The University of Maryland Eastern Shore offers an impressive array of accredited degree programs that blend a time-honored curriculum with instruction in contemporary fields such as aviation science, construction management, criminal justice, engineering, hospitality management and allied health. A historically black institution a short drive from the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, UMES is known for its multi-cultural student body drawn from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. As a land-grant institution founded in 1886, UMES has focused on teaching, research and outreach, emphasizing stewardship of the environment, land and sea. UMES offers an array of graduate-level programs, including doctoral degrees in educational leadership, food science and technology, marine-estuarine environmental science, organizational leadership, pharmacy, physical therapy and toxicology.