Liberal mecca in cosmopolitan, picturesque western Massachusetts, UMass has strong study abroad programs and an international atmosphere. In addition to the resources of a large research university, it offers easy access to private Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith through the Five College Consortium.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of the nation's leading universities with more than 150 years of tradition, offers students a wide variety of careers, extracurricular activities and social opportunities in a premier city, along with a robust tuition program. honorary. UMass' membership in the Five College Consortium makes it a good choice for students who want to take advantage of the extensive resources and programs of a large research university while still savoring the small-college atmosphere and intellectual rigor. of four elite private schools, all without the need for large budgets.
UMass' sprawling 3,000-acre campus is centered around a pond filled with ducks and swans, while architectural styles range from colonial to modern. The school is located on the outskirts of Amherst, a city that combines the energy of a bustling cosmopolitan center with the charm of an old New England town, while adapting to university life. The UMass library system is the largest of any public institution in the Northeast. The campus is experiencing a wave of new construction, such as the Physical Sciences building, which offers flexible laboratories for research teams, and the 70,000 m² Isenberg Business Innovation Hub, with classrooms and a business analysis laboratory.
UMass offers more than 110 bachelor's degree programs, with management, engineering and computer science among the most prestigious. Psychology, public health sciences, biology and computer science are the most popular majors. Nursing, accounting, finance and sports management also receive praise. Students who want to stand out from the crowd may consider the interdisciplinary major in social thought and political economy, or the bachelor's degree in individual concentration, a self-designed specialization. The Exploratory Track program places undeclared freshmen into one of seven academic advising tracks, based on the interests and academic strengths demonstrated in their admissions applications.
UMass offers 400 study abroad programs in more than 65 countries around the world and sends 22% of its undergraduate students around the world. The Student Business Center offers one of the most imaginative programs at UMass, allowing students to staff and manage nine campus businesses, learning to work as a team and professionally resolve conflicts.
Academics at UMass
The intellectual and political climate at UMass is extraordinarily fertile for a large state university, and the school lends considerable research power to the Five College Consortium. This special partnership allows students to attend UMass and take courses (at no additional cost) at the four other schools in the consortium: Amherst College, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith. Typically, 30% to 40% of the approximately 5,000 courses offered through the consortium are taken at UMass.
Students with a higher academic profile have the possibility of opting for a program associated with UMass that has great prestige: Commonwealth Honors College . Through this program, students from different disciplines benefit from courses that invite them to critical thinking, expand their creative potential in very small classes completely focused on research methodologies, without giving up all the advantages and resources of a large university.
"The faculty has responded to the demands of serious students by challenging us to learn how to succeed." 28% of university students participate in practical research with faculty. Most courses are taught by full professors, although some of the larger courses are divided into smaller sections with graduate assistants; Overall, 50% of undergraduate classes have fewer than 20 students.
"We have nerds, jocks, theater buffs, hippies and future CEOs," says one senior. 76% of university students are residents, while 7% come from more than 80 foreign countries. The university has created cultural centers on campus, which offer activities and support to students from different backgrounds, but racial equity remains an issue, students report. “There are always rallies to ask for better programs and aid for minorities,” says a senior.
Student Life
UMass has one of the largest housing systems in the country. 63% of students stay in seven residential areas. The Residential First-Year Experience assigns first-year students to live/learn with peers who share common interests and experiences. On the other hand, the dining services receive good reviews. A senior student comments: “The campus is very self-contained, so I have felt safe there even late at night.” The 'UMatter' program at UMass works to address issues of bias, sexual assault, hazing, high-risk alcohol use and other community challenges.
UMass offers “a very broad social life,” says one student, with several dormitories, off-campus parties, and about 500 student organizations of all kinds. «Most of my social interactions occur on campus during my extracurricular activities. On weekends, we frequent the restaurants and bars in downtown Amherst, which is a lively, albeit small, college town,” says a chemical engineering student. Both on and off campus, alcohol policies are strict and enforced; Off-campus parties are usually registered with the university. The Fine Arts Center brings nationally renowned theater, music and dance performances to campus year-round. A free public transportation system allows for maximum mobility, not only between the Five Colleges, but also to nearby cities, which have a number of exceptional bookstores.
Nestled in the Pioneer Valley and surrounded by the Berkshire Hills, Amherst is close to good skiing, hiking and canoeing areas. It is also 90 miles west of Boston, 150 miles north of New York City, and 25 miles south of Vermont and New Hampshire.
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