University & College Policies
The Immersive Media Design Bachelor of Science in Computing is housed within the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. The Bachelor of Art in Emerging Creatives is housed within the College of Arts & Humanities. It is important to familiarize yourself with not only University policies but your appropriate college level policies as well.
University Policies
Students may attempt a course a maximum of two times. A "W" counts as an attempt.
Students may repeat a maximum of 18 credits. A "W" counts as an attempt.
- CMNS students must complete a permission to enroll form prior to enrolling in a course at another institution.
- Depending on the major and the course, only certain classes can be taken at another institution. For Immersive Media Design students, all CMSC and MATH courses must be taken at the University.
- Students are not permitted to repeat a course at another institution once it has been attempted at UMD (this includes any courses in which a student received a "W").
- Students must complete their final 30 credits for their degree at the University of Maryland. Some exceptions exist including for study abroad.
- A "D-" or higher is required in all Gen Ed courses except Academic Writing (e.g., ENGL101), which requires a "C-" or higher.
- A "C-" or higher is required in all major courses (unless specified otherwise on the curriculum sheet for the major or minor).
- Students need a minimum 2.0 GPA to graduate.
- Beginning with students matriculating in Fall 2012, students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA across all major requirements to earn the degree.
- Cumulative GPAs are calculated using all grades. The following cases allow for GPAs to be calculated using only the higher grade for a course:
- When the repeated course was originally taken within the student's first semester at UMCP
- For students starting as first-semester freshmen at UMCP (not transfer students): When the repeated course was originally taken within the student's first 24 credit hours attempted (including transfer credits) or within the semester during which the student reached the 24th credit hour attempted. Advanced Placement Exam credits do not count toward the 24 credits.
- All grades appear on transcripts regardless of if they are included or excluded from the GPA calculation.
- All students must submit an Application for Graduation to the Office of the Registrar no later than the final day of schedule adjustment in the term during which the student plans on graduating.
- Graduation applications can be found on Testudo via the "Graduation Application & Diploma Status" page.
Arts and Humanities Policies
- All Arts and Humanities first year students (excluding students participating in one of the following programs: Honors, Honors Humanities, Gemstone, College Park Scholars, Writers' House, Civicus, or Global Communities) must take ARHU158, Explorations in Arts and Humanities, during their first semester on campus.
- All ARHU students, with the exception of students earning a Bachelor of Music degree, must earn a minimum of 45 hours of 3xx-4xx level credit. Students earning a Bachelor of Music degree should consult a Music advisor.
- The ARHU Global Engagement Requirement responds to the University Strategic Plan's call for students to "be prepared to live, work, and thrive in the current and future world environment." ARHU believes the development of cultural competence will result in the knowledge, skills and disposition needed to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures and is an integral component in an arts and humanities education.
- Students within the College of Arts and Humanities can register for a maximum of 16 credits prior to the first day of classes.
- ARHU considers exceptions to this policy under the following circumstances (ARHU must be your primary college):
- you are a Music, Theatre, or Dance Major
- you are graduating in the upcoming semester
- you are registering for your fifth course, which exceeds 16 credits
- Schedule an appointment if you fall into any of these categories to request permission to register for up to 20 credits prior to the first day of classes.
- Unless otherwise specified, students need to achieve a minimum grade of a "C-" or higher in all courses required for their major.
- Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA across all major requirements to earn their degree.
Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences Policies
- Students within the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences may take a maximum of 17 credits in the fall or spring semester; 4 credits in the winter semester; and 8 credits in a single summer session.
- Unless otherwise specified, students need to achieve a minimum grade of a "C-" or higher in all courses required for their major.
- Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA across all major requirements to earn their degree.
Exceptions to Academic Policy
When requesting an exception to academic policy at both the University and College level, make sure to submit your request to the appropriate college (B.A. to ARHU; B.S. to CMNS) so they are processed in a timely manner. Any questions about your exception to policy should be directed to the appropriate college level office as well.
Exceptions to University and College policy are processed by the College of Arts and Humanities and are approved only under rare and extraordinary circumstances. Students who wish to request an exception must submit a Petition for Exception to Policy form. All exceptions requests requiring professor/instructor documentation must be sent directly from the professor/instructor to arhuexceptions@umd.edu unless otherwise noted.
Exceptions to University and College policy are processed by the Student Services Office. Depending on the type of exception, students may request one online or in 1300 Symons Hall. Please note, exceptions to policy are approved only under rare and extraordinary circumstances.
Students who wish to request an exception must submit a Petition for Exception to Policy form.