Learn about Summer 2024 Pre-College opportunities at UMass Amherst. Our residential and online pre-college programs are designed to give you a preview of the UMass student experience, including college-level academics and being part of a learning community of high school students from all across the U.S. and the world. Our programs feature faculty-led courses, state-of-the-art facilities, and the #1 campus dining in the U.S., as ranked by the Princeton Review.
Plant-derived products have been used to cure diseases throughout the course of human history. This two-week summer program will utilize multiple resources at UMass Amherst to explore this diverse area of study, including (but not limited to) the Plant Cell Collection Library (PCCL), the herbarium, and our research greenhouses.
Students will have the opportunity to work closely with UMass staff and professors in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology to study plants and their importance to human life. Students will be introduced to exciting research currently underway in our labs, will explore the wonderland of plant-derived natural products, and will gain valuable hands-on laboratory experience.
Most of this course will take place in our teaching labs, and we will venture out for field trips to places such as the herbarium, green houses, and labs associated with local farms (subject to change).
The course will end with student poster presentations and a discussion about how to highlight the Summer Pre-college experience on resumes and applications. It is a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, the pharmaceutical industry, plant biology, or anyone curious about plants, drug design, and plant-derived products.
This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus as a residential program. Local students may apply to attend as a commuter.
Dates: June 30 - July 13, 2024
Two-Week Residential Program Fees: $3,636
*Fees listed above include tuition and room & board.
*All programs have a $35 application fee.