M.S. in Biological Sciences

Tuition is Graduate students enrolled in fewer than 8 credits pay on a per-credit basis at the rate of $2,100 per credit and are not eligible to receive institutional financial aid..

This Master of Science program builds upon undergraduate foundations in biology and related fields. It focuses on modern laboratory and field research methods, requiring students to design and implement a thesis to address substantive questions in biological sciences. Students engage in original work across a wide variety of biological disciplines.

Focus areas include animal behavior, biochemistry, ecology, genetics, molecular biology, neurobiology.

Applicants are normally expected to have majored in biological sciences or a related field, though those with undergraduate work in the field but unrelated majors may be considered. Students with incomplete undergraduate biology preparation may need to complete additional coursework. Prospective applicants should contact potential faculty advisors before applying and submit all required materials by the January 15 deadline.

on-campus, full-time/part-time. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 20% of applicants.

Residential life is central to Smith. The college has 40 self-governing houses rather than conventional dorms, and most students live on campus throughout their college career. House communities bring together students from all four class years and sustain traditions such as Friday afternoon tea. The campus includes Paradise Pond, formed in the 18th century by a dam on the Mill River. It serves as a campus attraction and a living laboratory for science students. Smith is in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Smith’s open curriculum gives students room to shape an education across disciplines. Current students combine fields such as computer science and psychology, sociology and landscape studies, or neuroscience and chemistry. The college supports paths into STEM, the humanities, graduate study, professional school, and service programs. Career support begins when students arrive, with nine career advisers, internship opportunities, conference funding, fellowships advising, and access to Smith Career Connect. Eighty-seven percent of graduates complete at least one internship while at Smith.

International students can draw on a worldwide alumni network of 53,000 people in more than 130 countries. Praxis grants support unpaid internships around the world, while Smith’s fellowship advising includes opportunities such as the Fulbright program. Recent student experiences have included work connected to Ghana, international taekwondo competition, and climate research in Rhode Island. The college’s location in Northampton places campus life within a Massachusetts setting while its academic and alumni networks extend well beyond the United States.