Natural Sciences
Begin a voyage of discovery in the sciences at the Department of Natural Sciences, one of three academic departments within the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. The department’s undergraduate and graduate programs are the centerpiece of the university’s science and technology focus and prepare you for a career of your dreams in many fields — from medicine and pharmacy to environmental protection and toxicology.
Chair’s Welcome
Dear Prospective Students and Families:
Welcome to the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore! Our programs are the centerpiece of the university’s science and technology focus areas. More importantly, our faculty, staff, and students have created a nurturing environment to support our students and help them achieve academic and professional success.
Our undergraduate Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Biology degree programs provide the foundations for future professional and academic careers. We offer Premedical and Pre-allied Health tracks for students interested in going on to serve their communities as doctors, physician assistants, and physical therapists. We have a cooperative program with the School of Pharmacy that provides an accelerated path to careers in the pharmaceutical sciences. Our General Biology, Environmental Science, and Chemistry tracks support those interested in broader careers in the sciences. Being on Maryland’s Eastern Shore provides us access to outstanding resources to study oceans, bays, and estuaries.
We also have graduate programs in the specialty areas of Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Sciences, as well as Toxicology and Chemistry. These fields are critical for investigating the impacts of humans on ecosystems and the effects of extreme weather events on coastal areas.
Our goal is to provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to pursue your career aspirations. Join us on your voyage of discovery and let us help you prepare for your future.
UMES’ strong partnership with NOAA through the Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center gives qualified students unparalleled access to our nation’s most esteemed internships and networking opportunities.
Jonathan Cumming, Chair, Ph.D., Cornell University
Prepare for a Career in Natural Sciences
From medicine and pharmacy to environmental protection and toxicology, the interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are your path to an exciting career making an impact on the world around you.
When you join the Department of Natural Sciences, you’ll learn from faculty who are experts in their fields with decades of experience performing research and fieldwork.
Whether you’re a Biology major or a Toxicology graduate student, each of our natural science degree programs integrates hands-on learning and collaboration with your peers to prepare you for the career of your dreams.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is an ideal place to earn a natural science degree—thanks to the many beautiful natural ecosystems around campus, throughout Maryland and across the East Coast. Immerse yourself in the study of science at UMES.
Explore Programs
Do you see yourself working in a lab alongside other dedicated researchers? Maybe you want to dive below the surface of the ocean to study the complex ecosystems at the ocean floor? Or perhaps you want to practice medicine and help improve the lives of people? Wherever you see yourself working within the natural sciences, get there as a student in the Department of Natural Sciences.
If you’re an undergraduate student and want to explore opportunities in medicine, allied health, or the pharmaceutical sciences, our Biochemistry and Biology degree programs provide the fundamental skill sets and training to help you stand out among other job and professional or graduate program candidates.
Those of you interested in exploring careers related to the environment will find our Environmental Science program a springboard for success. Our Paul S. Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Laboratory provides access to Maryland’s Coastal Bays for research and education.
Students interested in careers in the chemical sciences will find our Chemistry and Biochemistry programs challenging and providing opportunities for successful preparation for industry jobs or future advanced graduate study.
If you already have your undergraduate degree, we have graduate programs in Chemistry, Toxicology, and Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences, where you can receive advanced training towards Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Department of Natural Sciences has advanced laboratory and field facilities for research and training in marine science and ecology, toxicology, and natural products chemistry.
The NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) trains and graduates qualified students in marine science for careers in research, management and public policy that support our nation’s marine resources.
Student Life
Collaboration and community are at the core of our natural sciences degree programs. In addition to the experiential projects and research you’ll participate in when on campus, you’ll have many chances to take advantage of the vast, rich ecosystems across Maryland and along the East Coast.
We offer valuable summer programs that give you many opportunities to attend seminars, participate in workshops, take field trips to learn from professional researchers, and work alongside your peers and professors. All of these summer programs offer a stipend to help you earn money while you further your education and build a resume rich in real-world experiences. Whether you’re earning a Biology degree or studying Marine Sciences, we have an exciting program for you to step beyond the classroom and apply your knowledge to practical research.
Paying for UMES
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences offers natural sciences degree undergraduates the opportunity to enroll in the UMES Land-Grant Scholarship Program. These scholarships are funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and are intended to help our students succeed academically at UMES. Learn more about tuition costs and financial aid opportunities at UMES.
Departmental Scholarships
DNS Fund: This scholarship provides support for students enrolled in programs offered by the DNS.
Wutoh Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for one DNS student who is an African National.
Finish Line Scholarship: This scholarship is for full-time, UMES undergraduate students in the Department of Natural Sciences with a GPA of 2.5 and above. Students within 30 credits of graduation and who have demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for these funds and will be the primary recipients of these funds. Special consideration will be given to senior students who transferred from a 2-year institution. Juniors and sophomores, respectively, will be considered only if the need of senior students is met or there is an exceptional circumstance that warrants deviation.
Gregg & Cooper Fund: This scholarship provides support for one DNS student, particularly an undergraduate biology student, enrolled full-time with a GPA of 2.0 or greater.
Pepco/Exelon Training Program in Climate Resilience Fund: The purpose of the Pepco/Exelon Training Program in Climate Resilience Fund is to support and allow students in the DNS to explore energy management, alternative energy sources, and their increasing importance in a changing climate, especially on the Eastern Shore. Potential topics could include biomass, energy production, tidal energy resources, wind and solar energy, and sea level rise and the resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities. This program will support field and lab student research, professional development including student travel to research sites and conferences as well as costs associated with the invitation of experts to the DNS over a two-year period.
Seibold Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for one undergraduate or graduate DNS student enrolled in a fisheries or wildlife program with demonstrated financial need.
Newland Scholarship: This scholarship provides support to a sophomore student majoring in biology in honor of Brielle Newland. Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA and must be from Baltimore, MD.
Chemistry Teacher Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for a full-time undergraduate chemistry major with a demonstrated commitment to become a teacher and a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must be a US citizen for permanent resident. Preference will be given to students with a demonstrated financial need. This scholarship is renewable.
Sarbanes Fund: This is a merit-based scholarship opportunity that provides support for one DNS undergraduate or graduate student in the environmental sciences program with demonstrated financial need.
Careers
From our Chemistry graduate students to our undergraduate Biology majors, we ensure that every student receives the expert guidance and resources to excel in their chosen career or graduate program. Many of our programs include concentrations within their fields to help you further tailor your natural sciences degree to your interests.
Some of the career fields or graduate programs you could pursue after graduation include:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Forensic science
- Dentistry
- Physical therapy
- Environmental protection
- Fisheries management
Take the Next Step
Whether you want to earn a Biology degree to prepare for a career in medicine or graduate degree in Toxicology to study diseases and harmful chemicals, the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is the ideal place for you to start your journey.
