The Center for Women in Mathematics

The Center for Women in Mathematics is a place for students to get intensive training in mathematics at the advanced level, and to learn in a community that is fun, friendly and serious about mathematics. Students can build the skills and confidence needed to continue on to graduate school in the mathematical sciences. The Center includes the Postbaccalaureate Program, the annual WIMIN Conference, and weekly lunch talks open to all (and associated with the course Dialogues in Mathematics).

Postbaccalaureate Program in Mathematics

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 them find their place in the mathematical sciences.

Tuition & Costs

Fees and aid for graduate students will be based on the number of credits in which the student is enrolled on the 15th day of each semester. After that deadline, fees and aid will be changed only if the Administrative Board gives special permission, and only if the change adds to your total number of credits.

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.

Number of Credits	Cost per Semester
16 and more credits (full-time)	$33,570
12 to 15 credits (full-time)	$25,200
8 to 11 credits (part-time)	$16,800

All students in the 16-credit per semester program are awarded a scholarship totaling $67,140. This equals $0 out-of-pocket for tuition.

2025–26

Direct Billed Costs	Cost (U.S. dollars)
Tuition (based on 16 credits)	$67,140
Health insurance (domestic students may waive)	$3,588

Indirect Costs Not Billed	Cost (U.S. dollars)
Living expenses	$14,656
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment	$800
Transportation (domestic average)	$640
Personal expenses	$8,698
Unsubsidized loan fee (average)	$170

To ensure that Smith students are in full compliance with Massachusetts Minimum Requirements for School Entry and Smith College’s policy, Smith’s Health Services requires that health and immunization information be submitted prior to arrival. Visit the Schacht Center website to access a copy of the health form and view instructions to upload the required health forms. Completion of health requirements is required before students are able to register. The health form deadline is June 15 for summer and fall enrollment, and January 19 for spring admissions. Questions about the health requirements can be directed to healthservices@smith.edu.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also requires all students to meet specified minimum requirements for health insurance coverage. If you have comparable health insurance by a U.S. carrier, you may appeal to Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk to see if you are eligible to waive the Smith health insurance. All domestic students are required to complete an online decision form, whether enrolling in or waiving the plan. International students may not waive the Student Health Insurance Plan. They will be automatically enrolled and charged for insurance. You can fill out the online form and review available plan information on the Gallagher Student Health website.

Online decision forms are available for fall admissions on July 1 and are due by September 12. Forms for Spring admissions are available on December 15 and are due by February 12. If you do not complete the waiver by the deadline, you will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan at an estimated cost of $3600 per year.

The spring-only student health Insurance rate is $2,093 for the 2025–26 academic year. Insurance rates for spring 2026–27 have not been set. The 2025–26 annual rate was $3,588. If you do not wish to be charged, you must submit a waiver by the published deadline.

For more information, visit the Student Health Insurance website. Questions about the student health insurance plan and the waiver process can be directed to SFS@smith.edu.

Coverage Periods

Coverage Type	Coverage Period
Standard annual coverage	August 14–August 14
January graduates/fall-only students*	Ends January 14**
Spring-only students	January 15–August 14

*Students on leave for spring
**Will not be charged for spring semester

Full scholarships may be available for some applicants.

In addition to the scholarship, funding may be available for stipends, with priority given to students with financial need. If you wish to be considered for a small stipend, please submit a short description of your financial situation, explaining how additional financial support would benefit your work as a post-bac. Your reply should be no longer than two or three paragraphs.

Eligibility

The Postbaccalaureate Program in Mathematics is for students with bachelor’s degrees who did not major in mathematics or whose mathematics major was light. The program provides an opportunity to study mathematics intensively for two semesters at the advanced undergraduate level.

Applicants should have taken at least linear algebra and vector calculus and at least one mathematical course above the level of calculus.

The Postbaccalaureate Program is for all students with a serious interest in pursuing a higher degree in the mathematical sciences, who need additional undergraduate coursework to do so, and who would benefit from studying mathematics intensively in a supportive environment at the nation’s largest women’s college. The program is designed to make students graduate-school-ready in one year. Successful applicants will have completed at least Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus before enrolling in our program. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate experience building positive community, especially in mathematical contexts, and who can demonstrate how a year in our program will complement their undergraduate experience and contribute to their later success in graduate school.

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