Meet Your 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.

Current BSCI Terps may forward all inquiries to their Assigned Advisor, who they can review on TerpEngage—the University’s central advising platform.

If you are a first-semester freshman or a current student who has yet to be assigned to an Academic Advisor, please email any questions or challenges to the Undergraduate Program’s Central Office at bscique@umd.edu until you are matched to an academic advisor.

Response time is up to 2-3 business days, please be mindful that this does not include weekends.

TerpEngage is where students can:

  1. Review notes from their Assigned Advisor.

  2. Submit a request to ADD or SWITCH their Major

  3. Schedule meetings with their Assigned Advisor (varies) CLICK HERE for directions.

If TerpEngage shows your Advisor as Not Available this means that they either…

  • Have yet to set up their availability on TerpEngage

    OR

  • They may book meetings using another platform. Please review the Advisor Directory below or email your assigned advisor to confirm their preferred method for appointment scheduling.


BSCI Advisor directory

Please read carefully to find the person/services you are looking for.

admissions counseling, prospective students

—for first-time applicants to the University and the Biological Sciences, Limited Enrollment Program (LEP)

biological sciences Undergraduate Program, central office

—Academic Advising for first-years, sophomores, and Terps completing the major’s Basic Program; 1200B Biology-Psychology Building

Please schedule appointments via TerpEngage. For all other questions or challenges, please email your Assigned Advisor.

Department of Biology

—Academic Advising by faculty for the ECEV and PHNB specializations; 1204 Biology-Psychology Building

Advisors will notify students about how to schedule advising meetings via email. For all other questions or challenges, please email your Assigned Advisor.

Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics

—Academic Advising by faculty for the CEBG, MICB, and GENB specializations (last names N-Z); 1109 Microbiology Building

  • Dr. David Straney, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Programs & Coordinating Advisor - straney@umd.edu or call 301-405-1622

  • Megan Leung, Undergraduate Office Coordinator - mleung3@umd.edu or call 301-405-2766

Advisors will notify students about how to schedule advising meetings via email. For all other questions or challenges, please email your Assigned Advisor.

Department of Entomology

—Academic Advising by faculty for the GENB specialization (last names A-M); 4112 Plant Sciences

  • Dr. David Hawthorne, Undergraduate Director & Coordinating Advisor - djh@umd.edu

  • Entomology Main Office: Ms. Amy Yaich - ayaich@umd.edu

  • Entomology Honors Program: Dr. Karin Twardosz Burghardt - kburghar@umd.edu

  • Paleobiology Minor: Dr. David Hawthorne - djh@umd.edu

Terps can schedule advising meetings using their Assigned Advisor’s preferred booking method on the ENTM Website. For all other questions or challenges, please email your Assigned Advisor.

BioFIRE Living-Learning Community

—Academic Advising for Terps enrolled in the BioFIRE program; 2328 Symons Hall

Please schedule appointments via TerpEngage. For all other questions or challenges, please email your Assigned Advisor.