Admissions – Master’s Program

To the Potential Graduate Degree Candidate:

It is my pleasure to provide you with information relating to the graduate program in Emergency and Disaster Health Systems. All EDHS courses are presented in the online format. Some courses in other departments for our Epidemiology/Preventive Medicine and Education tracks are offered at the UMBC and UMB campuses.

There are several ways to apply to the Emergency and Disaster Health Systems department.

Master’s Program (M.S.)

For the full degree program, you will need to complete the online application, a residency determination form, submit a Goals statement, 3-4 letters of recommendation from current or prior professors or field related supervisors, and transcripts from all attended institutions while an undergraduate. Letters of Recommendation can be sent directly via a link and will be added to the application documentation automatically. Please choose your preferred track of study during the application process.

For international students, transcripts must be evaluated and converted to a 4.0 GPA scale and additional documentation of English Language Proficiency must be submitted. More information can be found on the Graduate School website about International Admissions.

Additionally, if your undergraduate GPA was below 3.2, you must secure an application for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and schedule yourself to take the exam at the next convenient date, preferably prior to May for the Fall Semester entrance, or prior to September for Spring Semester entrance.

Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Degree program

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program is for UMBC undergraduates who make their intentions known to both their undergraduate advisor and the appropriate graduate program director, usually in their junior year. For more information or for an application, please click here.

A major advantage of this program is that it enables the student to double count credits toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Usually, the student can double count up to nine credits, but please refer to the individual graduate program page for specific information regarding the number of credits allowed. If admitted, the student follows a prescribed course of study in which a predetermined number of credits at the 600 level or higher may be taken as an undergraduate and counted later toward the master’s degree. They may be enrolled on either a part-time or full-time basis. Students must complete the Request for Approval for Undergraduates to Take Courses for Graduate Credit form for each graduate-level course in which they wish to enroll.

An undergraduate may apply to participate in an accelerated program even if the desired graduate program is in a department other than the one in which the student is majoring.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

If your desire is to seek only the Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management, click here for more information or to apply.

Non-Degree Graduate program

If you wish you “try out” the Emergency and Disaster Health Systems degree, you may enroll as a Non-Degree seeking student. Please note that only two (2) graduate-level courses (up to 6 credits) may transfer towards your degree unless prior authorization is obtained from both the graduate program director and the graduate school. Click here to apply.

Any exceptions to the policies noted above must be discussed first with the graduate program director and obtain written approval.

The Graduate Program Coordinator, Renee Decker, can assist with general questions about the program and the application process.

For General Graduate School information and funding option/opportunities, please check out the Graduate School’s website at https://gradschool.umbc.edu/

We are happy to note your interest in our program and hope you will be able to meet your objectives by including us in your educational goals.

Sincerely yours,

Lucy Wilson, MD
Graduate Program Director
Lucy Wilson

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:

(410) 455-3223 [ UMBC Department of EDHS ]
(410) 455-2537 [ Graduate School Admissions ]
(410) 455-1000 [ General Information for UMBC ]