Academics

New Student Resources

• Undeclared? 
• FAQ about the degree (For previous requirements, use the Catalog Search.)
• Pre-professional programs (arts, business, health/medical and law)

How to declare or change a CAHSS advisor, major, minor or requirement year?

Certificate Programs

NOTE: Certificates do not satisfy a second field of study.

• Creative Writing
• Geographic Information Science (GIS)
• Museum Studies (MST)
• Theatre Design and Production

To apply for a certificate see this site for more information and other available UMD certificates. To drop a certificate contact the UMD One Stop Office. 

FAQ about the degree

• What are the degree requirements of a Bachelor's degree? This slideshow includes multiple ways to view course descriptions.
• What are the overall UMD campus degree requirements?
• Is a second field of study required for CAHSS majors?
• Is advanced writing required?
• What pre-professional opportunities are available? 
  (including: business, health, law, medical, etc)
• What degrees are accredited?
• What certificates are offered through CAHSS?
  NOTE: Certificates do not satisfy a second field of study.
• What graduate programs are offered through CAHSS?

Pre-professional Programs

Arts
Students interested in pursing a career in the arts have many opportunities at UMD.

Business
Students interested in business have access to a variety of business related courses within CAHSS and complementary business minors through the Labovitz School of Business & Economics (LSBE).

Health or Medical
Students interested in health or medical fields of study, such as health, medical and other related studies while enrolled in CAHSS.

Law
Students interested in the study of law or other related studies while enrolled in CAHSS.

Is a minor required for CAHSS majors? (effective fall 2019)

Many CAHSS major programs (including most of the B.A. majors plus the GIS and Linguistics B.S. majors) require either a minor, second major or dual degree. The B.A. majors that do not have this requirement are Arts Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Tribal Administration and Governance.

Students majoring in Hispanic Studies cannot minor in Latin American Studies, but may double major. Students majoring in Latin American Studies cannot minor in Hispanic Studies, but may double major. Students double majoring in Hispanic Studies and Latin American Studies must have a third field of study (another major or minor).

Students majoring in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and minoring in LGBTQ studies must declare a third field of study (either another major or minor). This addresses the overlapping of courses across programs.

Students majoring in Writing Studies must complete a minor or second major in a field other than Journalism, Professional Writing, or Digital Writing, Literature & Design (previously Information Design). (This pertains to students who are following the fall 2015 or earlier degree requirements.)

Is advanced writing required?

Most CAHSS majors require WRIT 31xx-Advanced Writing. Some majors require a particular advanced writing course (ex: WRIT 3160-Advanced Writing: Social Sciences). Majors exempt from the advanced writing requirement are: English, history (fall 2017 major requirements) and philosophy (if an additional PHIL 3xxx course is taken).

(updated May 2020)