FAQs Paramedic Track

Yes, the paramedic program is selective.  Enrollment is capped at 20 students due to field and clinical site limitations. Application packets are generally available in early January and are due by March 1st of the year of entrance into the program.

No, the curriculum is solely a prehospital paramedic program.

A significant portion of the Paramedic Program is the students’ exposure and experience during their clinical and field rotations. Clinical rotations are at healthcare facilities in the Greater Baltimore area, where field sites are throughout Central Maryland.

No, due to legal and contractual reasons, you must do clinicals at sites assigned by the program.

It is recommended that students who have to work to support their education work a maximum of 10 hours per week.  A 10-hour workday is considered equivalent to a 3-credit college-level course.

The paramedic program is a 2+2 program, meaning that you will take prerequisite courses in years one and two, and then take core paramedic classes and clinicals in years three and four.  All students must submit a separate application packet to the Paramedic Program in the spring before starting the core paramedic classes in the fall. For non-transfer students, this is generally in year two.

The UMBC paramedic program is a full-time program that follows the UMBC academic calendar. Classes are offered Monday through Friday, predominantly during the daytime hours. At the same time, hospital and field clinical shifts are both daytime and evening hours, seven days a week. Most classes are in-person with a few expectations that may be offered in a hybrid format or entirely online.

No, paramedic classes are only offered during the day.

Due to accreditation requirements, the UMBC Paramedic Concentration is designed for students who are not already paramedics.

Students wishing to enroll in other undergraduate tracks with the EDHS Department may receive up to 30 transfer credits for their approved paramedic program courseworkBesides EMT (EDHS 202/203) and medical terminology (EDHS 115), other EMS-specific courses will not transfer.

For more information on other EDHS undergraduate degrees, please see the Emergency Health Leadership Track for current paramedics or Emergency and Disaster Health Management Track for non-paramedic students.

Due to accreditation requirements, the UMBC EDHS Paramedic Concentration does not accept core paramedic courses from other institutions. However, it does waive EDHS 202 and EDHS 203 (EMT) for those students coming into the program who already possess a valid EMT certification. Transfer credit for EDHS 202 and 203 and other courses are available through the Registrar’s Office.

No, you would enroll in the Emergency Health leadership program.

Designed specifically for individuals who have completed their paramedic education from a CAAHEP accredited program and aim to earn their bachelor’s degree, this track offers a seamless transition. Transfer students have the opportunity to transfer up to 30 credits earned from their paramedic training to UMBC.

For further details and to ensure proper credit transfer, we encourage students to consult with the Emergency Health Leadership Track advisor.

Your transcript will have to be reviewed by the Registrar’s office for transfer to UMBC. If you have an AA degree from a Maryland community college, it is likely most of your undergraduate courses will transfer.

It is recommended that transfer students speak with an advisor to make sure your prior coursework will transfer in as the equivalent required pre-requisites.

No. MFRI classes do not transfer to UMBC.  However, you will receive an exemption for EMT (EDHS 202/203). Students can, in some situations, “test out” of the EMT Basic course for credit.

For more information, contact the Paramedic Program Director.