Planning Your Program of Study

Goal Setting

Students who expect to be successful at the college should make every effort in the first semester to clarify both their short and long-term educational goals. When these goals are clear, students are better able to make intelligent choices among the wide variety of college programs available and to make efficient, productive use of time in college.

Among the many services on campus to help students do this are the following: individualized academic and career advisement; a career decision-making course (STU 1050); ARTSYS, a database including all academic programs of the University System of Maryland, with transfer equivalencies of community college courses and programs; Transfer Course Equivalencies, a webpage with links to 4-year institutions databases where transfer equivalencies from other institutions (including CSM) are stored, departmental program orientations; and reference materials. The faculty can offer both academic and career expertise.

Student Responsibility

Each new student should make an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss and select a program of study. Students who wish to change their program of study at any time during their enrollment must speak with an academic advisor to make the appropriate adjustments. All previous credits are reevaluated at this time.

Students are responsible for seeking out the kind of information that will help them make their most important decision at the college-program selection. The Programs of Study section of this catalog contains a complete listing of academic programs offered at the College of Southern Maryland. Additional programs may have been developed since the printing of this catalog. Students should refer to the CSM web site for the most current information on new and existing programs.

Planning to Enter a Career

Students who are planning to enter a career immediately upon completing a degree or certificate program should take advantage of the services offered by the Career Services office at any campus. Goal setting, career counseling, and career development workshops are available to help students clarify their career objectives and develop job search strategies. CSM Offers a Career Decision Making and Life Planning Course (STU 1050) to assist students in the career planning process. Opportunities for combining work and formal study are available through a cooperative education program. Career programs offer students the opportunity to prepare for entry into an occupation or to upgrade their job skills in their current positions.

Planning to Transfer

Students who are planning to transfer to another college or university should select their programs at the College of Southern Maryland early in order to make efficient and effective use of their coursework. Acceptance of transfer courses is the decision of the receiving institution.

The general education core courses should be completed first. Students then need to match their program requirements at the college with the requirements of the major they intend to pursue at the upper level. Students need to verify the admission criteria for their desired transfer institution and desired transfer program, as different majors may have additional admission criteria beyond the institutional requirements. Students should also consult the Transfer Agreements web page to view transfer opportunities made specifically for CSM students. Visit the CSM transfer web page (www.csmd.edu/TransferServices) for additional information on transfer preparation.

Career and Transfer Resource Services

Transfer research materials, career planning and other online resources are available at each campus to assist students as they prepare to transition to a four-year college or university and ultimately enter the workforce. The College of Southern Maryland offers Transfer Fairs at La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick once a semester. Information on special events and services such as transfer orientations and workshops, job fairs and internships is also available.

ARTSYS and Transfer Equivalency Databases

A computerized database (http://artsys.usmd.edu), developed and maintained by the University System of Maryland, is available to inform students in Maryland community colleges about the transferability of each community college course. The system allows students to determine if courses are transferable and indicates the four-year institution’s equivalent course number. It also indicates the general education area(s), at both the sending and receiving institution, applicable to the course. The system is presently in use at all Maryland public institutions and many independent colleges and universities.

In addition to ARTSYS, the College of Southern Maryland provides links to Transfer Equivalency Databases to our top transfer destinations on the Transfer Services webpage.

Steps to Successful Transfer

Visit your community college advisor in order to discuss your intentions to transfer and to obtain advisement.
Request information from four-year institutions that interest you. A great way to discover educational opportunities is to attend the transfer advising days held at your community college.
Find out about transfer requirements and deadlines for the institutions to which you intend to apply.
Visit the campus(es). While you are there, arrange to meet with either an admissions representative or a department advisor to discuss your chosen major of study.
Obtain an application form, or apply online.
Complete and send the application(s) for admission.
Arrange to send transcripts from your current college and all previously attended institutions to the institution(s) to which you are applying.
Complete and send all required financial aid/scholarship information by the prescribed deadlines to the institutions to which you are applying.

Advisors will help students access and assess the data they need to transfer both within the state system and elsewhere. Students who take advantage of these services generally experience less loss of credits in transfer.

Statewide Transfer Opportunities

CSM is part of Maryland’s articulation process and its Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) degrees in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering and its Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) are designed to transfer as a block of courses, rather than on a course-by-course basis into four-year baccalaureate granting institutions in the University System of Maryland. As a result, students can transfer without losing credits and can graduate with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or a BA degree in Teacher Education in an additional two years, if they attend the transfer institution full time.

Guaranteed Transfer Agreements

CSM continuously seeks partnerships with four-year colleges and universities. The partnerships create opportunities for students to seamlessly transfer into bachelor’s degree programs with no loss of credit. In some cases, bachelor’s degrees can be completed without leaving Southern Maryland. A partial list of four-year partners is listed below, but new partnerships are added daily. For an up-to-date listing of partners and programs, visit our website at: www.csmd.edu/guaranteedtransfer

American Business School in Paris
American Public University
Bowie State University
Coppin State University
Delaware State University
Excelsior College
Frostburg State University
George Mason University
George Washington University - certain programs
Liberty University
Longwood University
Norfolk State University
Old Dominion University
Salem University
Salisbury University
Shenandoah University
Shepherd University
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Strayer University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Webster University
West Virginia University
Wilmington University
York College

BeeLine Program - University of Baltimore

The BeeLine program allows eligible community college students to apply for and be admitted to the University of Baltimore while still enrolled at a Maryland community college, including unique transfer student benefits and services.

Dual Admission Program - Temple University

Temple recognizes that students access their undergraduate education through different pathways. Temple’s Dual (or Guaranteed) Admissions program is our partnership with participating two-year institutions through which you can enroll at Temple. If you have completed fewer than 30 college credits, you may enroll in Temple’s Dual Admissions program at your college so you can transfer and earn your undergraduate degree at Temple. Enrollment in Dual Admissions guarantees admission to most majors at Temple if you earn an approved associate degree with a GPA of 2.3 or higher. Dual Admissions also guarantees additional merit scholarships to students who graduate from their community college with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. Scholarships are awarded after Temple receives a final transcript indicating that you have graduated through Dual Admissions with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) - University of Maryland College Park

The Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) is designed to ensure that CSM students are well prepared for seamless transfer to University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and that they are well prepared for success when they get there. MTAP helps students that want to begin and complete their college education in the State of Maryland.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Transfer Edge Program (STEP) - St. Mary’s College of Maryland

STEP allows CSM students to pursue their associate degree and simultaneously work toward their bachelor’s degree at SMCM by taking one course per semester up to a total of four courses at a 50 percent discount. CSM students participating in the program will also have access to SMCM advising, the Hilda C. Landers Library, recreation facilities and can attend campus student events.

Transfer Student Alliance (TSA) Program - University of Maryland Baltimore County

The University of Maryland Baltimore County offers eligible CSM students guaranteed admissions upon the completion of their associate’s degree. While participating in the program, students will have access to UMBC/UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove facilities and campus services including the library and computer labs. Students can also participate in student activities including cultural and recreational opportunities. CSM graduates with a 3.5 GPA will receive guaranteed on-campus housing, priority advising and registration and a $1,500 merit scholarship for each of the two years of full-time study.