The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) is a two-year residential early college entrance program at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.  However, TAMS enrollment usually hovers around 380 students.

What?

TAMS sign from 2000

Each year TAMS admits more than 200 new students following their 10th grade year of high school. These students, referred to as TAMS students or TAMSters, are entered into full-time college studies. Typical TAMS graduates receive both a high school diploma and more than 60 college credits, allowing them to potentially enter university with enough credit to qualify as a junior.  The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) is a unique residential program for high school-aged Texas students who are high achievers and interested in mathematics and science. While living in McConnell Hall, students in this two-year program complete a rigorous academic curriculum of college coursework at the University of North Texas (UNT). Instruction is by regular university faculty. There are no high school courses taught, but students enjoy many of the activities of high school and the company of age mates who are intellectual peers.

All TAMS students live in McConnell Hall. The hall consists of three floors, segregated by gender. The hall is furnished with two common rooms (the Smitty Study and Mac Café), a kitchenette, and multiple meeting rooms. Besides serving as a study area during quiet hours, the Smitty Study serves as a public recreation room, featuring a ping-pong table, pool table. Mac Café is one of the common rooms in McConnell, aptly named because it once served as a university cafeteria. It hosts various student activities, and also serves as a gathering place for both academic and social activity.