MCLA's nursing program prepares you to take the National Council Licensing Examination in Nursing for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), a required credential for nursing practice. The curriculum integrates MCLA’s strong liberal arts foundation such as humanities, natural and social sciences with theoretical and clinical courses in professional nursing guided by the Quality and Safety Education in Nursing core competencies. The program also provides a strong foundation to successfully pursue graduate study in advanced nursing practice roles.
Students entering MCLA, wishing to complete the BSN Nursing program are encouraged to declare as a Pre-Nursing Major, however, students that declare into other majors, or enter as undeclared may still apply into the BSN, as long as they meet the requirements for entry, and apply to progress into the BSN Nursing program by the posted deadline.
Admission to MCLA’s Pre-Nursing Program will adhere to MCLA general admission practices MCLA Undergraduate Admission Standards including submission of high school completion transcripts. Students accepted into the Pre-Nursing Program will be admitted into the BSN as a Pre-Nursing Major.
Accepted students begin the MCLA BSN Nursing Program in the fall of their second year. Application Priority Deadline June 15.
Students must successfully complete the following courses by the end of the spring semester with a final grade of C or higher to be eligible for entry to the BSN Nursing Major: BIOL 150, CHEM 150, BIOL 342, and MATH 232
Students must apply for entry into the BSN Nursing Major, by the Spring semester deadline. Admission to the BSN is based on:
Acceptance into the BSN Nursing Major is limited, with chances increased by earning grades higher than the minimum in the 4 required courses (BIOL 150, CHEM 150, BIOL 342, and MATH 232).
MCLA's Nursing Program is an excellent choice if you're looking for a career with many options, good income potential, and the chance to make a real difference in people's lives! Whether giving comfort, compassion, and hope to patients in physical and emotional pain or celebrating with patients when they receive good news, nurses make a lasting, positive impact on their patients’ lives.
If you feel that you are best suited to work with children, pediatrics may be your calling. Maybe you feel like you can make a difference by working with the elderly, then geriatrics may be the field for you. You may hope to work in a hospital setting, a physician’s office, or a school environment, there’s plenty of variety to be found in nursing. Whatever your career goals, an MCLA Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a great place to start!
BSN Program 4-year Curriculum Plan: The nursing program integrates MCLA’s strong li
beral arts foundation of humanities, natural and social sciences through pre-requisite and co-requisite coursework. Through a variety of clinical course work MCLA BSN students will have the opportunity to care for individuals who come from a wide range of socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Clinical practice experiences are infused throughout the curriculum starting in the sophomore year and throughout the junior and senior years.
A sample 4-year plan showing a possible sequence of courses in this major.
The Essential Performance Standards for Nursing Majors are the basic cognitive, psychomotor and affective activities that are essential to successful completion of the BSN degree. Reviewing the essential performances can assist students interested in the nursing program to make an informed decision regarding choice of career.
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) establishes policies (based
on MGL c.112, ss74, 74A and 76 and Board regulations at 244 CMR 8.00) for initial
licensure as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One of the criteria
for application for licensure involves the determination of “good moral character.”
Failure to meet this criterion could delay or prevent licensure. Please refer to the
Mass.gov website: www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn for complete information. It is the student’s responsibility to seek legal guidance
with any concerns about meeting these criteria.
Nursing students must be certified in CPR at the Healthcare Provider Level (American Heart Association or American Red Cross) before starting their sophomore spring clinical coursework. Students may obtain CPR Certification outside of the college, and provide a record to the program administrator, or they may take PHED 120: Emergency Medical Response (1cr.), which is offered annually.
MCLA Nursing-Specific Fees |
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| Academic Year Fee Totals | Description |
Cost |
Total |
| Freshman Year | Pre-Nursing; No Nursing Courses | ||
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| Sophomore Year | One-Time Direct Clinical Fee: Nurse Bag & Name Badge | $300 | |
| Professional Liability Insurance (fall only) | $50 | ||
| Nursing Simulation/Skills Lab Use (spring only) | $175 | ||
| ATI Learning and Testing Software ($650/semester) | $1,300 | ||
| Also one-time indirect costs: Uniforms, Shoes (approx $350) |
Nursing Program Credit Fee** ($75/credit x 16 credits) | $1,200 | $3,025 |
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| Junior Year | Professional Liability Insurance (fall only) | $50 | |
| Nursing Simulation/Skills Lab Use ($175/semester) | $350 | ||
| ATI Learning and Testing Software ($650/semester) | $1,300 | ||
| Nursing Program Credit Fee** ($75/credit x 19 credits) | $1,425 | $3,125 | |
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| Senior Year | Professional Liability Insurance (fall only) | $50 | |
| Nursing Simulation/Skills Lab Use ($175/semester) | $350 | ||
| ATI Learning and Testing Software ($650/semester) | $1,300 | ||
| Nursing Program Credit Fee** ($75/credit x 24 credits) | $1,800 | $3,500 | |
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| Total Nursing Program Direct Fees | $9,650 | $9,650 | |
| Total Indirect Costs: Uniforms, shoes, textbooks | $1,100 | ||
| 4-year Estimated Costs | Total Nursing Program-Specific Fees | $10,750 | |
*Costs based on Fall 2024 figures and may vary slightly.
**Nursing Program Credit Fees cover additional costs such as national accreditation
and clinical learning
Students must provide proof of Healthcare Provider CPR prior to the first clinical
course (Sophomore Spring)
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical sites.
The above additional program costs will be taken into consideration when students
are awarded financial aid.
Nursing students accepted to the Nursing program may be eligible for program-specific
scholarships.
Dion Nursing Scholarship may be awarded to first year or transfer Nursing students.
The Fairbank Nursing Scholarship may be awarded to first year or transfer Nursing
students from Berkshire County,
and is renewable with 30 credits/year and a minimum GPA of 2.85.
MCLA BSN Program’s mission is to prepare baccalaureate nurses who will enhance the health status of rural underserved communities through excellence in nursing education and practice. The program is rooted in MCLA’s strong liberal arts foundation of the humanities, the arts, and the natural and social sciences. We are dedicated to the College’s mission of excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active responsible citizenship.
Our vision is that MCLA BSN Program will be an exemplary baccalaureate nursing program offered in a public liberal arts environment that is nationally recognized for improving healthcare in rural underserved communities experiencing health disparities.
MCLA is excited to announce three new scholarships available to qualified applicants pursuing bachelor of nursing degrees at the College. The Dion Family Scholarship provides $5,000 per year to students pursuing a BSN; the Lisa O’Brien Nursing Scholarship provides $2,500-$5,000 to students pursuing a BSN; and the Brian and Vikki Fairbank Berkshire Community Scholarship provides up to $5,000 to students who reside in Berkshire County and are pursuing a BSN.
With more than 25 years of nursing education experience, which includes her work as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Massachusetts School of Nursing, an associate professor of nursing at College of Our Lady of the Elms, and a professor of nursing at Berkshire Community College, Dr. Fiscella is available to ansewer any questions you may have about MCLA's Nursing Program!
Dr. Fiscella holds a doctoral degree in nursing and is a nationally certified nurse educator.
elizabeth.fiscella@mcla.edu
413-662-5591
