Departmental Advising Information

Undergraduate students who have not been assigned to an academic advisor or who have questions about academic advising may contact the individuals listed below for assistance.

Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising

Advising Coordinator:  Ericka Thompson

Email:  arc@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-2729

Location:  Academic Services Building, Room 102

Undeclared majors/exploratory students should contact this office to make appointments for advising in connection with course registration or for other purposes. OAPA is the primary advising office for students who have not declared a major, including those with pre-professional goals.

Students without declared majors who are planning to apply to medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, or veterinary school should also contact the Health Professions Advising Coordinator, Ms. Christy Botdorf, for supplementary specialized advising. (See the PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office listing for details.)

Students without declared majors who plan to pursue careers in nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant, dental hygiene, and all other allied health fields receive their primary advising and specialized advising in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising.  OAPA advisors also provide specialized advising to students with declared majors planning careers in these fields, while primary advising for registration takes place in the student’s major department.

Acting (B.F.A. program)

Advising Coordinator:  Eve Muson

Email: ebmuson@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-2945

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 462

Theatre students pursuing the B.F.A. in Acting should contact Ms. Muson for an advising appointment.

Administrative and Managerial Sciences

Advising Coordinator:  Jeanne St. Martin (Accounting)

Email:  jeanne@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-2178

Location:  Public Policy Building, Room 338

Advising for the Accounting and Finance certificates is provided in the Economics Dept. Contact Ms. St. Martin for an appointment.

Advising Coordinator:  Tate Redding

Email: redding@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3942

Location: ITE Building, Room 414

Advising for the MBA Preparatory Studies and Management Science certificates is provided in the IS Dept. Contact Tate Redding for an appointment.

Africana Studies

Advising Coordinator:  Thomas Robinson

Email: trobinson@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2158

Location:  Math/Psychology Building, Room 225

Students should sign up for advising appointments outside individual advisors’ offices.

Aging, Management of Aging Services        

See Erickson School

American Studies

Advising Contact:  Carol Harmon

Email: harmon@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-6276

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 453

Advising Coordinator:  Kathy Bryan

Email: kbryan@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-1351

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 460

Ancient Studies

Advising Coordinator:  Marilyn Goldberg

Email: goldberg@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2970

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 454

Anthropology

See Sociology and Anthropology

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOL major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. These assignments are typically completed by mid-semester, and are emailed to each student’s UMBC email account. A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the main offices for both Biological Sciences (BS 480) and Chemistry & Biochemistry (MEYR 100).

Students whose BIOC major was not officially declared prior to the end of Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they have already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office to add the BIOC major, they may be advised within the department as follows:

• Students with 30 or fewer EARNED credits (all transferred credit, plus all UMBC coursework in which a grade has already been earned), should sign up for an appointment Mrs. Julie Crosby (julie11@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1739) or Ms. Christine Powers (cpowers1@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1718), the advisors for Undergraduate Life Sciences. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted outside their offices in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building (Room 140).
• Students with more than 30 EARNED credits should contact the Faculty Advising Coordinator for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dr. Allison Tracy (atracy@umbc.edu, MEYR 475C, ext. 5-2043).

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOL major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. These assignments are typically completed by mid-semester, and are emailed to each student’s UMBC email account. A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the Biological Sciences Department’s main office (BS 480).

Students whose BINF major was not declared prior to the end of Schedule Adjustment, but who have already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office should sign up for an appointment with Mrs. Julie Crosby (julie11@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1739) or Ms. Christine Powers (cpowers1@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1718), the advisors for Undergraduate Life Sciences. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted outside their offices in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building (Room 140).

Biological Sciences

Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOL major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. These assignments are typically completed by mid-semester, and are emailed to each student’s UMBC email account. A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the Biological Sciences Department’s main office (BS 480)

Students whose BIOL major was not officially declared prior to the end of Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they have already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office to add the BIOL major, they may be advised within the department as follows:

• Students with 30 or fewer EARNED credits (all transferred credit, plus all UMBC coursework in which a grade has already been earned), should sign up for an appointment Mrs. Julie Crosby (julie11@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1739) or Ms. Christine Powers (cpowers1@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1718), the advisors for Undergraduate Life Sciences. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted outside their offices in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building (Room 140).
• Students with more than 30 EARNED credits should contact the Department of Biological Sciences main office (BS 480, ext. 5-2261) for a temporary advising assignment.

Biological Sciences minors may be advised by Mrs. Crosby or Ms. Powers.

Business Technology Administration

Advising Coordinator:  Tate Redding

Email: redding@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3942

Location: ITE Building, Room 414

Declared BTA majors will find the name of their advisor in myUMBC, under Advising and Student Support, by clicking on the “My Advisors” link. If no advisor is listed there, please contact Tate Redding. During pre-registration advising, most advisors have a signup sheet outside their offices where students can sign up for an advising appointment.

Chemistry and Chemistry Education

Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOL major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. These assignments are typically completed by mid-semester. A list of majors with their advising assignments is posted outside the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department’s main office (MEYR 100).

Students whose CHEM or CHED major was not officially declared prior to the end of Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they have already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office add the CHEM or CHED major, they may be advised within the department as follows:

• Students with 30 or fewer EARNED credits (all transferred credit, plus all UMBC coursework in which a grade has already been earned), should sign up for an appointment with Mrs. Julie Crosby (julie11@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1739) or Ms. Christine Powers (cpowers1@umbc.edu, ext. 5-1718), the advisors for Undergraduate Life Sciences. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted outside their offices in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building (Room 140).
• Students with more than 30 EARNED credits should contact Sandy Tabler in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Main Office (MEYR 100) for assignment to a faculty advisor.

Chemistry minors are advised by Dr. Paul Smith in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Computer Science and Computer Engineering

See College of Engineering and Information Technology

Dance

Advising Coordinator:  Carol Hess-Vait

Email: hessvait@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2951

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 420

Students should check the list posted on the door of the department office (Fine Arts 467C) for the names of their advisors. Students should sign up for an advising appointment on the list posted on their advisor’s door.

Economics and Financial Economics

Advising Coordinator:  Mark Thomas

Email: mathomas@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-8485

Location:  Public Policy Building, Room 341

Students seeking advisor assignments will be assisted between the hours of 8:30-4:30 in Public Policy Building, Rooms 344, 338, or 343.  Current majors will receive the name of advisor via UMBC email prior to each advising period.  New majors should check the alphabetical allocation available in the department office.  Sign up sheets for advising appointments are outside advisors’ doors. 

Education

Advising Coordinator:  Vickie Williams (elementary and secondary ed. admissions advising)

Email: vwilli5@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2327

Location:  Academic IV Building, A Wing, Room 419

Additional Advisors:

Pat Scully (admissions and ongoing early childhood ed. advising)

Email: pscull1@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2307

Location:  Academic IV Building, A Wing, Room 427

Barbara Bourne (ongoing advising, elementary ed.)

Email:  barbara.bourne@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-2308

Location:  Academic IV Building, A Wing, Room 426

Linda Oliva (ongoing advising, secondary and K-12 program advising)

Email:  oliva@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-2382

Location:  Academic IV Building, A Wing, Room 410

An advising appointment book is available at the front counter in Academic IV, Room 428.

Emergency Health Services

Advising Coordinator:  Dwight Polk

Email:  polk@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3782

Location:  Academic IV Building, A Wing, Room 306

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Students majoring in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Chemical Engineering and engineering undecided will need to make an appointment to meet with one of the professional advisors. Mr. Joshua Abrams josh.abrams@umbc.edu, Ms. Anne Arey annearey@umbc.edu, Mrs. Catherine Bielawski bielawsk@umbc.edu, and Mrs. Emily Stephens will post sign-up information outside the office area ITE Building rooms 202-206. Telephone: 410-455-3096.

Computer Engineering and Computer Science students who have completed the gateway will be assigned a faculty advisor. Faculty assignments are posted outside of ITE 204.

Mechanical Engineering students who have completed the gateway and are enrolled in ENME 204 will be assigned a faculty advisor. Faculty assignments are posted outside of ENG 210.

Chemical Engineering students who have completed the gateway and ENCH 215 will be
assigned a faculty advisor. Faculty assignments are posted outside of ENG 314.

English

Advising Coordinator:  Michael Fallon

Email:  fallon@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2021

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 444

Environmental Science and Environmental Studies

Advising Coordinator:  Phyllis Stevens

Email: ges@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2002

Location:  Sondheim Building, 211K

Erickson School (Management of Aging Services)

Advising Coordinator:  Michelle Howell

Email:  mhowell@umbc.edu

Phone: 443-543-5607

Location:  5523 Research Park Drive, Suite 230, Baltimore, MD 21228

Students will be contacted to be given their advising assignments and other instructions.  Students should contact the department to schedule appointments with their assigned advisor,

Gender and Women’s Studies

Advising Coordinator:  Dr. Kate Drabinski

Email:  drabinsk@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-6371

Location:  Academic IV Building, Room 436

Geography and Environmental Systems

Advising Coordinator:  Phyllis Stevens

Email: ges@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2002

Location:  Sondheim Building, Room 211K

Students being advised for the first time may request to see any member of the GES faculty.  Students without advisors will have one designated by staff in Room 211. Sign-up sheets for advising appointments will be on faculty office doors during pre-registration periods.

Health Administration and Policy

Advising Coordinator:  Agnes Buanya

Email: buanya1@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2342

Location:  Public Policy Building, Room 220

Associate Director :  Luis Pinet-Peralta

Email: lpinet1@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3817

Location:  Public Policy Building, Room 222

Completion of the Health Administration and Policy Program  requires careful coordination of Track selection with  internship placement. Additionally, differences in future  career plans for graduate education or immediate  post-baccalaureate employment are important influences  on his or her overall academic program and course  selections. With these considerations in mind, early  and continuous contact should be established with  a program advisor.
SIGN UP FOR ADVISING HERE:  www.umbc.edu/happ or http://www.umbc.edu/happ/HAPP%20ADVISING%20LINKS.html No Walk-Ins

History

Advising Contact:  Carla Ison

Email: ison@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2312

Location:  Administration Building, Room732

Advising Coordinator:  James Grubb

Email: grubb@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2091

Location:  Administration Building, Room 717

Students with assigned advisors should meet with them during office hours.  Students not yet assigned should call the advising contact or check with the departmental secretary.

Honors College

Advising Coordinator:  Jessica Guzman

Email: jguzman@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3720

Location: Library, Room 216

Honors College students who have not declared a major are advised in the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising and should also be advised in the Honors College with respect to Honors College requirements and opportunities.  Honors College students who have declared a major should first see an advisor in their major department(s) and then consult with an Honors College advisor to ensure that they maintain their membership in the College.  Students should contact the Honors College to make appointments.

Information Systems

Advising Coordinator:  Tate Redding

Email: redding@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3942

Location: ITE Building, Room 414

Declared IS majors will find the name of their advisor in myUMBC, under Advising and Student Support, by clicking on the “My Advisors” link. If no advisor is listed there, please contact Tate Redding. During pre-registration advising, most advisors have a signup sheet outside their offices where students can sign up for an advising appointment.

Interdisciplinary Studies

Advising Coordinator:  Carrie Sauter

Email: csauter@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2037

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 544

Students interested in designing their own major through INDS should view the website (www.umbc.edu/INDS), then email csauter@umbc.edu for an appointment, Current majors should schedule an appointment with their INDS advisor.

Judaic Studies

Advising Coordinator:  James Grubb

Email: grubb@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2091

Location:  Administration Building, Room 717

Students should call or e-mail for an appointment.

Management of Aging Services

See Erickson School

Mathematics and Statistics

For general questions on the Mathematics or Statistics programs, contact one of the points of contact below. Current Mathematics or Statistics majors and minors can locate the name of their academic advisor on the bulletin board across from the Math/Statistics Office in MP 410 or in my UMBC in the Advising & Student Support topic under My Advisors. All students who have been assigned an advisor should make appointments directly with that faculty member. Students who wish to switch advisors should contact Ms. Janet Burgee at the email address below.

Program Coordinator: Ms. Janet Burgee
Email: jburgee@umbc.edu
Phone: 410-455-2401
Location: Math/Psychology Building, Room 404

Mathematics Program Advisor: Dr. Kalman Nanes
Email: knanes@umbc.edu
Phone: 410-455-2439
Location: Math/Psychology Building, Room 439

Statistics Program Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Stanwyck
Email: estanwy1@umbc.edu
Phone: 410-455-5731
Location: Math/Psychology Building, Room 408

Media and Communication Studies

Advising Coordinator:  Jason Loviglio

Email: loviglio@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2041

Location:  Academic IV Building, Rooms 214-215

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Advising Coordinator:  Elaine Rusinko

Email: rusinko@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2153

Location:  Academic IV Building, B Wing, Room 128

Students should sign up for an advising appointment on the list posted on their advisor’s door.  Students who do not have an advisor or do not know to whom they have been assigned for advising should call or visit the departmental office in Academic IV Building, B Wing, Room 146 (tel. 410-455-2109).

Music

Advising Coordinator:  Nancy Beith

Email: beith@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2942

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 020

Students who are declared Music majors who have passed the audition process should sign up for advising appointments with Nancy Beith on the door of Fine Arts 020.  Students who have not passed the audition process should be advised in the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (contact 410-455-2729).  Information about the audition process and requirements may be obtained from the Music department office, Connie Bailey, at 410-455-2942 or baileyc@umbc.edu, Fine Arts Building, Room 509.

Philosophy

Advising Coordinator:  Roye Templeton

Email: rtemplet@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2155

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 526

Students should check the list posted on the door of the department office (Fine Arts 539) for the name of their advisor.

Physics and physics education

Advising Coordinator:  Terrance Worchesky

Email: dr.worchesky@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-6779

Location:  Physics Building, Room 411

All newly declared Physics and Physics Education majors (freshmen, transfer students, ongoing students new to the major) and any students without a departmental advisor should contact the department’s advising coordinator, Dr. Terrance Worchesky (contact information above), All other Physics and Physics Education majors should contact their assigned advisors to make an advising appointment.  Students may learn or be reminded who their advisors are by referring to the master list posted outside Room 217 or by contacting Dr. Worchesky.

Pre-law Advising

Pre-law advising is provided by Dr. Jeffrey Davis and Dr. George LaNoue in the Political Science Department. Contact the Department for additional information.

Pre-medical, Pre-dental, Pre-optometry, Pre-podiatry, Pre-veterinary Advising

The PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office provides specialized advising to students who plan to pursue admission to medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, or veterinary school after graduation from UMBC, regardless of their undergraduate major.

UMBC Health Professions Advising Coordinator:  Christy Roelke

Email: christy.roelke@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-8068

Location:  University Center, Room 116

Pre-health students have two advisors—an assigned academic advisor in their declared or undeclared major department and Ms. Roelke, their pre-health advisor. For pre-health students without a declared major, the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising serves as the “major department” for purposes of advising and registration clearance.

Pre-health students with declared or undeclared majors will receive major course planning and registration clearance by their major departments, whereas The PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office will assist students with their pre-professional prerequisite course planning and broader career issues related to the professional school planning process.

The PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office maintains sign-up sheets for advising appointments at the front desk in University Center 116.  Weekly walk-in hours are also posted at the front desk and advertised on the office website, www.umbc.edu/premed.

The Health Professions Advising Coordinator also serves as Chairperson of UMBC’s Health Professions Evaluation Committee, a faculty committee which evaluates the credentials of students applying for medical, dental, etc. programs and provides a letter of recommendation from the university if appropriate.

Note that students who plan to pursue careers in Nursing, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Physician’s Assistant, Dental Hygiene, and other allied health fields receive specialized pre-professional advising in the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising. (See the OAPA listing for more information.)

Pre-nursing, Pre-pharmacy, Pre-physical therapy, and other Allied Health Field Advising

See Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising

Political Science

Advising Contact:  Lazlo Korossy
Email: korossy1@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2063

Location:  Public Policy Building, Rooms 357 and 311

Students already assigned to faculty advisors should sign up for appointments outside individual advisors’ offices.  Students without faculty advisors may contact the department office or stop by to be assigned to an advisor.  Also, students may learn to which faculty member they have been assigned for advising by referring to the master list on the bulletin board outside Room 357.

Psychology

Advising Coordinator: Debra Wolff Sanford

Email: dsanford@umbc.edu

Phone:  410-455-2366

Location:  Math/Psychology Building, Room 321

All newly declared Psychology majors (freshmen, transfer students, ongoing UMBC students who just declared the major) need to meet with the Psychology department advisor, Debbie Wolff Sanford (Math/Psyc 321) to be advised for the upcoming semester.  Other students are assigned to a faculty advisor based on the first letter of the student’s last name.  Faculty advising assignments are posted throughout the department and sign-up sheets for appointments are posted outside each advisor’s office.

Religious Studies

Advising Coordinator:  James Grubb

Email: grubb@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2091

Location:  Administration Building, Room 717

Students should call to make an advising appointment.

Social Work

Advising Coordinator:  Carolyn Tice

Email: tice@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2144

Location:  Academic IV Building, B Wing, Room 322

Students with advisors should sign up for advising appointments outside their advisors’ offices or contact them directly.  Students without advisors should call or visit the departmental office in Room 322 to be assigned to an advisor.

Sociology and Anthropology

Advising Coordinator:  Elise Bruner
Email: elise3@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-3979

Location:  Public Policy Building, Room 252

Theatre

Advising Coordinator:  Alan Kreizenbeck

Email: kreizenb@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2948

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 339

Students with advisors should sign up outside their advisor’s office or contact them.  Students without an advisor should call or visit the department office (Fine Arts 467) to be assigned to an advisor.  Students pursuing the B.F.A. in Acting, see separate listing for Acting.

Visual Arts

Advising Coordinator: Melanie Berry

Email: mberry@umbc.edu

Phone: 410-455-2219

Location:  Fine Arts Building, Room 108A

Current Visual Arts majors should contact their assigned advisors for appointments.  Advising assignments are posted in Fine Arts, Room 108 and emailed to students.  Students who are undeclared majors or Visual Arts majors who have not yet passed the portfolio review need to contact the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (410-455-2729) to make an advising appointment.  Prospective majors may contact the Visual Arts Department to find out about information sessions and studio tours that may be of interest.

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