Advising for the bsci major

All Terps in the Biological Sciences major are assigned to an Academic Advisor around mid-October or after Spring Break during their first (Fall or Spring) semester at the University.

Academic Advisors illustrate the Major LEP-Benchmark Requirements to continue and complete a Maryland Biological Sciences degree, make recommendations for upcoming course registration, refer students to essential campus resources, and discuss students’ personal/professional goals.

15-MINUTE DROP-in advising

offered only during select dates

—Terms Updated 1/31/2025.

The Program’s Central Office will offer 15-MINUTE Drop-In sessions for BSCI Terps who have yet to be assigned to an Academic Advisor.

These sessions are typically held on select dates during the Fall and Spring Schedule Adjustment Period at 1210 Biology-Psychology Building (BPS).

DROP-IN SESSIONS ARE USED FOR

• Informed Course ADD / DROP / WITHDRAWAL

• Referral to Essential Campus Resources

• Brief review of Graduation Plans created with a. CMNS Peer Mentor

DROP-IN SESSIONS ARE NOT USED FOR

• Mandatory Advising, Pre-Registration Advising

• Pre-Health Inquiries (refer to HPAO)

• Study Abroad Inquiries (refer to Maryland Global / Education Abroad)

• Requests for Letters of Recommendation (refer to a trusted Advisor, Instructor, or Mentor)

The College of CMNS also offers 15-MINUTE Drop-In Advising for ALL CMNS STUDENTS on select dates; however, these sessions are not a substitute for semesterly, pre-registration advising with your Assigned Advisor.

If you are a current student who has yet to be assigned to an academic advisor and cannot attend a drop-in session, please email your question or challenge to bscique@umd.edu.

—for all other current BSCI Terps, please email your Assigned Advisor.

curriculum & Graduation Planning

Students are advised to create an individualized graduation plan with a cmns peer mentor ahead of their first bsci advising session.

Information about the Biological Sciences curriculum and sample graduation plans for each major specialization can be found on our Curriculum & Graduation Planning webpage.

Individualized Graduation Plans can be created with a CMNS Peer Mentor at 1317 Symons Hall, Monday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm (NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED!).

date and deadlines

all BSCI terps are responsible for knowing the university’s dates and deadlines for course registration.

This information is updated annually by the Office of the Registrar, which determines the start of classes, the Schedule Adjustment Period (course add/drop), and the window for final exams.

Students are advised to review these steps for course registration before meeting with their Assigned Advisor.

Biological Sciences Opportunity Portal (BSOP)

…is a centralized database for BSCI Terps to find and EXPLORE research, internship, and scholarship opportunities in the Biological Sciences both at Maryland and BEYOND.

Click here to learn more about BSOP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is my assigned advisor?

All Terps in the Biological Sciences major are assigned to an Academic Advisor around mid-October or after Spring Break during their first (Fall or Spring) semester at the University.

Please log in to TerpEngage—Maryland’s central advising platform—to review your Assigned Advisor under Success Team.

If no advisor is listed under Success Team, then students may call the Undergraduate Program Office at 301-405-6892 or email bscique@umd.edu to learn more.

BSCI Terps are typically matched with a Professional Staff Advisor while working on the major’s Basic Program (typically first-years and sophomores), and are later reassigned to a Faculty Advisor based on their declared major specialization and as they begin to register for upper-division courses.

Do I have to attend mandatory advising?

All students who are still completing the major’s basic program, students with a GPA below 2.5, university athletes, and students in their first semester assigned to a Faculty Advisor must meet with their advisor before they can register for upcoming courses.

Terps who do not meet this criteria may not be required to meet with their Assigned Advisor, but are encouraged to do so.

Refer to your Assigned Advisor to confirm.