Skip to main content

Accelerated Master’s Programs

An accelerated master’s degree allows students to earn an undergraduate and graduate degree in less time (and often for less money) than enrolling for a master’s degree independently. Accelerated master’s degree programs come in a variety of formats, including 4+1 (a bachelor’s degree from Smith + an intensive master’s degree with a partner institution).

Here, you will find information on Smith’s agreements with partner institutions and with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In some cases, program admission can happen as early as a student’s junior year, so it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the specifics of each program in order to take advantage of these opportunities.

Master of Arts

Early Childhood Education

Bank Street College of Education and Smith College have entered a collaborative relationship in which qualified undergraduate students who have completed predetermined and approved Smith College courses in child development, special education, and foundations of education, within three years of their graduation with a bachelor’s degree, count those course credits toward the completion of Bank Street’s Accelerated Early Childhood General Education Partnership Program and earn their Master of Science from Bank Street given students meet all criteria for credit transfer and admissions. This partnership aims to support students who are interested in teaching certification and in earning a master’s degree in less time and at lower cost by applying some of their undergraduate credits toward their master’s degree program.

Various Disciplines

Anthropology, Sociology, International Economics, International History & Politics, International Law, International Relations, International & Development Studies

Smith College and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva have established a program that enables a small number of students to complete a B.A. from Smith and an M.A. from the Graduate Institute in five years, instead of the usual six years. Participating Smith students will spend the fall semester of their senior year in Geneva at the Graduate Institute. They return to Smith for their final semester and for graduation, and then go back to Geneva for a fifth year of study to complete their master’s degree.

Masters of Science at UMass Amherst

For information about 4+1 master’s degrees in statistics and neuroscience, visit the respective pages on UMass Amherst’s website directly.

Master of Science in Engineering

Boston University

Smith College and Boston University’s College of Engineering are pioneering a collaboration that enables Smith College students pursuing a bachelor of science in engineering science to gain early admission to the master of science programs in engineering at Boston University and access enriching research experiences at Boston University as undergraduates. The partnership with Boston University provides early admission and reduced tuition and fees for graduate school.

Program Highlights

  • Students may apply as early as the spring semester of junior year. Boston University will provide early decisions on these applications.
  • Smith College rising seniors may engage in a research experience at BU in the summer following their junior year and the summer prior to their master’s study.
  • Students will receive a stipend and a housing supplement during their summer research experiences.
  • Students will have the option to pursue a master’s thesis supervised by a Boston University faculty member.
  • All admitted Smith students will receive a partial tuition scholarship.
  • Participants will have the option to apply to the Ph.D. program of their choice at Boston University during the initial master’s year.

Dartmouth College

The relationship between Smith and Dartmouth’s engineering program goes back decades. A partnership between Dartmouth engineering and the Picker Engineering Program streamlines the application process and provides scholarship support to Smith engineering graduates interested in pursuing a master of engineering management at Dartmouth.

Drexel University

The College of Engineering has been Drexel University’s flagship school for over 100 years. The College of Engineering is recognized for its excellence in academics and research and its leadership in experiential education. Smith’s partnership with Drexel University provides a lower tuition cost to Picker Engineering Program graduates entering any of Drexel’s College of Engineering M.S. programs and an application process without fees or required GRE scores.

Northeastern University

Smith students who successfully complete their bachelor’s degree from Smith will be eligible for admission into College of Engineering degree program(s) at Northeastern University. Northeastern University retains full discretion to make the final decision on each student’s application, and admission is not guaranteed. To be eligible for admission to the CoE Master of Science programs, Smith students/participants must: a.) Submit a completed online application and required supporting credentials and documents to the CoE by the posted term entry deadline and b.) Complete their undergraduate program at Smith with a minimum of the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. Northeastern University reserves the right to rescind an offer of acceptance if the student is no longer considered in good academic standing or disciplinary sanctions occur between the time of acceptance and matriculation. A 25% scholarship covering tuition and fees will be applied to all eligible Smith students for the duration of their degree, so long as they remain in good academic standing according to the Northeastern University’s policy.

Tufts University

Tufts School of Engineering offers undergraduate STEM majors from Smith College an accelerated path to a master’s degree in one of 15 programs of study. The partnership with Tufts University provides a streamlined application process and lower tuition cost.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

The College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers accelerated M.S. programs to Smith engineers. Engineering students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will be automatically admitted, with no application fee and no need for GREs. These programs are currently offered in five fields of study.