About the Program
Students spend a semester or year at Smith, taking three math courses each term.
Standards include courses in analysis, algebra, statistics, number theory, combinatorics, graph theory, differential equations, complex analysis, topology and geometry. There are also topics courses reflecting the diverse interests of the faculty. In recent years, these have included relativity, analysis of algorithms, chaos and fractals, cryptography, mathematical sculpture, set theory and phyllotaxis. Participants may also take undergraduate and graduate courses at the neighboring campuses of Hampshire College, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Postbaccalaureate students take a seminar together that includes a lecture series, undergraduate curriculum review, an introduction to mathematical research and writing, and discussions on career paths, applying to graduate school and taking the GREs.
Every student has the opportunity to join a research team, working on a project with a Smith faculty member. The projects and topics vary from year to year, and faculty supervising research introduce their projects at the start of the fall semester.
One of the most valuable aspects of visiting Smith is becoming part of the Smith mathematical community. Each student will have mentoring to help her find her place in the mathematical sciences.
