McDaniel College: A Comprehensive Overview of Degree Programs and Opportunities

McDaniel College, founded in 1867 as Western Maryland College, stands as a testament to accessible and comprehensive higher education. As the first co-educational institution south of the Mason-Dixon line, McDaniel has a rich history of providing robust opportunities for social involvement, leadership, and academic exploration. Located on a scenic hilltop campus near Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C., the college offers a personalized undergraduate education emphasizing a liberal arts approach. With a commitment to fostering critical thinking and adaptability, McDaniel prepares students to thrive in diverse career fields.

Undergraduate Programs: A Foundation for Success

McDaniel College offers a wide array of academic programs, including 33 majors and 40 minors, designed to cater to diverse interests and career aspirations. The college's personalized approach ensures that students receive individualized attention from expert faculty in small class sizes (with a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 and 69.2% of classes having fewer than 20 students). The most popular majors at McDaniel College include: Psychology, General; Business Administration and Management, General; Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; Social Work; Criminal Justice/Safety Studies; Sociology, General; History, General; and Political Science and Government, Other.

The McDaniel Plan: Customizing Your Educational Journey

At McDaniel, the educational journey begins with the McDaniel Commitment, guaranteeing students a path to success. The McDaniel Plan serves as the foundation of a student's education, empowering them to learn what they want and how they want, with numerous ways to customize their experience.

McDaniel College has adopted a block transfer policy. If you enter McDaniel with an Associate of Arts (A.A.), an Associate of Science (A.S.), or an Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.), you will have met all McDaniel general education requirements (our McDaniel Plan).

Special Programs for Enhanced Learning

McDaniel College offers several special programs designed to enhance the academic experience and provide unique opportunities for growth.

Global Fellows Program: This prestigious program offers an academic and co-curricular opportunity that enhances academic study.
Honors Program: Instituted in 1986, the McDaniel Honors Program enriches the liberal arts experience by offering academic enrichment to exceptionally motivated and enthusiastic students.
Undergraduate Research: Driven by student learning, undergraduate research at McDaniel provides meaningful opportunities for students to contribute to their field early in their academic careers. Undergraduate research occurs in all majors and with the oversight of full-time faculty. Each year, students work with professors on over 300 research projects; they often have their names listed as co-authors on journal articles and present work at national and international conferences.
January Term (Jan Term): This three-week term between the fall and spring semesters allows students and faculty to explore new areas and expand their intellectual horizons. Specially designed courses are offered on and off campus, including study abroad tours with faculty that deepen learning and international understanding.

Pre-Professional Programs: Preparing for Advanced Studies

McDaniel College provides guidance and support for students interested in pursuing professional degrees in fields such as medicine, law, engineering, and education.

Pre-Health Professions

Since 1874, men and women graduates of the College have gone on to practice medicine and the other health professions. In addition to the science courses required for admission to professional schools, the College recommends a number of courses in other disciplines and an internship experience that allow the student to gain admission and to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for the study and practice of medicine and the other health professions. Professional schools expect that candidates for admission will achieve well-above-average grades in their undergraduate studies. Requirements of professional schools vary; students should seek advice from the Pre-Health Professions advisor early in their undergraduate career.

McDaniel College supports students interested in various allied health professions, including:

Physician Assistant (PA): Physician Assistants are licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. There is no restriction for a specific major. Because the prerequisites vary for each school, students are encouraged to identify the specific prerequisites for schools that they may apply to during their sophomore and junior years. Completion of these courses at McDaniel College does not guarantee that the student will meet the prerequisite requirements for physician assistant education programs. Students should meet with one of the campus Allied Health Professions advisors, Steve McCole or Dr.
Physical Therapy (PT): Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. There is no restriction for a specific major. Because the prerequisites vary for each school, students are encouraged to identify the specific prerequisites for schools that they may apply to during their sophomore and junior years. Completion of these courses at McDaniel College does not guarantee that the student will meet the prerequisite requirements for Physical Therapy education programs. Students should meet with one of the campus Allied Health Professions advisors, Steve McCole or Dr.
Occupational Therapy (OT): Occupational therapists (OTs) help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. Occupational therapy programs are highly selective and an excellent GPA is required for positive admissions consideration. There is no restriction for a specific major. Because the prerequisites vary for each school, students are encouraged to identify the specific prerequisites for schools that they may apply to during their sophomore and junior years. Completion of these courses at McDaniel College does not guarantee that the student will meet the prerequisite requirements for Occupational Therapy education programs. Students should meet with one of the campus Allied Health Professions advisors, Dr. Steve McCole or Dr.

Pre-Law

Law schools give preference to students with high academic achievement and backgrounds of broad cultural and social education. A student may major in any department. The most useful courses are those which offer training in writing and speaking, literature, philosophy, history, economics, and political science.

Pre-Engineering

Students interested in an engineering career, should also consider the advantages of completing a standard four-year physics major program prior to transfer to an engineering school. Jeffrey D.

Teacher Education

McDaniel College has provided programs for teacher preparation and certification for over 100 years. Students who complete the minor in elementary education, secondary education, or Pre-12 art, French, German, Spanish, music, or physical education are eligible for teacher certification in the State of Maryland (and more than 45 states according to the terms of the Interstate Reciprocity Agreement). McDaniel’s teacher education programs are fully approved and accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Note that course requirements for the education minor are subject to changes reflecting Maryland State Department of Education certification regulations. Margaret C.

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Bachelor of Arts Degree for Early Admission Students

Students who have received early admission to graduate or professional schools may petition the College to receive the B.A. degree after the successful completion of one year of graduate or professional study. In order to be awarded the degree, the student must have completed the McDaniel Plan Requirements, have their total program approved by the major department(s), and have completed sufficient hours of course work at the College and in the graduate or professional school to equal the 128 credit hours required for the College’s graduation. The Provost and the chair of the major department(s) will determine whether these requirements have been met. A broad liberal arts education is an asset for students who wish to pursue a professional education, and entrance examinations and admissions requirements for many professional schools favor individuals who have benefited from an undergraduate liberal arts education.

Graduate Programs: Advanced Studies for Professionals

The Master of Liberal Arts program extends the College’s long tradition in the study of the liberal arts at the baccalaureate level. The M.L.A. The Master of Science programs are designed to enrich the background of individuals in an area of specialization. McDaniel College faculty recognize the benefits and rewards of working with a diverse population. Students of all ages, interests, and professions are encouraged to apply for graduate study. While more than 3,000 graduate students are listed on the active graduate roster throughout the year, over 1,800 individuals are attending graduate classes on campus, off campus, and online during any one semester. Most graduate students commute to these classes from surrounding Maryland counties, as well as nearby Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Northeast Maryland, and northern Virginia. Many of our programs are offered through off-campus cohorts and some programs are offered at locations in Southern Maryland. During the Fall and Spring semesters, most graduate courses are conducted in the late afternoon, evenings, and weekends. This format accommodates the majority of employed graduate students who attend on a part-time basis. Most courses on the main campus meet once a week for 2-1/2 hours.

The graduate mission emphasizes the development of knowledge and critical thinking that is based on current research, theory and practice within a field of study. Course work will include both core and elective courses that promote value for, balance of and interdependence among these approaches and help students to consistently apply them in their work. Some courses will emphasize foundational knowledge and dominant theories, others will promote critical thinking and research methodologies to answer important questions. All Master’s Degree programs include a culminating experience designed to encourage students to consolidate and integrate what they have learned throughout their program of study. At the time of publication the following programs require students to prepare a portfolio documenting the fulfillment of program objectives: , Human Resources Development, Reading Specialist, Special Education, School Administration and Teaching. Comprehensive examinations are administered by the College once each semester during the months of March, July, and October for master’s degree students who are completing their programs in which the comprehensive exam is a requirement. Comprehensive exams are graded using an anonymous review process. This review can result in a pass, fail or a request for a conference in which responses will be explained or justified. Notification about results will be sent no more than four weeks after the exam is given. Students are encouraged to consider writing a thesis as part of their program. This option is particularly valuable for students considering the pursuit of a doctorate or those with a well-defined research interest. Does Participation in the Carroll County Outdoor School Program Impact The Responsible Environmental Behavior of Its Participants? Does Gender and Student Attitude Effect Mathematics Achievement? Graduate students who elect to write theses should discuss this option with their graduate program coordinators early in their program. The graduate program coordinator and the student will submit an abstract of the proposal and suggested names of committee members to the Dean of Graduate & Professional Studies. After approval is received, the graduate student will register for the thesis using the Graduate Registration Form. You.

Master of Liberal Arts (MLA)

The Liberal Arts (MLA) program consists of ten, three-credit courses and a six-credit final project for a total of 36 credit hours. Although there are required courses, the program’s primary feature is that graduate students are expected to design their own program of study. This flexibility allows students to pursue courses that best reflect their personal and professional interests.

Experiential Learning: Applying Knowledge in the Real World

McDaniel College emphasizes experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings.

Internships

Most McDaniel students complete at least one internship during their time on the Hill. Through the Center for Experience and Opportunity and our internship fairs, students find opportunities that relate directly to their field of study or future vocation. Internships apply what you've learned in the classroom to the working world.

Study Abroad

McDaniel offers a wide variety of study-abroad opportunities in over 50 countries. Take a January Term Abroad. These three weeks of study can take many different forms, but they all offer unique opportunities to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Whether you choose to study abroad in the Bahamas, complete an internship in Hollywood, or explore a new subject in a different kind of classroom, Jan Terms give you a chance to explore something you’ve always wanted to do.

Campus Life and Community

McDaniel College provides a vibrant campus life with numerous opportunities for social involvement and leadership. With a student body of approximately 1,800 undergraduate students, with 51% identifying as female and 49% as male. About 40% of our students identify as a student of color and represent 32 states and Washington, DC, as well as a variety of countries. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 76%.

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