For Prospective Students
Franklin & Marshall College is a small undergraduate liberal arts institution that has outstanding programs in the sciences. Our classes are small, our professors are highly accessible, and support is readily available. For instance, introductory chemistry and biology classes rarely exceed 20-25 students. All classes (including labs) are taught by the faculty, not by graduate students, who are committed to your success as a student
What stands out about being a health professions student at F&M?
There are three aspects of Franklin & Marshall's Health Professions Advisory Program (HPAP) that set it apart from other colleges and universities that boast similar strengths. One is the unusual access students have to faculty and academic advisors for consultation and a listening ear. F&M prides itself on attending to the individual learning needs of students and promoting success in and out of the classroom. A second aspect is the unique opportunity students have to conduct research with faculty and engage in independent study both in and out of the sciences. There are formal programs and opportunities both during the school year and the summers. Third, health professions students have an array of opportunities to take advantage of volunteer, internship, and observational programs at local hospitals and health care facilities as well as attend educational programs on campus. We are fortunate to have programs with Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster Regional Medical Center, as well as a vital local community health care clinic, Southeast Lancaster Health Services.
How big are the classes? How about the science classes?
F&M's size is one of its great benefits. The average class size is 18 and the student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1. F&M students consistently speak of the highly personal and interesting relationships (and friendships) that exist between our students and faculty. F&M professors are fully devoted to their students and take the initiative to get to know them on a professional and personal level. The size of the science classes depends on the science. Introductory biology classes can have 35-45 students in lecture; labs have 16-21. Introductory chemistry classes have 24-37 students in both lecture and lab. Physics lectures have between 20-30 students in lecture and 15-20 in lab. In all the sciences, the upper-level sections are typically smaller, no more than 16 in a class.
What is the reputation of the science departments?
Traditionally the science departments at F&M have been regarded as among the best in the nation. In chemistry, F&M ranks sixth nationally in the number of publications produced at liberal arts colleges. Ninety percent of these papers were co-authored by students. More graduates from F&M have doctorates in earth sciences than from any other private, four-year, liberal arts college in the country. Additionally the strong science background at F&M prepares students for success in Graduate and Medical School. In 2003, The Princeton Review guide ranked Franklin & Marshall as first in the country for the accessibility of its professors, followed by Tulane University, Elon University and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
As a liberal arts institution, however, Franklin & Marshall benefits from strong offerings in all its academic departments. The applied sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts are all strong at F&M, giving students a broad range of choices from which to design their liberal education. The majority of our health professions students pursue interests outside of the sciences.
