How much access do Amherst College students have to faculty outside of class?

Amherst students generally have a lot of access to faculty outside of class. The college is small, and classes are typically small, which makes it much easier to know professors personally than at a large university. Amherst also emphasizes close faculty-student interaction as a core part of its liberal arts model.

In practice, that usually means professors are approachable in office hours, but contact often goes beyond that. Students commonly work with faculty on independent research, honors theses, reading courses, and summer projects. Because Amherst has no graduate students, undergraduates are the main focus for teaching and many research opportunities.

The open curriculum helps too, since students often choose courses based on interest rather than requirements, and that can lead to more engaged discussions and stronger relationships with professors in departments they care about. Amherst also supports faculty advising, and many students build connections through academic departments, research centers, and campus programs rather than only through formal class time.