The University of Baltimore (UB), located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood at 1420 N. Charles Street, is part of the University System of Maryland. Through the Freshman Initiative or Lower Division Initiative, UB has transformed from an upper division university to a traditional university. In addition, the University has changed the school colors to blue (PMS 3025) and green (PMS 362), updated the "UB" logo, and adopted the new slogan-- "Knowledge that works". In 2010, the school was chosen as the site of the 2011 US-Balkans Business Summit.
History
Founded in 1925 by a group of Baltimore business professionals, UB sought to provide educational opportunities for working men and women. In the 1970s UB merged with Eastern College, Mount Vernon School of Law, and Baltimore College of Commerce. In 1975, UB became an "upper division academic institution", offering only third and fourth year undergraduate and post-graduate course work. At the same time, ownership was assumed by the State of Maryland. In 1988, the state merged UB into the new statewide university system, the University of Maryland System, which was later renamed University System of Maryland.
Lower division Initiative
The Lower Division Initiative is a program that began in 2005 to extend the University of Baltimore's current position to once again offer the first two years of the baccalaureate degree. In April 2005 the University System of Maryland's Board of Regents approved plans that would allow UB to start accepting freshmen and sophomores. Under the original plan, freshmen and sophomore would be admitted starting in the fall of 2006.
In a unanimous vote that took place on February 15, 2006, the Maryland Higher Education Commission approved a revised mission statement submitted by the University of Baltimore, thus enabling the University to return to four-year undergraduate status. This is the same initiative that already received approval from the Board of Regents in April of the prior year; however, the plan was revised slightly, calling for freshmen to be admitted in the fall of 2007.
The University states that this new program will better reflect the current focus, and will be designed to prepare students in business, pre-law, technology, public affairs, and applied liberal arts. The University says that it will be offering Freshman "free" tuition for their first year. This was offered because of a donation made by an anonymous private donor. In the fall of 2007, it was said that up to 140 Freshman would be entering.
Academics & degree programs
The University offers numerous undergraduate, graduate, and professional as well as several joint degree programs.
Undergraduate
UB offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Community Studies and Civic Engagement, English, Interdisciplinary Studies, Government and Public Policy, History, Jurisprudence, and Psychology. The university offers Bachelor of Science degrees programs in the following subjects: Applied Information Technology, Business Administration, Corporate Communication, Criminal Justice, Forensic Studies, Health Systems Management, Human Services Administration, Management Information Systems, Real Estate and Economic Development, Simulation and Digital Entertainment. UB undergraduate program is a young program designated for business and law students.
Graduate
UB offers a Master of Public Administration degree program. Through a joint program, UB and Towson University offer a Master of Business Administration degree program. Both of which include several specializations and joint degree options. The university awards Master of Science degrees in Accounting, Applied Psychology, Criminal Justice, Human Services Administration, Interaction Design and Information Architecture, and Negotiations and Conflict Management. The university awards Master of Arts in Legal and Ethical Studies as well as Publications Design. In addition, it offers Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts and Integrated Design. It also awards several different Graduate Certificates, including Accounting, Business, Technology Commercialization, Information Design, and Professional Counseling.
Article Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Baltimore
