University of Massachusetts Lowell - Overview
Work Ready, Life Ready, World Ready
For more than a century, the University of Massachusetts Lowell has been preparing students for personal and professional success by helping them to become ready for work, life, and all that the world has to offer. UMass Lowell is located just 25 miles northwest of Boston in a culturally rich city within the region's major business corridor. Students have access to outstanding co-op, internship, research, and service opportunities, in addition to having access to major recreational areas. UMass Lowell is a comprehensive national research university with a mission "to enhance the intellectual, personal and cultural development of its students through excellent, affordable educational programs." UMass Lowell is dedicated to maintaining a community that is culturally, socially, and academically diverse, and is home to more than 14,000 resident and commuter students who represent more than 50 countries. It offers over 120 degree choices, more than 88 majors and 72 minors, 45 "fast track" bachelor's-to-master's degree programs, and 52 master's and doctoral programs. As they take advantage of all that the University has to offer, UMass Lowell students are learning with purpose.
Academics: High-caliber. Engaging. Relevant.
UMass Lowell's academic programs, offered through 6 colleges, cover the spectrum of learning from traditional programs like history, philosophy, biology, art and music, to unique interdisciplinary programs like sound-recording technology, global studies and robotics. Our programs are infused with opportunities for experiential learning in the laboratory, in industry and in the local and global community. An education at UMass Lowell prepares you for exciting careers in new and upcoming areas and for advanced study in a variety of disciplines. Professional programs in art, engineering, health, management, music and education are accredited at the highest possible level.
All College of Engineering programs are ABET accredited (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Entrance is highly competitive and the training is rigorous and hands-on. Students participate in projects that make a difference both locally and globally--such as developing electronic and mechanical devices to improve quality of life for physically impaired individuals, and designing and delivering clean water, off-grid power generation and telecommunications to remote villages in Peru. A rapidly expanding integrated co-op program connects students with local, national and global high-tech industries. Undergraduate research opportunities exist in many areas, including those focused on nanomanufacturing, biomanufacturing, assistive technology and baseball research. Students can supplement their engineering training with minors in business administration for engineers or robotics.
Expanding options in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences include English concentrations in journalism and professional writing, literature, creative writing and theatre arts and psychology programs that focus on autism and developmental disabilities and a new program in Peace and Conflict Studies. Graduates of the music programs can be found on stage or in the classroom and Sound Recording Technology, the nation's first audio engineering program, provides rigorous training in both music and engineering. Programs in Criminal Justice and Criminology focus on individual, community and global issues, from the causes of crime to policy solutions for homeland security. Students in the College have ample opportunity to interact with the urban communities of the Merrimack Valley in co-ops, internships and team projects.
All students in the School of Health and Environment learn to be part of an interdisciplinary health care team and gain real-world experience early in their education. In addition to taking advantage of high-caliber clinical experiences in large teaching hospitals in Boston as well as in local/regional hospitals, clinics and community settings, they learn from faculty who are outstanding clinicians and researchers as well as teachers. Programs in environmental health, medical technology, nursing and physical therapy have the highest level of accreditation possible. The school's investment in its students shines in a nearly perfect pass rate on professional licensure exams and with graduates' outstanding career options.
The College of Management offers traditional majors ranging from accounting to marketing, and all programs are accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Its location within the heart of the Massachusetts innovation economy, where technology, industry and finance intersect, allows students to study start-ups in action and to have access to Boston's financial center. The College prepares students to be globally competitive, an important outcome since 95 percent of the world's customers and the fastest-growing markets are now outside of the United States. All management programs combine theory, practice, teamwork and technology to help students develop highly marketable skills. Undergraduate research, co-ops and study abroad opportunities are strongly encouraged.
The College of Sciences offers rigorous training in both the fundamentals of scientific inquiry and in innovative thinking across a wide range disciplines, from biology, chemistry and physics to nanotechnology and photonics. Exciting programs in emerging fields include bioinformatics--the computational engine behind groundbreaking molecular research like the human genome project--and robotics, offered jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the College of Engineering. Radiological health combines physics, engineering and health sciences in studying the effects of radiation on humans and the environment. The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences offers programs that focus on climate change. Undergraduate research opportunities are readily available alongside faculty members investigating exciting frontiers in every discipline.
Students can explore the field of education while completing an undergraduate degree by enrolling in the 18-credit undergraduate minor in education. Those who wish to pursue a career in teaching may apply to the Graduate School of Education to complete the master of education degree and gain an elementary or secondary education teaching license.
Achieving More
Students who thrive on challenge and like to achieve at a high level can add the distinction of Commonwealth Honors Program Scholar to their résumés. The program is open to students across the university. Offerings include special first-year seminars, dedicated honors courses, regular courses with honors components, research opportunities, and a host of activities and events. Honors House is a dedicated residence hall with faculty members in residence.
The university offers accelerated bachelor's to master's programs in nearly 2 dozen undergraduate majors, including teaching, nursing, and chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering. These programs may give students the opportunity to earn 2 degrees in as few as 5 years.
Qualified students can waive the Graduate Record Exams (GRE) and graduate school application fees.
Faculty and Research
The student/faculty member ratio at UMass Lowell is 14:1, and half of all classes are limited to fewer than 20 students. This translates into personal attention to students from world-class faculty members, 94 percent of whom have attained the highest degrees available in their fields. Their expertise, commitment to research, and hands-on approaches to teaching ensure that students are prepared to succeed.
As a nationally-ranked research university, UMass Lowell conducts more than $50 million in research each year. The university is known for progressive research in areas such as nanotechnology, biomanufacturing, and medical device development. UMass Lowell's emphasis on experiential learning places a premium on research opportunities for undergraduates.
Study Abroad
The university is committed to helping students develop global perspectives in the belief that developing such perspectives is an important life skill. Students have access to study, work and service opportunities in every corner of the globe. In many cases, students can use financial aid to cover some of the costs associated with studying abroad. UMass Lowell is creating partnerships for collaboration and exchange with universities around the world. The growing list of countries represented by UMass's partnerships reflects both the diversity of its own community and contemporary geo-politics. It includes Ireland, Germany, Spain, China, India, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, South Africa, and Cambodia, among others.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell enables students to spend time studying in almost any country in the world during a semester, year, or summer or winter session.
Student Life at UMass Lowell
At UMass Lowell, students make connections between what they love to learn and what they love to do, developing the principles, passions, and friendships that will define their lives. UMass Lowell's diverse campus life and its location in a vibrant, international downtown deliver a world of possibilities through student organizations, clubs, athletics, and community life. More than 150 student organizations, recreational sports and River Hawks intercollegiate sports teams give students the opportunity to make friends, have fun, and develop leadership skills. UMass Lowell students publish a weekly newspaper, "The Connector," and an annual literary magazine, "The Offering," in addition to managing a campus radio station, WUML 91.5FM.
Seventy-five percent of freshmen and a growing number of upperclassmen choose to live in university housing. Options include traditional residence halls, apartments, and a former downtown hotel. In addition to health, dining, and security services, the university provides advocacy and resources for people with disabilities.
The university's diverse and inclusive community is a supportive and welcoming environment for students. Departments that are dedicated to residence life, health services, multicultural affairs, and student activities and leadership support a wide range of programs, including social programming that help students adjust to and make the most of being in college.
Living in Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in the vibrant, historic city of Lowell. Students can take part in a community that offers a culturally diverse population and a flourishing arts scene with many festivals, restaurants, and entertainment options. The city is host to the Lowell Historical National Park, which commemorates the city as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
Outdoor recreational activities such as white-water rafting, hiking, surfing, and skiing are available locally or within an hour's drive.