Philander Smith College

Smith has 41 academic departments and programs and is structured around an open curriculum, lacking course requirements and scheduled final exams. It is known for its progressive, politically active student body and rigorous academics.[8] Undergraduate admissions is exclusively restricted to women, although after criticism from the college community Smith announced a trans-inclusive admissions policy in 2015.[9][10] Smith offers several graduate degrees, all of which accept applicants regardless of gender, and co-administers programs leading to Ph.D.s alongside other Five College members. The college was the first historically women's college to offer an undergraduate engineering degree.[11] Admissions is considered highly selective. It was the first women's college to join the NCAA, and its sports teams are known as the Pioneers.