrating Nepal and Nepali culture at UMBC and beyond. Throughout the year, the NSA hosts events like Nepali festival celebrations and cultural nights.

CREATING

ANUSHA MALLA ’19 INFORMATION SYSTEMS HOMETOWN: Parbat, Nepal

Braving Big Changes

Anusha Malla’s journey to UMBC was, quite literally, a long one. Originally from Nepal, she came to the United States for college. After earning an associate in computer science from the Community College of Baltimore County, she decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree at UMBC. Like many transfer students, it was a big step. “I’m a first-generation college student, so this was all very new to me,” Anusha explains. In her first semester, Anusha—a commuter student—often came to campus for class and went straight back home to study. But she wanted more.

A Chance to Connect

Things changed when Anusha came across a flyer for UMBCworks, a job database that helps students find jobs and internships on and off campus. She got a job as a Transfer Student Leader for UMBC’s Off Campus Student Services office where she was able to help students just like her find their way on campus.

“I figured out that the more I stayed on campus, the more opportunities I had to get involved and be connected,” Anusha explains.

Bringing Others Together

Surrounded by her own supportive community, Anusha decided to do something big. As a board member of the Nepali Student Association, she spearheaded the creation of an event to showcase Nepalese Culture through food, music, and dance. More than 120 students from UMBC and area community colleges came out to celebrate.

“A lot of Nepali students in Maryland think UMBC is a big campus, so they are scared to come here,” says Anusha. “I want to encourage them to come.”

YOU’LL PLAY AS HARD AS YOU WORK.

Your UMBC experience is what you make it. You’re sure to find your fit among our 200+ clubs and student organizations, study abroad, and even intellectual sports like mock trial—which defeated Yale in 2021 to win its first national championship. One evening, you could be playing Humans vs. Zombies and the next cheering on one of UMBC’s 17 Division I sports teams.

WELCOME TO #RETRIEVERNATION

Whether you want to join the team or just cheer them on, the Dawgs are here for you. Our teams have earned several America East championship titles in recent years for swimming/diving, basketball, soccer, and more.

TIME TO GET MOVING

Considering intramural sports or wanting to start a yoga practice? The recently renovated Retriever Activities Center includes fitness studios, weight training space, a cardio studio, workout classes, an aquatics center, and tennis courts. Whatever your interest, we’ll keep you moving in your pursuit of an active and balanced life.

IN RECENT YEARS, NCAA FANS RANK UMBC’S RETRIEVER PARK AMONG THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH COLLEGE SOCCER, ALONGSIDE PENN STATE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

200+ CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

17 NCAA DIVISION I SPORTS TEAMS

30+ INTRAMURAL AND CLUB SPORTS TEAMS

YOUR CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD THROUGH STUDY ABROAD.

At UMBC, the world is—quite literally—your classroom. Learn about new cultures and governments. Test your research chops in an on-site archaeology lab. Explore art and literature in the places they were created. Whatever you choose, it’s sure to be an amazing experience.

ROVING RETRIEVERS

In recent years, UMBC students have enjoyed study abroad in:

WORRIED YOU CAN’T AFFORD STUDY ABROAD?

Most students can use some or all of their financial aid and scholarships toward their experience overseas.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

CANNES, FRANCE

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA

BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA

SIENA, ITALY

BARCELONA, SPAIN

KASSEL, GERMANY

THIMPHU, BHUTAN

LEARNING THROUGH SERVICE.

Service and volunteerism are inextricably woven into our Retriever culture. All students can find unique and meaningful ways to get involved, learn about social issues, build skills, and act intentionally to better local and global communities. Service at UMBC is a gateway to deep, lifelong involvement in solving social problems and making meaningful, sustainable contributions.

GROWING AS A LEADER

87%

of service-learning respondents say their experiences HELPED THEM TO GROW AS LEADERS

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

We know that your college experience is so much more than what happens in the classroom. Whoever you are, whatever your interests, you’ll find friends and professors here who will share your passions— and broaden your perspective. Through clubs, events, and student organizations, UMBC lets you follow your passion through to practice. You can be yourself and become your best self at UMBC.

WHERE OUR STUDENTS SERVE. Our students participate in service learning throughout the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., region, at places like:

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

Global Brigades

Patterson Park Audubon Center

Refugee Youth Project

Special Olympics Maryland

WITH SERVICE LEARNING

SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS

Veteran Student Services (VSS) in Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) works to make the transition from military service to college easier for UMBC’s veteran population.

VSS builds community among UMBC’s veterans and awareness of veteran issues, beginning with a welcome social and an introduction to campus resources, and continuing throughout the semester with monthly coffee talks, movie nights, Veterans Week, and more.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

RANDY DEINLEIN ’19

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HOMETOWN: White Marsh, Maryland Back to School

At 27, Randy found himself standing in the parking lot of the Community College of Baltimore County, about to go back to school for the first time in years, and he was nervous.

“I hadn’t been there [CCBC] since high school. I almost went home,” he says. “But I decided, ‘I’ll just see how today goes.’”

Randy, an Air Force veteran ready to build a new career, saw this as a chance to get a feel for college, but it turned out to be the beginning of something much bigger. Not only did he stay, he signed up for honors classes, earned his associate degree, and then transferred to UMBC to pursue a degree in engineering.

Engineering Change

One of the best parts of his UMBC experience, he says, is participating in the Grand Challenge, because it taps directly into one of his top priorities: figuring out ways he can make real change in the world.

The Grand Challenge is a scholars program at UMBC that focuses on tackling some of society’s greatest needs, like reverse engineering the brain or restructuring our cities.

“I want to find ways I, as a future engineer, can more directly solve some of the world’s issues to make the world a better place,” says Randy.

What it Takes

Randy also knows that the work of making big change means people need big support. He found friends and mentors in places like Engineers Without Borders and the Honors College. He partnered with his mentor Dr. Jamie Gurganus on a research project to evaluate the effectiveness of engineering curricula at local Baltimore schools. He even started a student veteran’s organization.

It’s all part of a greater thread of service that runs through Randy’s life. There’s no doubt that he’s come a long way from that parking lot.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

LIVING ON CAMPUS

Want to make the most of your college experience? Join the other transfer students who choose to live on campus. You’ll love the convenience of being close to class, campus life, academic opportunities, and recreational activities each day. Plus, you’ll be plugged in to a welcoming and supportive community from day one as you study and live alongside your classmates.

OFF CAMPUS STUDENT SERVICES

Prefer to live off campus? Whether you’re a transfer, a commuter student, a veteran, an adult learner, or all of the above, we offer ongoing services, programs, academic and social support, and educational opportunities to help you successfully navigate UMBC. Whether you’ve got questions about housing and parking or how you can launch your career, we have dedicated staffers here to help.

PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER.

Transferring to UMBC is a great way to continue your education and launch your career, but we also know that the transfer process can be confusing, so we’ve created a variety of resources and tools to help you navigate your transfer smoothly and with confidence.

TRANSFER CENTRAL

We know that three of the most asked questions regarding transfer are: How will my credits transfer? How long will it take to graduate? and How much will it cost? That’s why we’ve created Transfer Central. Rather than simply giving you a list of the courses that typically transfer to UMBC, we’ve gone a step farther. This interactive tool will give you real-time credit estimates, best-fit major recommendations, and access to important dates, milestones, and transfer resources that you’ll need along the way.

Learn more at umbc.transfer.degree

JOIN THE TRANSFER STUDENT ALLIANCE

The Transfer Student Alliance (TSA) is a member benefit program for Maryland community college students interested in transferring to UMBC. From day one, our TSA members enjoy a number of benefits at both UMBC and UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove.

Member benefits include:

$75 transfer admission application fee waiver

25% tuition discount for one concurrent UMBC course per semester

Guaranteed annual $1,500 merit scholarship for up to two years

Guaranteed on-campus housing

Priority advising and registration at New Student Orientation

PRE-APPLICATION ACADEMIC PLANNING

Pre-Application Academic Planning supports transfer students and connects them to services and resources to help smooth the transition to UMBC. To discuss transfer academic plans such as UMBC graduation requirements, transfer credits, and major requirements, book an appointment with a UMBC pre-transfer advisor at: undergraduate.umbc.edu/transfer-students/plan.

YOU’LL GET AN AMAZING EDUCATION AT AN INCREDIBLE VALUE.

We know that cost is a huge factor in your college decision, so we focus on making sure that we’re giving you plenty of bang for your buck. We do that by blending unique academic offerings, such as game development, Asian studies, and naval science, with vibrant student life and athletics.

*Each student’s individual costs may vary based upon courses, housing, and meal plan selection. Costs are subject to change with Board of

FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION

Financing your education is an important step, and that’s why we offer a wide range of financial aid and scholarships.

NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID

A variety of need-based financial aid programs are available, awarded in three categories: grants, loans, and employment. The Office of Financial Aid will prepare a financial aid package for eligible students which may consist of one or more of these types of aid to assist in meeting a student’s financial needs. Eligibility is calculated based on FAFSA results, so make sure to apply online as soon as possible after the FAFSA is released but before the priority deadline of March 1.

MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

In addition to the named scholars programs that offer scholarships to incoming students, UMBC offers merit awards to Maryland community college transfer students, including opportunities like:

Transfer Student Alliance: $1,500 in guaranteed scholarships each year for two years for qualified TSA members Phi Theta Kappa: $2,500 in scholarships each year for two years for members of PTK Academic Achievement Awards for Transfer Students: Up to $2,500 each year for two years

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Please mark your calendars with these important application and financial aid deadlines below.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Fall Admission to UMBC and the Honors College at UMBC

PRIORITY DEADLINE: MARCH 1 | REGULAR DEADLINE: JUNE 1

Spring Admission to UMBC and the Honors College at UMBC

PRIORITY DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15 | REGULAR DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1

Financial Aid

PRIORITY FOR FAFSA FOR FALL: MARCH 1

PRIORITY FOR FAFSA FOR SPRING: DECEMBER 1

READY TO FIND YOURSELF?

HOW TO APPLY

Apply to UMBC through the Common App website at apply.transfer.commonapp.org. Within the application, you’ll be asked to:

Submit an essay. This helps us get to know you. Pay the $75 non-refundable application fee.

Apply to the Honors College.

Complete residency questions to determine your tuition status. Request application items from third-party sources:

– Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended

– Letters of Recommendation (optional)

See undergraduate.umbc.edu/transfer-students/how-to-apply for more details.

QUESTIONS?

Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation at admissions@umbc.edu or 410-455-2292.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

— MIA RICKENBACH

YOU’RE INVITED. Spend some time with us to see why UMBC is a top transfer destination:

Black and Gold Information Sessions: Hear directly from an admissions counselor about our admissions requirements, scholarships, academic programs, and more.

Meet With an Admissions Representative: Schedule a time to have your questions answered and learn more about how UMBC can help you reach your goals.

Visit undergraduate.umbc.edu/visit to learn about all our events—including speciality events for transfer students—and other ways to connect with UMBC.

I knew instinctively that UMBC was the place for me.

’19

YOU’RE INVITED!