The
University of Maryland, College Park (also shortened to UM, UMD, or UMCP) is a public university located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. It is considered the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland, often referred to simply as University of Maryland or Maryland. It
enrolls 34,933 students and employs 3,661 faculty.
UMD has one of the largest research parks inside Washington, D.C. nicknamed "M Square," solidifying the university's goal of excellent undergraduate education and breakthrough research. UMD's location near the nation's capital has given it many strong research partnerships, especially with government agencies like the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Defense, and the National Security Agency. UMD also offers many stand-alone programs, including Law and Health pre-professional programs.
The school offers 13 colleges and schools, including the
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences,
A. James Clark School of Engineering,
College of Chemical and Life Sciences,
College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences,
School of Policy,
College of Health and Human Performance, and the
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
UMD's
athletic teams are nicknamed the Terrapins and they participate in the NCAA's Division I-A. The school is a founding member of the
Atlantic Coast Conference. UMD's athletic program has enjoyed national prominence. The women's basketball team captured the 2006 Women's National Championship. Previously, the men's football team won the 1953 national championship, and was a perennial bowl game participant in the late 70s and early 80s. More recently, the men's football team has risen back into prominence with appearances at the BCS Orange Bowl, and victories in the Peach Bowl and Gator Bowl, as well as Top 3 finishes in the conference.
Other prominent sports teams include the men's soccer team, which has made the Final Four four times since 1998 and claimed the NCAA College Cup National Championship in 2005. The field hockey team has made 10 Final Four appearances through 2005, and has won four national titles. The volleyball team won the ACC tournament in 2003 and qualified for their own NCAA tournament. In lacrosse, Maryland is a consistent national leader: the women's lacrosse team has won 10 national championships since 1981 and has been an NCAA finalist in 11 of the last 14 years. The men's lacrosse program is consistently ranked among the top 10 programs nationally.
UMD alumni include actress Karen Allen, film producer Mark Ciardi, actor and writer Larry David, actor Michael Ealy, Muppets creator Jim Henson,
Homicide creator David Simon; basketball player Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, Sarunas Jenkins, Tom McMillen, and Gene Shue; Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, news anchor Connie Chung, Pulitzer Prize-winner Jane Healy,
The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder, radio program host Art Bell.
