• Nationally recognized independent college of the liberal arts and sciences
• Founded in 1867 as Western Maryland College. As one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation south of the Mason-Dixon Line and one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation, McDaniel strives to continue its tradition of social justice by committing to being a diverse and inclusive community. We are guided by our First Principles, which compel us to place students at the center of a humane environment and demand that we respect others and share responsibility for the common good.
• The College’s motto, E Tenebris in Lucem Voco, or “I call you out of darkness into light,” inspired a tradition with all first-year students processing through Ward Memorial Arch to be symbolically welcomed into the McDaniel community.
• McDaniel’s unique tailgating tradition and drive-in stadium have been highlighted nationally as a best college tailgate.   
• 160-acre campus sits atop a hill overlooking downtown Westminster, Md., Carroll County’s largest town and county seat. 
• McDaniel offers access to the resources of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

• Academics center on the McDaniel Plan, a personalized, interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. Many students choose more than one major and minor or even self-design their own.
• All students take a first-year seminar that focuses on a unique topic, from “College Life and Cinema” to “Tinkering with Discovery.” These courses are designed as both a transition to college and an introduction to the liberal arts.
• Each year, more than 300 students collaborate with their professors on research across all disciplines. Many of these students are published authors by the time they graduate.
• The Center for Experience & Opportunity (CEO) is McDaniel’s one-stop shop that focuses on experiential learning and connects students with internships, fellowships, jobs, study-abroad programs and alumni mentors.
• Over one-third of students study abroad for academic credit in more than 50 countries, including at McDaniel’s European campus in Budapest, Hungary.
• Learning doesn’t end in the classroom; The McDaniel Commitment guarantees every student a tailored educational program that includes personal development, career exploration and at least two real-world, hands-on learning opportunities, including service learning, study abroad, credit-based internship or independent study.
• Army ROTC has been a tradition at McDaniel since 1919, and the Green Terror Battalion is one of the oldest programs in the nation. McDaniel also participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program.  

• 96% of full-time faculty hold the most advanced degree in their field.
• All courses, studios, and laboratories are taught by faculty members, not teaching assistants.
• More than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including dual and student-designed majors. Also offered are pre-professional programs including pre-allied health, pre-med, and pre-law, as well as teaching certification.
  
• A free January Term course for first-year students guides them in identifying their strengths, interests and goals, and exploring relevant majors and careers, while developing a customized action plan.
• Special opportunities abound through McDaniel’s Center for Experience and Opportunity, The Encompass Distinction program in innovation and entrepreneurship, the Honors Program, and Global Initiatives including the Global Fellows program.

Majors, Minors, and Specializations
Accounting
Acting
Actuarial Science
Africana Studies
American History
American Sign Language
Applied Mathematics
Arabic
Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies – Cultural Specialization
Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies – Linguistic Specialization
Art
Art – Communication Dual Major
Art – Education minor
Art – Graphic Design Specialization
Art History
Asian Studies
Athletic Training
Biochemistry
Biology
Biology – Education minor
Biology – Environmental Studies Specialization
Biology – Mathematics Dual Major
Biology – Molecular Biology Specialization
Biomedical Science
Business Administration
Business Administration – Financial Economics Specialization
Chemistry
Chemistry – Biochemistry Specialization
Chemistry – Education minor
Chemistry – Kinesiology Dual Major
Cinema
Cinema – Theatre Arts Dual Major
Communication
Computer Science
Computer Science – Education minor
Computer Science – Mathematics Dual Major
Criminal Justice
Cross Cultural Studies
Economics
Economics – Mathematics Dual Major
Education
Elementary Education
Engineering
English
English – Education minor
English-Theatre Arts Dual Major
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies – Biology Specialization
Environmental Studies – Earth System Science Specialization
Environmental Studies – Policy and Management Specialization
European History
European Studies
Forensic Science
French
Health Sciences
Health Sciences – Athletic Training Specialization
Health Sciences – Chiropractic Specialization
Health Sciences – Nursing Specialization
Health Sciences – Occupational Theapy Specialization
Health Sciences – Pharmacy Specialization
Health Sciences – Physical Therapy Specialization
Health Sciences – Physician Assistant Specialization
History
History – Education minor
International Business
Journalism and New Media
Kinesiology
Marketing
Mathematics
Mathematics – Education minor
Mathematics – Physics Dual Major
Middle Eastern Studies
Musical Theatre Performance
Performance, Fitness & Conditioning
Philosophy
Physics
Physics – Computer Science Specialization
Physics – Education minor
Physics – Engineering Specialization
Political Science
Political Science – American Politics and Law Specialization
Political Science – Education minor
Political Science – International Studies Specialization
Popular Literature
Psychology
Religious Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Sociology – Education minor
Spanish
Sports Coaching
Sports Management
Student-Designed
Theatre Arts
Urban and Community Studies
Women’s Studies
Writing
Writing and Publishing

Pre-professional Programs
Pre-Allied Health 
Pre-Dental
Pre-Law 
Pre-Medical
Pre-Veterinary

Five-Year BA/MS Programs
Gerontology
Human Services Management
Teaching: Secondary Education
Secondary Education & Special Education  

Other Programs
Global Fellows
McDaniel Honors Program
Military Science (ROTC) 
National Security Fellows
Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• More than 80% of undergraduate students live on campus. Special housing options include campus apartments, language houses, and college-owned residences assigned to groups of students with shared interests.
• McDaniel Local, a pre-orientation experience that immerses first-year students in the McDaniel community and their local surroundings, connects students with their peers and new mentors, and sets the foundation for making the most of life on the Hill.
• Represented by the Green Terror, McDaniel’s 24 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III, Centennial Conference athletics.
• More than 20 national and international honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, recognize leadership, service, and academic achievement.
• More than 100 student organizations and intramural sports, plus fraternities and sororities.
• Nine-hole golf course doubles as an 18-hole Foot Golf course and is a popular snowboarding and sledding spot in the winter months.

NCAA Division III, Centennial Conference:

• McDaniel’s more than 28,000 alumni reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 75 countries.
• Graduates report that they are well prepared to succeed in their chosen careers with such employers as NBCUniversal, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and T. Rowe Price, as well as in their first-choice graduate programs for advanced degrees in law, medicine, and numerous other fields. 
• Over the past five years, nine McDaniel students have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for international studies. Seven students received Gilman International Scholarships from the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 2012.
• Notable alumni include Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Wendy Ruderman; Perdue Farms Chief Executive Officer Randy Day, the fourth CEO in the company’s 100-year history; elected officials, such as Ellen Sauerbrey, two-time Republican nominee for governor of Maryland who served 16 years in the House of Delegates, and Edward Kasemeyer, a long-serving member of the Maryland General Assembly; National Teacher of the Year Michelle Shearer; and video game designer Greg Street, known for his work on “League of Legends” and “World of Warcraft.”  

• Largest ever and most diverse: 587 first-year and 50 transfer students, including 50% multicultural   
  
• A large percentage of incoming students earn merit scholarships based on scholastic and personal achievement, ranging from $15,000 to $28,000 per year.
• McDaniel’s Legacy Scholarships provide a guaranteed $25,000 (a value of $100K over four years) to children of K-12 or community college employees; veterans, active duty military personnel and their children; and the children, step-children, or grandchildren of McDaniel alumni.
• If you are applying and don’t have SAT or ACT scores, no problem! McDaniel College is proudly test-optional. Students who believe their test scores demonstrate their ability or enhance their application are welcome to submit them. Students who believe that standardized test scores do not accurately reflect the strength of their academic achievements or enhance their application for admission can choose not to submit test scores. In either case, test scores will not be used for the purposes of awarding merit scholarships.