Other Academic Opportunities

Residential Academic Programs

For more than 20 years RAP has offered unique living and learning opportunities designed to help first-year students have a smooth transition to UMass Amherst. When students join a RAP, they become part of a small community on a large campus.

For more information, see www.umass.edu/rap/.

University Without Walls

Classes and programming offered through University Without Walls meet the educational needs of more than 20,000 students each year with a variety of programs that include credit courses, both on campus and online; online degree completion programs; online certificate programs; access to specialized on-campus and off-campus undergraduate and graduate degree programs; professional development programs and workshops; independent study courses and internships; non-credit workshops in personal enrichment, career, and personal development. Any person who has graduated from high school or has a certificate of General Educational Development (G.E.D.) may enroll in undergraduate courses. Admission to a degree program (matriculation) follows general university admissions guidelines.

For additional information, see www.umass.edu/online.

Five College Interchange Program

UMass students may elect to take courses off campus at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, or Smith colleges. These institutions join with the University of Massachusetts Amherst to form the Five College consortium, combining academic activities in selected areas to extend and enrich their educational resources.

For additional information, see www.umass.edu/fivecollegeinterchange/.

Domestic Exchange

The Domestic Exchange Program transports you to new and exciting places that will transform your educational experience forever. You can spend a semester or a year at one of over 180 participating colleges and universities across the country. It is an educational opportunity you don't want to miss!

For additional information, see www.umass.edu/studentsuccess/domesticexchange.

Education Abroad

More than 1000 UMass undergraduates take part in study abroad every year.  Explore over 400 UMass Amherst-sponsored programs in more than 50 countries around the world.

For additional information, see www.umass.edu/ipo/

Other Nonmajor Programs

Courses in other areas contribute to undergraduate education by fulfilling General Education, college, or major requirements, or as electives. Several departments regularly offer courses at the elementary and intermediate levels in other languages (Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Yiddish), and the English as a Second Language Program offers college-level English language courses to non-native speakers. Some departments that have only graduate programs offer some courses that are available to undergraduates.