Nursing ADN Program

Admission to the ADN program is based on several factors and is competitive. Completion of additional college degrees are considered and do influence the admission decision. Admission specific criteria are as follows:

• Evidence of secondary school graduation or its equivalent. Submit official transcript(s) from high school or high school equivalency, previous colleges or post-secondary schools attended.
  
  • Note: International transcripts will only be accepted for consideration if they have been translated and evaluated by a NACES approved foreign credential evaluation service provider. BCC recommends SpanTran or World Education Services
• Math: ACCUPLACER Next Generation QAS score of 262 or greater OR successful completion of MAT-029, MAT-029C, or MAT-136 (Math for Health Sciences) or higher (with a minimum grade of C). (MAT-123 Statistics recommended for transfer)
• Completion of BIO 201 w/ lab (Anatomy and Physiology 1) with a C+ or better completed within seven years of application date.
  • Note: A grade of C is acceptable if taken prior to January 1, 2018 but still within seven years of application date
• Earn 15 points at a minimum. Points are earned based on the grade attained in the support courses listed below (with the exception of the general education course). Students with higher grades and more courses completed will have higher point calculations.
  • Completion of a college degree will earn a student 1 additional point, regardless of how many degrees or level earned
  • Students who complete honors courses have the opportunity to earn 1 more point per letter grade
  • Students who complete all three science courses (BIO 201, 202 and 207) with a B or better will earn 2 additional points
  • A GPA is created from the non-science support courses and a GPA is created from the science support courses - both GPAs can earn a student more points if average is a B (3.000) or better
  • Students who opt to take and pass a CLEP exam(s) for particular point earning courses can only earn 2 points per course in which the CLEP is applied
  • Students who have AP exam credit from high school can only earn 2 points for point eligible courses in which the AP exam transfers in for that particular course
  • Students who earn "Credit for Prior Learning" (CPL) will NOT be able to earn points on the course(s) that is utilizing CPL.
  • View the Scoring Rubric
• Support Courses: Completing a minimum of 10 credits of college-level ADN support courses from the following:
  • English Composition 1 (ENG 101) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - point eligible course
  • English Composition 2 (ENG 102) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - point eligible course
  • Introductory Psychology (PSY 107) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - point eligible course
  • Human Growth and Development (PSY 204) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - point eligible course
  • Introductory Sociology (SOC 105) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - point eligible course
  • Communications course (COM) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - point eligible course
  • General Education course (History or Humanities) - 3 cr. - earn a C or better - no point course
  • Anatomy and Physiology 1 w/ lab (BIO 201/201L) - 4 cr. - earn a C+ or better* taken within 7 years of application date - point eligible course
  • Anatomy and Physiology 2 w/ lab (BIO 202/202L) - 4 cr. - earn a C+ or better* taken within 7 years of application date - point eligible course
  • Microbiology w/ lab (BIO 207/207L) - 4 cr. - earn a C+ or better* taken within 7 years of application date - point eligible course
    *NOTE: A science refresher class will be offered for students who have expired A&P or Microbiology classes. The refresher will conclude with a comprehensive exam for that class. The refresher class can only be taken one time. A student who takes the refresher and passes the exam with a C+ or better, will not have to repeat the expired course. This refresher class will be good for three years.
• Watch a mandatory ADN matriculation video (see step 6 below)

Admissions into the nursing program are based on space availability and follow a competitive process.

Please refer to the Admission Policy for more details.

1. Apply to BCC as a pre-Nursing (Associate Degree in Nursing) student, if not already an active BCC student.
   • Note: All students, regardless of eligibility to our nursing programs, must first be accepted to the College itself before applying for matriculation into a nursing program.
2. Apply for financial aid, if not already completed
3. Send all official high school/GED/HiSET, AP scores (if applicable), post-secondary and college transcripts (if applicable) to BCC's Admissions Office.
   • Note: Any international transcripts will need to be evaluated and translated by a NACES approved organization such as SpanTran or WES.
4. Review and complete admission requirements as indicated above
5. Schedule a meeting with one of the nursing academic counselors to determine eligiblity to apply for matriculation
6. Watch a mandatory ADN matriculation video
   • Note: Students must watch a mandatory ADN matriculation video prior to applying for matriculation, otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These are not the same as Meet and Greet Sessions, which are available if you are interested in nursing but not ready to apply.
7. Complete and sign the ADN matriculation application for the selected entry semester (fall or spring) and submit (along with all required documents, including a signed attestation form) to Nursing Admissions by the established deadline for the ADN program
   View matriculation applications and deadlines

• NCLEX-RN Annual Pass Rate: 2024 – 89% for first time test takers
  Annual Program Completion Rate at 150% of Usual Time MABORN: class of 2022-2023 Cohort - 78%
  Annual Program Completion Rate at 100% of Usual Time ACEN: graduates of 2024 - 72%
  Number of graduates: 2024 - 66 students, Number of graduates: Spring 2025 - 33 students

For transfer credits, please see transfer policy for ADN program.

If you are considering nursing and want to learn more about our program, we have question and answer sessions that may help you make your decision.

For interest in any of our nursing programs, please sign up for a Nursing Meet and Greet Session.

Graduates from BCC's Associate Degree Nursing or Practical Nursing programs are qualified to work in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon the successful completion of program and the attainment of the appropriate licensure.

Not all states have the same state-level requirements for licensure. If you intend to practice outside of Massachusetts and obtain a license in another state you are encouraged to review the NCSBN website for eligibility. As an applicant to the BCC Nursing Programs, you are encouraged to discuss your ability for licensure and work in another state other than Massachusetts with the Dean of Nursing.

Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) is offering BCC program applicants a Talent Pipeline Program.

BHS is offering students, who are eligible for admission into the ADN program, a 40-hour benefitted position as a CNA in which they only have to work 16 hours/week during the ADN program (while receiving 40 hours of pay weekly).

BHS will be leading this program and determining acceptance to this program.

Contact us:
Courtney Warren cwarren@bhs1.org
413-447-2768
BHS Human Resource Department
742 North St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201

Honors Pathway Options - Pre-Nursing / Nursing

You can fulfill your Pre-Nursing/Nursing Program requirements while fulfilling the requirements for graduating as a Berkshire Honors Scholar (BHS), without additional coursework. You need 9 credits of honors courses, and these credits can also count toward your Nursing requirements. The honors course options for both Program and General Ed requirements are listed below in bold/italics. Find out more about the Honors Scholar Program.

Note: Honors courses taken for Pre-Nursing are worth an extra point on the Nursing Program application rubric. Example: you can earn up to 3 points for PSY 107 Intro Psych, or up to 4 points for PSY 107H Honors Intro Psych.

Nursing (A.S.)

Program Courses (With Honors Course Options)

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BIO-201	Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BIO-202	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
PSY-107 PSY-107H	Introductory Psychology Honors Introductory Psychology	3
PSY-204	Human Growth and Development	3
Total Credit Hours:		50

General Education Courses (With Honors Course Options)                 

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BIO-207	Microbiology	4
COM-	Communication	3
ENG-	English Composition/Writing ENG 103/104 Honors Comp I and II	6
MAT-	Mathematics	3
SOC-105 SOC-105H	Introductory Sociology Honors Introductory Sociology	3
- HON-298	General Education Elective Honors Colloquium (see options)	3
Total Credit Hours:		19

 

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