Science in the Evening Program
Director Letter | Information Sessions | SIE Association | SIE Announcements
Letter from the SIE Director
Welcome to the Science in the Evening Program at the University of Maryland. Through this program, we hope to help you to further your post-baccalaureate education. I am Dr. Joelle Presson, director of Science in the Evening (SIE). Let me tell you a few things about our program:
Science in the Evening was started in 1996 to serve the growing interest in life sciences related careers. Since the early 1990’s students who had already earned an undergraduate degree were enrolling in daytime life science courses. Many asked us about evening sections that would accommodate busy work and family schedules. The University responded with Science in the Evening, a set of courses offered at convenient evening times and just for post-baccalaureate students.
Science in the Evening courses provide the basic foundational curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics needed for any life sciences career, whether medicine, patent law or graduate study. These evening courses—lectures, discussions, and labs—are identical in content to those offered during the day for the life sciences undergraduate degree programs. Course instructors are carefully screened and regularly evaluated to maintain quality and lab sections are taught by our experienced teaching assistants.
Science in the Evening at the University of Maryland offers advantages over more structured post-baccalaureate programs. Many more structured programs are geared only toward preparing pre-medical students and require students to take courses in a particular order. Some require that you already have most of the professional school pre-requisite courses and are close to ready to apply. SIE offers courses for a broader audience and is not restricted to a particular course sequence. You may take whatever course for which you have the prerequisite. SIE is a part-time evening program, allowing students the flexibility to work or do other activities during the day. SIE students typically enroll in two evening courses per semester, but you may enroll in one course per semester if that better fits your schedule.
Science in the Evening courses that are restricted to SIE students give an added benefit. SIE sections are much smaller than the daytime sections. In a daytime course, you would find 200-300 students in lecture. In SIE, you will find no more than 50-60 students in lecture, often far fewer. So, your tuition dollars go a long way in SIE.
Science in the Evening is run by an organized, efficient, and helpful support staff. As director of the program, the academic aspects of the program, including advising, are my responsibility. My staff and I select and review instructors, advise students, choose courses, and ensure the quality of the program. Administrative aspects of the program, such as admission, registration, and billing questions are handled through the Office of Extended Studies. Please contact Student Services at: oes@umd.edu or call 301-405-7762.
Science in Evening advising can help students find their way. Many post-baccalaureate students are eager to begin preparation for a new career, but are uncertain of just what they need to do or the courses they should take. Perhaps you had organic chemistry 10 years ago; should you retake it? How many courses should you take at once, and what are the advantages of going to school at night versus quitting your job and attending full-time during the day? How do professional and graduate schools perceive these programs? These and other advising questions can be addressed in a personal advising session with me. My office staff and I have years of professional and advising experience and we are here to help you in any way we can.
So, welcome to Science in the Evening. We wish you the best of luck in your courses and your career and hope to personally hear from each one of you.
Sincerely,
Joelle C. Presson, PhD
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic Programs
College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
University of Maryland
College Park, MD
SIE Information Sessions
SIE Advising & Information Session for the "Science in the Evening Program" will be held on the dates below:
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January 17, 2012 | 6:00-8:00 pm | Symons Hall, 0200 |
| Session starts promptly at 6:00pm, please be on time. | ||
Click here for a preview of what will be discussed during the session.
Click here for a Campus Map.
SIE Student Association
The Science in the Evening Student Association provides community of practice for post-baccalaureate students of science at the University of Maryland. Our mission is to enable communication and community development among students who might otherwise never meet but who have shared goals, experiences, and challenges. There is no time commitment necessary, so please sign up!
- A listserv for announcements, study groups, carpools, etc
- Community service events specifically tailored for science in the evening students
- Networking and community building event once a semester
- Ability to share experiences with courses, professors, testing (e.g., MCAT), and applying to professional school.
Send your name, email address, and STUDENT ID NUMBER (required for SGA funding) to Kate Zwaard, kzwaard@gmail.com.
