First Year Students | Exploratory/Undecided Students | Transfer Students
Pre-Professional/Graduate School Planning

Advising — Undergraduate Students

Academic Advising helps you clarify life/career goals, reach your educational potential and achieve academic success through shared mentoring relationships among faculty, professional advisors, administrators, peer advisors and students. The process of information exchange and communication is a shared responsibility of advisors and advisees.

My Advisor
Core Beliefs & Values about Academic Advising
What you should expect of your academic advisor
What your academic advisor expects from you
Advising Resources

My Advisor

My Advisor Students with declared majors are advised by departmental advisors. Undecided/exploratory students are advised by professional advisors in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising. Academic and Pre-Professional Advising also provides additional advising support for students pursuing graduate studies and pre-professional interests including: pre-nursing, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary, pre-physical therapy, pre-dental and pre-dental hygiene, pre-medicine and pre-medical technology. Pre-law advising is available in the department of Political Science. Additional advising support is provided by: Athletics, The Honors College, Center for Women in Science and Technology (CWIT) Program, Humanities Scholars Program, Linehan Artists Scholars Program, Sondheim Public Affairs Program, and Meyerhoff Scholars Program.

Click here for your departmental advising contact information

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Core Beliefs & Values about Academic Advising

At UMBC we support the following elements of academic advising:

• Shared Responsibility—Advising is the responsibility of faculty, students, professional advisors, and administrators. It is a shared responsibility.
  Academic Advising enables students to benefit as fully as possible from the college experience.
  
  
• Student Centered—Advising is student centered and focuses on helping students plan for academic success. The advising process respects the diverse needs of students. Effective advising will help students imagine a larger meaning for their lives.
  
• Priorities—Advising is important to all students and requires appropriate attention for freshman, sophomores, and all students with special needs including those who may experience greater indecision.
  
• Proactive—Advising is a proactive process for both students and faculty and staff. A successful advising relationship is one in which both, advisor and advisee, learn, grow and experience positive outcomes over time.
  
• An Element of Success—Advising is vital to the success of UMBC students because of the range of needs of students and the many educational opportunities available inside and outside the university.

What you should expect of your academic advisor

Advisors should help you develop meaningful educational plans that are congruent with your life goals. Your advisor serves as an advocate to promote your intellectual growth, assist in clarifying your goals and help to maximize your college experience.

Specifically, your academic advisor is expected to:

• Serve as a resource person .
• Provide accurate information about university programs, policies and academic requirements.
• Assist you in developing a plan for their college years.
• Provide information concerning career and graduate/professional school opportunities.
• Assist you in identifying career goals and objectives .
• Serve as a link between students and the university community .

What your academic advisor expects from you

It is important that you, as a student, understand that the advising process is a partnership between students and advisors. It is your responsibility to be proactive in your education. You are expected to identify and clarify your personal values, abilities, interests and goals independently, as well as with your advisor. You should be knowledgeable about program requirements and deadlines that impact progress toward degree requirements. It is your responsibility to schedule touch points each semester with your academic advisor.

Specifically, advisees are expected to:

• Stay informed about current academic policies, procedures and requirements.
  
• Periodically review the catalog, schedule of classes and departmental documents.
  
• Meet with your advisor on a regular basis. (at least once a semester)
  
• Accept responsibility for your academic choices.
  
• Develop your social, academic and career goals.
  
• Maintain personal copies of tentative degree plan, progress reports, and general education reviews.
  
• Come to advising sessions prepared.
  

Advising Resources

The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising is located in the Academic Services building. The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising has a library featuring materials on graduate and professional school planning, major exploration and effective study skills. Computer stations are available to utilize on-line resources and an on-line major exploration assessment, the Self Directed Search (SDS). Peer advisors staff the center and are ready and able to assist students with basic questions.

Self Directed Search (SDS)
Students may make an appointment to take a computerized major exploration assessment called the SDS. The SDS is based on your interests, abilities and values as it relates to major and career field. A one hour appointment can be scheduled that consists of completing the assessment and interpretation and discussion of results with an academic advisor.

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