Academic Policies

In accordance with University policy, the A. James Clark School of Engineering has been designated a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP). This allows the School to establish gateway criteria that students must satisfy in order to continue study in an engineering major.

All newly admitted freshmen in the Clark School must complete the courses listed below by 45 University of Maryland credits. AP/IB/transfer credits are not calculated into the 45 credit total, but completion of a course through those means will be accepted for the review.

45 CREDIT REIVIEW CRITERIA Prior to Spring 2023:

Students admitted directly from high school (not transfer students) will be reviewed as follows:

• Completion of CHEM135 (Chemistry for Engineers) OR CHEM271 OR the combination of CHEM131 (Gen Chem I) and CHEM134 (Chemical Prin. for Engr) each with a minimum grade  of C-
• Completion of ENES100 (Intro to Engineering Design) with a minimum grade of C-
• Completion of MATH141 (Calculus II) with a minimum grade of C-
• Completion of PHYS161 (Physics I) with a minimum grade of C-
• Completion of ENGL 101 (FSAW) with a minimum grade of C-
• Completion of Distributive Studies General Education course in Humanities or History and Social Science with a minimum grade of D-
• A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 2.0

45 CREDIT REVIEW CRITERIA Starting Spring 2023:

Students admitted directly from high school (not transfer students) will be reviewed as follows:

• Completion of CHEM135 (Chemistry for Engineers) OR CHEM271 OR the combination of CHEM131 (Gen Chem I) and CHEM134 (Chemical Prin. for Engr) each with a minimum grade  of C-
• Completion of ENES100 (Intro to Engineering Design) with a minimum grade of C-
• Completion of MATH141 (Calculus II) with a minimum grade of C-
• Completion of PHYS161 (Physics I) with a minimum grade of C-
• A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 2.0

Failing Gateway Requirements
Students who fail the 45 credit review will be required to change to a major not in the Clark School and may not reapply to any engineering major. Students who must leave the Clark School may appeal in writing to the Associate Dean. Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis and decisions are made based on the extenuating circumstances presented by the student. All appeals and decisions from the Associate Dean are final.

Students can only repeat one course, one time. A grade of ‘W’ (Withdrawal) in a course counts as an attempt. Therefore, the next attempt at that course is considered a repeat, although no grade points or credits are earned for a ‘W.’

If you would like to take a course at another institution and the course and its credits transfer back into the University of Maryland, you are required to submit a “Permission to Enroll” (PTE) form to the A. James Clark School of Engineering before you registered for the course at the other institution.

• The A. James Clark School of Engineering requires a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA in order to approve PTE request, which means that if you are a new freshman or transfer student, you will need to wait until final grades of your first semester at the University of Maryland are posted and GPA is calculated.
• Students need to meet UMD pre-requisites as well as other institution pre-requisites.
• A. James Clark School students are not allowed to repeat courses at another institution if they have earned a grade; course(s) needs to be retaken at UMD. Students are able to take courses at another institution if they have dropped a course and received a "W" notation.
• Student atheletes are required to take their first 24 credits at UMD.
• Effective Fall 2022, students may transfer no more than 70 credits of their degree from a two-year college and 90 credits from a four-year institution. Students who matriculated to UMD prior to Fall 2022 may only transfer up to 60 credits from a two-year college.
• The final 30 credits must be taken at UMD (in extenuating circumstances Exception to Policy form can be submitted) 
• The student is responsible for requesting that the institution send an official transcript to University Maryland after you complete the course at that institution.

* Please do not submit this form until March for Summer or Fall and End of October for Winter and Spring request.

Additional information pertaining  to Permission to Enroll in Another Institution Form can be found at Forms and Requests: https://eng.umd.edu/services/forms

All first semester UMD students requesting to take courses at another institution are required to first submit an Exception to Policy form : https://eng.umd.edu/services/forms with an explanation of why they will be enroll at two different institutions during the same semester.

• Full time students are expected to complete the Undergraduate programs at the University of Maryland in four years.  In order to graduate in four years, students must plan carefully in consultation with an academic advisor, declare a major early, and complete 30 credits each year, which is usually accomplished by completing a normal course load of 14-16 credits each semester and by completing general education and major requirements in a timely manner.
• Students who change majors, declare a major late in the sophomore year, enroll in a limited number of select programs, or take advantage of certain special opportunities that enrich the undergraduate experience may require up to five years to complete a degree.  All students should develop and regularly review a multi-year course plan to complete their intended programs.  If a student has special circumstances that make it impossible to complete a normal course load, the student would meet with an advisor to discuss the circumstances, the student's plans for continued progress towards a degree, and the implications for full-time enrollment.

Incoming freshmen students at UMD are required to attempt ENGL101 within their first 30 credits. Incoming transfer students must attempt ENGL101 during their first semester. If a student does not compelte ENGL101 in a timely manner, the Registrar's Office will place a Fundamental Studies hold on the student's account. This hold will prevent students from registering for any courses in the upcoming semester. Registration must then be completed in person at the Office of the Registrar. Contact Office of the Registrar at 301-314-8240.

• Advising is mandatory for all Engineering students each semester.
• Students are notified about registration appointments by email. Students may also check online at TESTUDO: https://www.testudo.umd.edu/
• Registration appointments are based on total applicable credit limit. Students with the most credits register first.

Incoming Engineering Students may only take up to a maximum of 17 credits during their first semester at the University of Maryland.

Students are able to register for up to 18 credits for fall or spring  after their first semester, 4 credits per winter semester, and 8 credits in a single summer session.

Registration Process: Currently enrolled students are invited to early registration by appointment. Registration appointments for the fall semester begin in April, and appointments for the spring semester begin in late October. Registration can be processed on the MyUM website TESTUDO: https://www.testudo.umd.edu/ or in person.

Schedule Adjustment: The Schedule Adjustment period is the first ten business days of classes during the Fall or Spring semester. A similar period of time is designated for Summer and Winter Terms. Check the corresponding Academic Deadlines: https://registrar.umd.edu/calendars for exact dates.  Please note that non-standard courses do not meet for the standard semester or term dates. Courses with non-standard dates have different Schedule Adjustment periods and Drop with 'W' dates.  Dates and deadlines can be found on the Registrar's website: https://registrar.umd.edu/

Drop Period: Undergraduate students can adjust their schedule (add, drop, etc.) until the close of business on the last day of the Schedule Adjustment Period. After the end of Schedule Adjustment, students are limited to dropping a maximum of 4 credits during the Drop Period. The Drop Period for undergraduate students will begin at the close of the schedule adjustment period and terminate at the end of the tenth week of classes during the Fall and Spring semesters and at a corresponding time for Summer sessions. See Academic Deadlines:  https://registrar.umd.edu/calendars for end of schedule adjustment and last day to drop dates. A mark of "W" (withdrawal) is recorded for credits dropped during the Drop Period.

• Any course may be attempted twice.
• Students may repeat up to 18 credit hours.
• A “W” counts as an attempt.
• Both attempts and grades earned will appear on transcript.
• Both attempts are calculated into the cumulative GPA except for courses originally taken during the first 24 credits (or for transfer students, courses taken during the first semester as a UM student), in which case there is a grace period. If the course is repeated, only the higher grade will count in the UM GPA.

For more information, please visit:  Repeating Policy for Undergraduate Students: https://policies.umd.edu/academic-affairs/university-of-maryland-undergraduate-student-course-repeat-policy.

Repeat of Courses at Another Institution

Engineering students are not allowed to repeat courses at another institution if they have earned a grade in the course (i.e., a grade of D or F). Students need to retake the course(s) at UMD. If a student withdrew from a course (W), they may submit a Permission to Enroll form to request permission to retake the course off campus.

• Students must achieve a grade of C- or better in all major required courses 
• Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and complete all degree requirements to graduate (including academic minors, certificates, double majors)
• Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits (124 credits minimum for Aerospace) to graduate
• Effective Fall 2022, no more than 70 credits may transfer from a 2-year college, and no more than 90 credits from a 4-year institution; Students who transferred to UMD prior to Fall 2022 may transfer no more than 60 credits from a 2-year institution
• All degree applicable courses must be regular grading method (A, B, C…)
• Graduation will be denied if any Incompletes (I) or No Grades (NG) have not been resolved