We see you. Your hard work and dedication to your academics does not go unnoticed. There are a variety of ways we recognize academic achievement at UMBC. This includes the Dean’s List, honor societies, the Honors College Medallion, and merit scholarships in your field.  Read below to discover how your success in the classroom may be celebrated. 

Academic Honors based on Semester Grades

The academic honor available to the largest number of UMBC students is completely automatic. Full-time students who achieve certain semester grade point averages receive a notation on their permanent UMBC transcripts as follows:

Semester Academic Honors = 3.50 and up

Dean’s List Honors = 3.75 and up

President’s List Honors = 4.00

The beauty of this recognition is that you get a chance at it every fall and spring semester. It is definitely a morale boost also and resume-worthy when you see one of these notations on your transcript. It places you among the most successful students at UMBC in a given semester.

Honor Societies-Multi-disciplinary

Honor societies may be identified by Greek letters, but they are not fraternities or sororities in the usual sense of “Greek life” on campus.  Based on your academic performance at UMBC, you may be invited to join one or more of these organizations. You do not apply for membership. The most active honor societies on campus are:

Phi Beta Kappa:  The big Kahuna of American scholarly honor societies, PBK was founded at the College of William and Mary back in 1776 (a big year for the American colonies!). To win a Phi Beta Kappa key, a student has to achieve very high grades in a course of study that includes courses across the liberal arts well beyond minimum general education requirements for a degree.  A faculty committee here at UMBC evaluates potential selectees for Phi Beta Kappa honors. UMBC’s faculty and staff who were PBK members from their undergraduate days had to demonstrate the breadth and rigor of our academic program to establish a chapter of this prestigious honor society in 1998.  This is one invitation you will definitely want to accept if offered.

Phi Kappa Phi:  Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi honors high-achieving students in all disciplines, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The UMB-UMBC chapter was installed at UMBC in 2010 and is hard at work at creating campus presence. Phi Kappa Phi’s motto is “Let the love of learning rule humanity.”

Golden Key International Honor Society:  Golden Key membership is extended to high-achieving students in all disciplines. The national and international organizations offer a large program of scholarships and awards open to members as well as regional and national conferences. UMBC’s award-winning chapter of Golden Key is well known for its extensive community service commitments, such as hosting an annual Halloween party for children at Villa Maria Children’s Center.  A tutoring program at Arbutus Middle School is another project recently launched.

Tau Sigma National Honor Society:  Founded in 1999 at Auburn University, Tau Sigma recognizes and supports talented transfer students at four-year universities. This society does require students who believe they meet the criteria to apply for membership. Membership is available to transfer students who achieve high-grade averages during their first full-time semester of enrollment at UMBC. The UMBC chapter was created in 2007.

Graduation Honors

Honors are based upon coursework taken throughout a student’s entire undergraduate academic career at UMBC. To be eligible for Honors, students must have earned at least 60 graded credits at UMBC (excluding Pass/Fail and Audit grades) with a GPA as follows:

Summa cum laude (“With highest honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.95 and 4.0.

Magna cum laude (“With high honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.75 and 3.9499.

Cum laude (“With honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.7499.

Visit the Registrar’s website for how graduation honors in calculated.

Academic Recognition for Varsity Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other external organizations sponsor a variety of awards recognizing the academic achievements of varsity athletes.  UMBC athletes and whole teams regularly receive recognition for maintaining high academic standards despite demanding athletic schedules. Also, UMBC sponsors a chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society.

Academic Merit Scholarships

The great bulk of academic merit scholarships at UMBC are awarded to students at the time they are admitted to UMBC.  However, there are some opportunities for students enrolled at UMBC to compete for scholarships based primarily on academic achievement, sometimes in combination with service and need.  For example, UMBC sponsors a small scholarship for returning women students. The UMBC Alumni Association also sponsors scholarships for continuing students. The Honors College and the Ancient Studies Department have some study abroad scholarships. The UMBC Theatre Department provides modest scholarships to majors based on academic performance and service. An extensive listing of such scholarships is available.

These scholarships are as much a way for UMBC to recognize top students as they are a means of financial support.  Applying for merit scholarships at UMBC is therefore very worthwhile, even if the amounts involved are modest. These scholarships come and go, so be sure to do careful research.

Careers in Aging Week 2021

Uncover Your Superpower: April 19 – 23, 2021

The Erickson School of Aging Studies Presents a Week of Virtual Events in Celebration of

The Erickson School of Aging Studies is partnering with the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), LeadingAge, Argentum, National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), and  American Health Care Association (AHCA) this year to raise awareness of the diverse career paths to provide care and services for our aging population. Join the School of Aging as we bring our alumni and community partners to CIAW ’21 to talk about the heroic work they have been doing in the field of aging. See below to reserve your seat at each event.

Download the Careers in Aging Week: Uncover Your Superpower Flyer. 

Monday, April 19th — 12 – 1 PM ET

Careers in Aging Week Kickoff

Tuesday, April 20th —  4 – 5 PM ET

Catching the Wave of Opportunity

Keynote Speaker: Susan Ryan, M.A. ’11, management of aging services, Senior Director, The Green House Project

Wednesday, April 21st — 21 – 1 PM ET

Tips for a Successful Job Search

Amy Bauer, Managing Principal, CA Search Advisors

Katie Becker, Managing Principal, CA Search Advisors

Thursday, April 22nd — 12 – 1 PM ET

Professions with a Purpose: Meet our Heroes

Moderated by Gary Hibbs, Executive Director, Riderwood

Guest Alumni:

Kevin Heffner, M.A.  ’16, management of aging services, CEO, LifeSpan Network

Val Walker, M.A. ’18, management of aging services, Founder & CEO, Doula by Destiny, LLC

Steve Gurney, M.A. ’08, management of aging services, Founder, Positive Aging Sourcebook and the ProAging Network

Friday, April 23rd — 4 – 5:30 PM ET

Alumni Meetup

*invite only

Each Friday during Career Month, the Career Center is sponsoring Virtual Recruitment Events for a different industry. This week’s event is focusing on Advocacy, Social Services, Education, Law & Policy.

Friday, April 16, 2021 - 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.              

You will have a chance to meet with top employers to discuss internships, career and employment opportunities and explore their career options. There will be social science opportunities for students of all levels-from first-year students to graduate students.

 Our employers love UMBC students and they return to UMBC again and again in search of top candidates!

But, some students find that a virtual recruitment event can be very hectic and intimidating. You may even have to wait in a virtual que before you can speak with the employer of your choice. So, it is very important that you are prepared for this important event and that you have a positive attitude while participating.

Below are some tips on how you can prepare for a virtual recruitment event.

1. Keep focused on the camera so that you appear to make eye contact with your interviewer.
2. Dress for an in-person interview (no casual clothes).
3. Test it out! Make a practice call to a friend prior to the interview to make sure that your audio/video are clear. Be sure to find a spot with the strongest connection (and clean backdrop).
4. Make sure your background surroundings are neutral, professional, and distraction-free to ensure that your interviewer will be able to clearly see and hear you. Find a spot with good lighting and minimal glare.
5. Limit distractions.
6. Pay attention to your posture and body language. Use your facial expressions to show you are engaged and listening.
7. Close other programs on your computer.
8. Next to your computer, arrange notes outlining your relevant skill sets, along with examples using those skills that match the position requirements as well as your résumé and job description, but refer to them as little as possible. You don’t want to seem like you are reading. Consider highlighting keywords or phrases you want to be sure to use.
9. Research the organization’s website prior to the interview, taking note of their mission, values, and current information.  Using the link above, you will find the list of employers.
10. Keep track of your time, so you’ll need to be able to see a clock.
11. Prepare thoughtful questions beforehand.
12. As with any interview – be sure to follow up!
13. Use a great 30-second commercial. The commercial should identify who you are, highlight a few accomplishments and strengths, show how you can add value to the company, and be concise. Use your pitch to start a conversation with employers. Practice with friends in advance!  
14. Ask the employer good, thoughtful questions.
15. Take notes and do what you say you will do.

Deciding on an academic major is a big deal! We have so many options at UMBC, including a unique major for students interested in carving out their pathway.

Do you have so many academic interests that it's challenging to pick just one? Are you curious how different academic disciplines can intersect? Do you want the chance to have more "say" in the types of classes you take? The Individualized Study Program at UMBC might be just what you're looking for!

We interviewed Carrie Sauter, Assistant Director of the INDS Program, to bring you more information about this exciting opportunity.

EC: Can you briefly describe the Individualized Studies program? What are the benefits to a student who selects this path?

CS: Individualized Study (INDS) is a unique path for a highly motivated undergraduate student to design their own major to meet specific goals. Students in the program merge courses from several disciplines into one themed degree plan. In addition to our core courses, we encourage internships and research outside the classroom. A quote from one of our alums: "My INDS degree has provided me: (1) critical thinking skills (2) tools to facilitate interprofessional conversations (3) fostered my understanding of research methods and application to research projects and (4) developed a sense of curiosity to understand problems from multiple perspectives."

EC: What additional work is involved to officially "declare" INDS. Can you talk a bit about the proposal writing process?

CS: We encourage anyone at any stage of their academic career to consider INDS. Obviously, we would like to start advising students as early as possible, even before transferring to UMBC. Our core curriculum is a minimum of four semesters, and we would be happy to talk to students about how that can work with their goal graduation date. To declare INDS, students simply need to meet with an advisor in the program and obtain a signature on the Declaration of Major form. While in the second course in our core curriculum, INDS 335 Degree Writing Seminar, students craft a degree plan, present it to our faculty committee, and secure two degree mentors. The degree plan consists of a list of classes in a timeline and a narrative of why this major is best suited for the student, definitions for particular aspects in the degree, and ways this degree plan connects to immediate and long-term goals.

EC: Besides the fact that you are creating your own degree plan, what do you think sets the INDS major apart from other majors?

CS: INDS students stand out in any application process: employers, graduate school admissions, medical school committees. Our students and graduates say they can think across disciplines, consider other viewpoints, and communicate clearly. We also require INDS students to complete a capstone project completed in their final year.

A quote from an alum: "In the public health field, I am constantly interacting with professionals from other fields and disciplines such as social workers, medical doctors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and a variety of researchers. As an Individualized Study student, I learned to see the strengths each different discipline could offer to address a problem and create an optimal solution no discipline could independently develop. Instead of seeing divides between my colleagues from different fields, I see connections and ways to build bridges by avoiding stereotypes of certain fields and communicating with a shared language. This perspective will help me work more effectively with colleagues from a variety of professions to help create more comprehensive culturally appropriate health programs as a future physician aiming to promote integrative care."

EC Any notable alumni stories you can share? Any exciting things alumni have gone on to do?

CS: INDS students have gone on to medical school, law school, physical therapy school, doctoral programs, and employment across diverse fields. We also have several alumni who have started their own business after graduation. Notable highlights of graduates from the past eight years include two graduates with fully-funded Ph.D. programs at Harvard University and University of Manchester (UK); full-tuition merit scholarship to George Washington University School of Law; Forensic Chemist at Prince George's County Police Department; software engineer at Northrop Grumman; Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; professor of entrepreneurship and business at Howard Community College; Software Developer at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Sounds like something you might be interested in further? Click here to explore this pathway further.