Learn the core courses you need to complete an undergraduate degree at UMGC Europe.
Expectations
Within your academic program major, UMGC’s degree incorporates program-specific and core competencies. The following essential core competencies are emphasized across all programs:
- Effective writing and oral communication skills
- The use of information technology
- Information literacy skills
- Mathematical and quantitative reasoning skills
- Critical analysis, critical reasoning, and problem solving
- Understanding of key concepts and principles of natural, social, and behavioral sciences
UMGC conducts learning outcomes assessments to measure and improve your learning in these areas as well as in specific disciplinary knowledge and skills.
Your academic major (and minor, if you choose one) allows you to master a considerable body of knowledge in a specific academic subject area or group of related subjects. Each major provides clearly articulated learning outcomes for the knowledge, skills, and abilities that you are expected to achieve in completing the major.
Requirements
In general, the UMGC degree requirements that apply to you are those that were in effect when you began continuous enrollment in any public institution of higher education in Maryland (including UMGC). If you have not been continuously enrolled, the requirements that apply are those in effect at UMGC when you resumed continuous enrollment. To be considered continuously enrolled, you must be or have been enrolled at UMGC or another Maryland public institution of higher education and have had no more than two sequential years of nonenrollment. Should you choose to change your degree program, you may be subject to all degree requirements in effect at the time of the change.
The following requirements for the BA and the BS are applicable to students who enroll on or after 1 August 2024.
General Education Requirements (41 credits)
A. Communications (12 credits)
- WRTG 111 or another writing course (3 credits)
All 3-credit WRTG courses (except WRTG 288, WRTG 388, WRTG 486A, or WRTG 496B) COMM 390, COMM 492, ENGL 102, and JOUR 201 apply.
- WRTG 112 Academic Writing II
Must be completed with a grade of C- or better within the first 24 credits. May not be earned through Prior Learning (Portfolio Assessment or Course Challenge) assessment.
- A course in communication, writing, or speech (3 credits)
ENGL 102, ENGL 281, JOUR 201; and all 3-credit COMM, SPCH, and WRTG courses (except those numbered 486A and 486B) apply.
- An upper-level advanced writing course (3 credits)
WRTG 391, WRTG 393, and WRTG 394 apply.
Note: No more than 3 credits of writing credit may be earned through credit by examination.
B. Mathematics (3 credits)
- MATH 105, MATH 107, MATH 115, MATH 140, STAT 200, or a mathematics course approved by the department.
Must be completed within the first 24 credits. Prerequisites must be fully fulfilled before taking MATH 108, MATH 140, or any higher-numbered MATH or STAT courses.
Note: Check individual majors for recommended math courses and related requirements.
C. Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
- Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following disciplines:
ARTH, ARTT, ASTD (depending on course content), ENGL (except ENGL 281 and ENGL 384), GRCO, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature, or foreign language.
D. Behavioral and Social Sciences (6 credits)
- Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following disciplines:
AASP (AASP 201 only), ANTH, ASTD (depending on course content), BEHS, CCJS (CCJS 100, CCJS 105, CCJS 350, CCJS 461 only), ECON, GEOG, GERO (except GERO 342 and GERO 351), GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or WMST (WMST 200 only).
E. Biological and Physical Sciences (7 credits)
- A science lecture course (3 credits) with related laboratory course (1 credit) or a science course combining lecture and laboratory (4 credits).
- Any other science course (3 credits).
Note: Courses from the following disciplines apply,: ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, NSCI, NUTR, or PHYS. Science courses in other disciplines may also apply.
F. Research and Computing Literacy (7 credits)
- Professional exploration course (3 credits), which should preferably be taken as first course. PACE 111B, PACE 111C, PACE 111M, PACE 111P, PACE 111S, and PACE 111T apply.
- LIBS 150, CAPL 398A, or general education elective (1 credit).
- One course in computing or information technology (3 credits)
Unless otherwise specified, upper- or lower-level courses in CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, CYOP, IFSM, and ACCT 326 and DATA 200 apply. Refer to your specific major for requirements of recommendations.
Major, Minor, and Elective Requirements
A. Academic Core Requirements (30–39 credits)
The number of credits required to complete an academic major varies according to academic program. At least half the credits earned must be earned through UMGC. No grade may be lower than C. Specific coursework is prescribed for each major and is described in the following section.
You may receive a double major upon completion of all requirements for both majors, including the required minimum number of credits for each major and all related requirements for both majors; The same course may not be used to fulfill requirements for more than one major. Certain restrictions (including use of credit and acceptable combinations of majors) apply for double majors. You may not major in two programs with excessive overlap of required coursework. Consult your academic advisor before selecting a double major.
B. Related Requirements
Many major requirements require specific supporting coursework in other fields in addition to coursework in the major. These courses are required to complete the major and graduate. Coursework that fulfills related requirements may be applied to general education or elective requirements.
C. Academic Minor (15–18 credits)
Choosing a minor is optional. You may not take a major and minor in the same area and may not receive a double minor. The number of credits required to complete an academic minor varies according to academic program. At least half the credits earned within the minor must be upper level (unless otherwise specified) and must be earned through UMGC.
No grade may be lower than C. Specific coursework is prescribed for each minor.
D. Electives (24–34 credits)
Electives may be taken in any academic discipline. Pass/fail credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits, may be applied toward electives only.
Overall Bachelor's Degree Requirements
In addition to the general education requirements and the major, minor, and elective requirements, the overall requirements listed here pertain to all bachelor’s degrees:
- You must be admitted as an undergraduate UMGC student.
- You must complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- You must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) overall, and a minimum grade of C (2.0) for any course applied to the academic major or minor.
- You must complete all general education requirements, Professional and Career Exploration, when possible, as your first course at UMGC. If you have 60 or more credits, you may be eligible to take PACE 100 Professional and Career Exploration for Transfer Students, which provides a condensed orientation to UMGC.
- You must complete all coursework required for an academic major, which typically requires from 30 - 39 credits and may include related requirements.
- At least half of the required number of credits for any academic major or minor must be earned through graded coursework. Credits earned by examination, portfolio assessment, and noncollegiate training do not count as graded coursework.
- At least 30 credits (normally the final 30) must be earned at UMGC
- Half of the required number of credits within both the major and the minor (if you are not majoring in applied technology or general studies) must be completed at UMGC.
- At least 15 credits of upper-level (i.e., earned in courses numbered 300 t0 499) must be completed at UMGC>
Summary of Bachelor's Degree (Total 120)
- General Education Requirements (41 Credits)
- Academic Major (30-39 Credits)
- Academic Minor (optional) (15-18 Credits)
- Electives (24-34 Credits)
A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C)
Minimum 15 credits of upper-level credit.
A minimum of 30 credits at UMGC, including at least half the credits earned for the major and at least half for the minor, and any remaining credits may be earned in any part of the curriculum.