3-2009

University of Maryland’s Academic

Program

Academic Programs

• B.S. degree – minimum of 120 credit hours

– Core courses required by the University– Required courses for the major (discipline) area– Electives of the students choice

Academic Programs

Definition of Credits

– 1 credit hour = 1 hour or lecture or discussion in the classroom each week for 15 weeks

– 1 credit hour = 3 hours in a laboratory each week

for 15 weeks

Academic Programs

Each Department faculty is responsible for the content and scope of the department’s curricula and course content upon approval

Curriculum and course approval process:

Department committee

College committee

Campus committee

Academic – Program Planning & Development

Curriculum approval process:• Department committee• College committee• Campus committee

Academic Programs

• Each faculty member has control over the courses he or she teaches

– Course content

– Textbook (s)

– Teaching methods and materials

– Expectation of students

– Examinations and quizzes

– Schedule of examinations and quizzes

– Papers, homework

– Grading

Academic Programs

– M.S. ~ 26-34 credit hours beyond B.S.

– Major professor

– Graduate committee

– Must approve program

– Administer a final examination

– Required courses

– Elective courses

– ~ 2 years for completion

– Thesis and non-thesis options

Academic Programs

• Ph.D. ~ 30 credit hours beyond M.S.– Major professor– Graduate committee

• Must approve program• Preliminary examination• Administer a final examination

– Thesis required– ~ 3-5 years for completion

Academic ProgramsUndergraduate

An Overview

General Educational Program:CORE

General education helps students achieve the intellectual integration and awareness they need to meet challenges in their personal, social, political, and professional lives.

CORE Program Components

● Fundamental Studies

● Distributive Studies

● Advanced Studies

● Human Cultural Diversity

CORE Program Components

FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES build competence and confidence in basic writing and mathematics. Students begin fulfilling Fundamental Studies requirements in their first year at the University.

Three courses (9 credits) required

One course in Introduction to WritingOne course in MathematicsOne course in Professional Writing

CORE Program Components

DISTRIBUTIVE STUDIES focus on breadth, including courses in the following categories: Literature; The History or Theory of the Arts; Humanities; Physical Sciences; Life Sciences; Mathematics and Formal Reasoning; Social or Political History; Behavioral and Social Sciences; and Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues. Students generally pursue Distributive Studies in the first two years of their course work.

Nine courses (28 credits) required; three in each area

Humanities and the Arts (3)The Sciences and Mathematics (3)Social Sciences and History (3)Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues

CORE Program Components

ADVANCED STUDIES allow students to enhance their degree and strengthen their critical thinking and writing skills. Students may substitute an approved CORE Capstone course in their major or a senior or honors thesis for one of these two courses.

Two courses (6 credits) required

Two upper-level (300- or 400-level) courses outside the major taken after 60 credits.

CORE Program Components

HUMAN CULTURAL DIVERSITY gives students the opportunity to examine their ideas and values in the light of various cultural, intellectual, and social contexts. Diversity courses increase knowledge of what constitutes difference and increase students' ability to learn from and appreciate people, cultures, ideas, and art forms that are often different from those they know best. Students may complete the Cultural Diversity requirement any time before graduation.

One Course (3 credits) Required

Cultural Diversity courses focus primarily on: (a) the history, status, treatment, or accomplishment of women or minority

groups and subcultures; (b) non-Western culture, or (c) concepts and implications of diversity.

Academic Programs-An Example-

Department of Environmental Science and TechnologyMajor in Soil and Watershed Sciences

120 minimum total credits required for the B.S. degree

CORE required credits 30* Major (Discipline) required credits 82-84 Elective credits 6-8

* CORE science and mathematics are satisfied by major required courses

* All students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources are advised by a faculty member

Academic Programs-An Example-

Department of Environmental Science and TechnologyMajor in Soil and Watershed Sciences

Examples of required coursesStatisticsCalculusChemistry, Inorganic and OrganicBiologyFundamentals of Soil ScienceSoil-Water PollutionSoil ChemistrySoil Hydrology and Physics Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification

Four year plan, - year 1 -

• 1st semester– General chemistry

– Mathematics• College Algebra

– CORE (HA,HL,HO)

– Departmental course• Landscape Architecture

13 credits

• 2nd semester– Organic chemistry, I

– Oral communications

– English writing

– CORE (HA,HL,HO)

– Departmental course• Plant Science

17 credits

Four year plan, - year 2 -

• 3rd semester– Agriculture economics

– Organic chemistry, II

– Mathematics • Calculus

– CORE (SB, SH)

– One elective course

16 or 17 credits

• 4th semester– Physical geography

– Fundamentals of Physics

– CORE (HA, HL,HO)

– Departmental course• Fundamentals of Soil

Science

15 credits

Four year plan - year 3 -

• 5th semester– Three departmental courses

• Soil Chemistry

• Soil Pedology

• Soil and Water Conservation

– Two elective courses

15 credits

• 6th semester– Advanced English

– Two departmental courses• Soil Hydrology and Physics

• Soil Microbiology

– CORE (AS)

– One elective course

15 credits

Four year plan - year 4 -

• 7th semester– Two departmental courses

• Soil and Water Pollution

• Soil Fertility

– CORE (AS)

– Two elective courses

15 Credits

• 8th semester– CORE (AS)

– Three elective courses

– Two departmental courses• Seminar

• Soil Morphology or an Internship

15 to 16 credits

AcademicsGraduate

• provide strong academic programs for students to achieve Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees to meet the challenges of the future

• maintain a world class faculty to conduct cutting edge research and provide mentoring for post graduate students

• provide modern farms, facilities and research equipment to allow for students to experience the greatest possible academic and research experience

Academic Majors

Agricultural and ResourceEconomics (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Business Management

• Food Production

• Environmental and Resource Policy

• International Agriculture

• Political Process

Animal Sciences (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Animal Care and Management

• Laboratory Animal Management

• Science/Professional

• Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Academic Majors

Environmental Scienceand Technology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Ecological TechnologyDesign

• Environmental Health

• Soil and WatershedScience

• Natural ResourcesManagement

Environmental Scienceand Policy (B.S./B.A.)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Environment and Agriculture

• Environmental Economics

• Environmental Restoration and Management

• Mapping and Data Management

• Soil, Water, and Land Resources

• Wildlife Ecology and Management

Academic Majors

Plant Science and LandscapeArchitecture (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Horticulture and Crop Production

• Landscape Management

• Plant Sciences

• Turf and Golf Course Management

• Urban Forestry

Nutritional Sciences(B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

Food Science(B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)

Dietetics(B.S.)

Landscape Architecture (B.L.A., M.L.A.)

Agricultural Science and Technology(B.S.)

Academic MajorsApplied Agriculture

(2-year Certificate Program)

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Agricultural Business Management

• Equine Business Management

• General Ornamental Horticulture

• Golf Course Management

• Landscape Management

• Turfgrass Management

Virginia-Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medicine

strengths are in molecular and cellular immunology and its nationally recognized focus on government and corporate veterinary medicine

co-located with a Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Health Laboratory that includes an internationally-recognized fish health laboratory

Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

program strikes a balance between urban and rural concerns,

focused on plant biology, from the molecular level, to the whole organism, to agricultural systems, and to natural and designed ecosystems

areas of focus include: plant ecology, biodiversity and conservation; plant genomics and physiology; plant production and production; and landscape architecture and management

Nutrition and Food Science

advance nutrition, food safety and health by innovative research,

progressive and high quality education of undergraduate and graduate students, and creative outreach education disseminated to the citizens of Maryland, the United States and the global marketplace

research in nutrition and food science explores the impact of specific nutrients on health and chronic disease, development of antibiotic resistance by food borne bacteria, diet of the aging, nutritional epidemiology, and extraction of nutrients from novel sources such as berry seeds and tobacco

Environmental Science and Technology

an active and thriving member of the environmental and academic community on campus, as well as beyond College Park

creating a unique niche through course offerings at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and by launching innovative research programs

as human activities alter the environment, increasingly the environment is likely to affect humans in terms of food, materials, and energy supplies, but also via impacts on ecologically-driven, socio-economically important natural systems and processes

Environmental Science and Policy

a broad, multidisciplinary, undergraduate major, drawing courses and faculty from 20 departments and four colleges

provides students the opportunity to direct their studies in one of twelve areas of concentration in the scientific and policy arenas

aspire to provide a strong ENSP identity and a "liberal arts feel" for the 250+ students enrolled in this major, and we encourage students to take advantage of the resources available at a Research I Public University

Animal and Avian Sciences

internationally recognized for excellence in research and education focused on cellular, molecular and biotechnological aspects of animal science and production

research related to poultry, dairy, beef, equine, swine and aquaculture is conducted in the areas of nutrient utilization and metabolism, behavior and ethology, genetics and cell biology and reproduction and development.

Agricultural and Resource Economics

a world-class academic unit specializing in the broad issues of the economics and policy of agricultural, environmental and natural resources issues. 

decision making requires two key considerations: what are the costs and benefits of the decision and is it the best course of action when compared to alternatives

the answers are important given that the results of public policy decisions impact individuals, businesses, local and global communities and the environment.

Animal and Avian Sciences

Animal Sciences

Animal Management and Industry

Avian Business

Laboratory Animal Management

Science/Professional

Combined Agriculture/Pre-Veterinary Medicine