The Transfer Times
February 2006

Transfer Information Days

Representatives from over 30 different colleges and universities from Maryland, DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania will meet with interested students to discuss transfer requirements, application procedures, and specific majors offered.

• Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus - Tuesday, March 7th, 10 am to 1 pm, Commons Area
• Rockville Campus - Wednesday, March 8th, 9 am to 1 pm, Physical Education Building
• Germantown Campus - Thursday, March 9th, 10 am to 1 pm, High Tech Building
  

Consider a Historically Black College or University.... 

This thoughtful article from the Princeton Review helps students sort out through the many questions they might have when considering HBCU's.  www.princetonreview.com/college/research/articles/find/8stepshbcu.asp 

And just which schools are considered to be HBCU's?  Check this comprehensive list 
from Information Please - www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0872606.html

• The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund

• The United Negro College Fund
  

Degree Advising Worksheets and Business...

Print out an Excel spreadsheet and help students plan out their path to an MC degree, certificate, or letter of recognition.  Web guru & counselor Tom Price, Germantown Campus, created and maintains these easy-to-use forms online to assist advisers and students who are working on MC programs.   You can even save the spreadsheet to your desktop (using Internet Explorer), then open it up with Excel, and fill in the courses electronically if you want to send it off as an e-mail attachment.  www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studevgt/advisingsheets2.htm 

Check out this sample page showing requirements for the New Business AA- www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/studevgt/BA0607.htm

CHANGE to the MC Business Degree - the revised AA in Business now shows that students can take MG 201 or any elective.  This change allows students to meet the transfer requirements of different schools in the area.  The elective can be ANY course, and does not need to be business-related.  Here is a description of the new degree in full, which remains essentially the same as the old degree, with the exception of the MG 201 requirement:

• Business AA, Effective Fall 2005: www.montgomerycollege.edu/curricula/descriptions/cdbusadmin.htm

Speaking of Business, DID YOU KNOW... Students who attend the Smith School of Business @ Shady Grove receive the same diploma as Smith students at the Main Campus - their diplomas read "University of Maryland, College Park" with no mention of the Shady Grove campus.  Even their transcripts come directly from UMCP, also without reference to the Shady Grove campus.   This is important information for students who fear that they will be labeled as "Shady Grove students" rather than graduates of UMCP's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Most Popular Majors at Sample Maryland Colleges & Universities

Here's the latest data from the University of Maryland, College Park - enrollment in their top majors:

Business - 2771 students
Engineering - 2652
Criminal Justice & Criminology - 1331 
Education - 960
Government & Politics - 894
Economics - 812
Computer Science - 714
Communication - 587

At UMBC, the most popular undergraduate majors include chemistry, biological sciences, computer science, economics, engineering, information systems and visual arts.

Morgan State's most popular majors:  business, engineering , psychology,  social work, and education.

Towson's top majors: 

• Biology
• Art
• Psychology
• Elementary Education
• Mass Communication
• Business Administration

And St. Mary's College of Maryland -  Economics, Political Science and Government, and Psychology.

TRANSFER PLANNING SERVICES at MC Campuses

Do "D" Grades Transfer to Maryland Public Schools?

USG’s Upcoming Recruitment Events at Montgomery College

USG has scheduled an array of visits to the Montgomery College campuses this spring.   All students interested in learning more about program offerings are encouraged to stop by and meet with USG representatives.    

• Rockville Campus
  February 14 & 28, March 14 & 28,  April 11 & 25, May 9, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 
  Macklin Tower, Library 

• Germantown Campus
  February 15, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Café Lobby, H.S. Building

• Takoma Park Campus
  February 23 & March 29, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Student Lounge, Commons Building  

New Tools for Prospective Universities at Shady Grove Students

USG now offers a variety of new tools through which prospective students can explore USG.  These tools include 
new general Prospective Student Information Sessions, Online Chat Sessions, Center Tours, Virtual Online Tours, 
Weekend Open Houses and more.   To learn more about these exciting opportunities, students and counselors 
may visits USG’s “Prospective Student” web page at www.shadygrove.umd.edu/students/prospective .

USG Spring Open House  - Saturday, April 8, 2006

Mark you calendar now for the upcoming Spring Open House to be held on Saturday, April 8, 2006 from 10:00 a.m.– 1:00 pm.    This event will serve as a terrific opportunity for Montgomery College students to discover what USG has to offer.  All prospective students and visitors are welcome to explore academic program offerings, meet with program representatives, apply for admission, take a walking tour of USG and more.  Participation is free and event registration is not required.  Directions and transportation information may be found at www.shadygrove.umd.edu/about/directions/

Apply Now for Fall 2006 Admission

Students interested in transferring to a program at USG are encouraged to apply now for Fall 2006 admission.  Interested students may obtain specific program and application information by contacting USG’s Office of Student Services,  301-738-6023, shadygrove@umd.edu, www.shadygrove.umd.edu; or through our institutional program directors listed below:

• Towson University 
   – Elementary & Special Education; Dr. Roberta Strosnider, Program Director, 301-738-6085, 
                                                           rstrosnider@towson.edu
  

• University of Maryland , Baltimore
   – School of Nursing; Dr. Karen Clark, Program Director, 301-738-6041, kclar006@son.umaryland.edu 
  

• University of Maryland Baltimore County ; NeKenjie Tarver, Assistant Director, 301-738-6084,
   – Psychology                                                     tarver@umbc.edu
   – Social Work
  

• University of Maryland College Park  
  – Biological Sciences; Dr. John Kapp, Program Director, 301-738-6008, jkapp@umd.edu
  – Communication; Caroline Harper, Coordinator, 301-738-6002, shadyme@umd.edu
  – Criminology & Criminal Justice; Dr. Stephanie Gerstenblith, 301-738-6307, sgerstenblith@crim.umd.edu
  – Robert H. Smith School of Business; Luke Glasgow, Associate Director, 301-738-6079,  
                                                                   lglasgow@rhsmith.umd.edu
  

• University of Maryland Eastern Shore  
  – Construction Management; Dr. Khaled Nassar, Professor, 410-651-6473, knassar@umes.edu
  – Hotel & Restaurant Management; Mr. Karl Binns, Program Director, 301-738-6089, knassar@umes.edu  
  

• University of Maryland University College ; Potomac Team, 301-738-6090, lhuffman@umuc.edu
  – Business Administration
  – Computer & Information Science

Spotlight On... the Communication Program at USG

In Fall 2005, the University of Maryland , College Park launched their full-time Communication program (B.A.) at USG.   Highlights of this program:

What can one do with a Communication Degree?  Students who graduate with a communication degree are often employed in various positions in marketing, promotions, public relations, event planning, human resource development and training, account management, community outreach, campaign planning and management, and more. 

Who are Prospective Communication Students? Students transferring from MC who wish to pursue a degree in communication may come from a variety of areas such as psychology, sociology, political science, social science, marketing, management, education, health education, physical education, speech, mental health, television and radio, hospitality management, theatre and dance, and English.

Course Offerings  The department offers an exciting curriculum that prepares students for academic and professional careers in business, government, health, education, social and human services, and related fields. Training is provided in areas such as persuasion and social influence, rhetoric and the analysis of messages, political communication, organizational communication, principles and strategies of public relations, negotiation and conflict management, and intercultural communication.

Experiential Learning   To further enhance learning and career training, the department incorporates special hands-on classes such as Marketing Communication Campaigns and Health Communication Campaigns. The department also strongly promotes internship and service learning opportunities with local and state businesses and institutions, and encourages students’ participation in a student-run communication club.

Admissions Requirements

      ¨       50% of the CORE requirements including fundamental Studies in Mathematics  and English;
¨       Completion of a statistics course ( MA116 or BA210) with a grade of C or better;
¨       Completion of a communication performance course (SP108 or SP112) with a grade of C or better;
¨       Completion of  SP250: Introduction to Communication Inquiry with a grade of C or better; 
¨      An overall GPA of 2.7 in all college-level coursework.

Contact Information

• Caroline Harper, Coordinator, Department of Communication, 9630 Gudelsky Dr., SGII, #4062, Rockville, MD  20850, (301) 763-6002

• Dr. Leah Waks, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Communication, 2101B Skinner Building, University of Maryland College Park, College Park , MD 20742, (301) 405-6529