Each department in CNMS has its own protocol for assigning students to academic advisors and for notifying students of their assignments. Departmental contacts for academic advising are listed below.
Still not sure who to contact? Reach out to us at cnmsadvising@umbc.edu, and we’ll help direct you to the appropriate advisor.
Biological Sciences (BIOL BA and BIOL BS)
Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOL major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period (10th day of classes) will be assigned an advisor. Students are notified of their advising assignment via their UMBC email account in October (Fall semester) and March (Spring semester). A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the main office for Biological Sciences (BS 480) and outside the CNMS Advising suite (UC 205).
Students whose BIOL major was not officially declared prior to the end of the Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office to add the BIOL major, they may be advised within the department as follows:
Students with 30 or fewer earned credits – Contact the CNMS Advising Staff at cnmsadvising@umbc.edu. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted in the University Center, Suite 205.
Students over 30 earned credits – Contact the Biological Sciences Department Main Office (BS 480, 410-455-2261) for instructions
Students pursuing the minor in Biological Sciences or the minor in Quantitative Biology can contact the CNMS Advising Staff.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BIOC BS)
Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOC major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period (10th day of classes) will be assigned an advisor. Students are notified of their advising assignment via their UMBC email account in October (Fall semester) and March (Spring semester). A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the main office for Biological Sciences (BS 480), the main office for Chemistry & Biochemistry (MEYR 100), and outside the CNMS Advising suite (UC 205).
Students whose BIOC major was not officially declared prior to the end of the Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office to add the BIOC major, they may be advised within the department as follows:
Students with 30 or fewer earned credits – Contact the CNMS Advising Staff at cnmsadvising@umbc.edu. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted in the University Center, Suite 205.
Students with over 30 earned credits – Contact Dr. Allison Tracy (atracy@umbc.edu, MEYR 109, 410-455-2043)
Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (BINF BS)
Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BINF major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. Students are notified of their advising assignment via their UMBC email account in October (Fall semester) and March (Spring semester). A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the main office for Biological Sciences (BS 480) and outside the CNMS Advising suite (UC 205).
Students whose BINF major was not declared prior to the end of Schedule Adjustment but who have already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office must have an assessment of their completion of the BINF Gateway requirements before proceeding with the major.
Contact the CNMS Advising Staff at cnmsadvising@umbc.edu for an assessment of Gateway requirements. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted in the University Center, Suite 205.
Students pursuing the minor in Bioinformatics can contact the CNMS Advising Staff.
Biology Education (BIOE BA)
Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose BIOE major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. Students are notified of their advising assignment via their UMBC email account in October (Fall semester) and March (Spring semester). A list of majors with advising assignments is also posted outside the main office for Biological Sciences (BS 480) and outside the CNMS Advising suite (UC 205).
BIOE students will also have access to an advisor in the Education Department, in order to ensure that they are making appropriate progress towards completion of their teaching certification requirements. While students should work with both departments throughout their UMBC career, it is recommended that BIOE students work more closely with their Biological Sciences Department advisor for their first two years (through 45-60 credits), and then work more closely with their Education Department advisor in the lead-up to their teaching Field Experience.
Contact Dr. David Eisenmann (eisenman@umbc.edu, BS 316, 410-455-2256)
Chemistry (CHEM BA and CHEM BS) and Chemistry Education (CHED BA)
Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose CHEM major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. Students are notified by email when assignments are posted outside the main offices for Chemistry & Biochemistry (MEYR 100) and outside the CNMS Advising suite (UC 205).
Students whose CHEM or CHED major was not officially declared prior to the end of the Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office to add the CHEM or CHED major, they may be advised within the department as follows:
Students with 30 or fewer earned credits – Contact the CNMS Advising Staff at cnmsadvising@umbc.edu. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted in the University Center, Suite 205.
Students with over 30 earned credits – Contact Dr. Paul Smith (pjsmith@umbc.edu, MEYR 405B, 410-455-2519)
Mathematics (MATH BA and MATH BS)
Contact Dr. Kalman Nanes (knanes@umbc.edu, Math/Psyc 439, 410-455-2439)
For general questions on the Mathematics programs, use the point of contact indicated above. Current Mathematics majors and minors can locate the name of their academic advisor on the bulletin board across from the Math/Statistics Office in MP 410 or in myUMBC in the Advising & Student Support topic under My Advisors. All students who have been assigned an advisor should make appointments directly with that faculty member. Students who wish to switch advisors should contact Ms. Janet Burgee (jburgee@umbc.edu) in the Math/Stat Main Office.
Military Science (Army ROTC)
The Department of Military Science provides supplemental advising for students of any major who are participating in UMBC’s Army Reserve Officers Training Corps Program (AROTC).
Contact Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Bangsboll (bbangsb1@umbc.edu). His office is located at the Army ROTC House, 5440 Wilkens Ave, 410-516-4687.
Naval Science (Navy ROTC)
The Department of Naval Science provides supplemental advising for students of any major who are participating in UMBC’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program (NROTC).
Contact Lieutenant Keneisha Brown (kbrown18@umbc.edu). Her office is located at the Navy ROTC House, 5449 Wilkens Ave.
Physics (PHYS BS) and Physics Education (PHSE BA)
Each Fall and Spring semester, students whose PHYS or PHSE major is officially declared by the end of the Schedule Adjustment period will be assigned an advisor. Students are notified by email when assignments are posted outside the main offices for Physics (PHYS 220) and outside the CNMS Advising suite (UC 205).
Students whose PHYS or PHSE major was not officially declared prior to the end of the Schedule Adjustment are considered “newly declared” and do not receive an official advising assignment until the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). However, if they already submitted a Declaration of Major form to the Registrar’s Office to add the PHYS or PHSE major, they may be advised within the department as follows:
Students who have not completed or enrolled in PHYS 224 (Vibrations and Waves) – Contact the CNMS Advising Staff at cnmsadvising@umbc.edu. For Advance Registration advising appointments, sign-up information is posted in the University Center, Suite 205.
Students who have completed PHYS 224 (Vibrations and Waves) or are currently enrolled in the course – Contact Dr. Eric Anderson (andersoe@umbc.edu, PHYS 320, 410-455-5823)
Statistics (STAT BS)
Contact Dr. Yehenew Kifle (yehenew@umbc.edu, Math/Psyc 426, 410-455-2972)
For general questions on the Statistics, use the point of contact indicated above. Current Statistics majors and minors can locate the name of their academic advisor on the bulletin board across from the Math/Statistics Office in MP 410 or in myUMBC in the Advising & Student Support topic under My Advisors. All students who have been assigned an advisor should make appointments directly with that faculty member. Students who wish to switch advisors should contact Ms. Janet Burgee (jburgee@umbc.edu) in the Math/Stat Main Office.
If you are looking for contact information for the majors in Environmental Science & Geography or Geography & Environmental Studies, offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems (GES), their department is a part of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), not CNMS. You can find advising contact information for the majors in GES – as well as all other UMBC Academic Departments – on the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising‘s website