Division of Health Sciences
Fall Semester Start
This program is designed to meet the educational needs of students pursuing a career in nursing who wish to attend college full-time during the day. The core curriculum is a full time program that is designed to be completed over four semesters.
The theoretical and clinical components of nursing courses must be taken concurrently and sequentially as outlined in the applicable curriculum sheet.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
The Associate in Science Degree in Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Upon completion, The Associate in Science in Nursing degree is awarded.
Program Outcomes
Program learning outcomes available by clicking here.
Admission Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the Associate Degree Nursing program are required to attend a recent information session. Times and dates for these sessions can be located at: Information Session Schedule. Students seeking admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN) will be individually evaluated on the basis of Grade Point Average (GPA), and performance on the HESI A2 Entrance Exam.
In order to be considered for admission students must have all the following:
- High school diploma or equivalent, or associate degree or higher
- An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
- HESI Admission (A2) exam score of 75% or better in all subtest scores except Chemistry which requires a subtest score of at least 65 percent and Reading Comprehension which requires a subtest score of at least 85 percent. (Note: Student may take the HESI exam for a total of 2 times. Students repeating the exam must take a second version. The HESI A2 Exam is given twice per year, and the second try at taking the HESI must include the alternate HESI version to the first attempt. The exam version schedule is determined and maintained by Elsevier, the company that offers the HESI Exam.
Applicants must also meet the following additional criteria for acceptance into the nursing program:
- Completion of Freshman English I (EN 101) with a grade of C or higher.
- MassBay placement into College Algebra (MA 102) OR Pre-Calculus Mathematics (MA 104) or completion of Intermediate Algebra (MA 098) with a grade of C or higher.
- Completion of BI 215 Anatomy and Physiology I, BI 217 Anatomy and Physiology II and BI 223 Fundamentals of Microbiology within a five (5) year time frame with a grade of C+ or higher at the time student records are reviewed for matriculation into the nursing program (Note: students may repeat each science course only once to achieve a C+ within the required 5-year period).
- Completion of Chemistry I with a grade of C+ or higher (High School Chemistry or College Chemistry (CH 101) within 10 years of acceptance into the nursing program).
- Successful completion of Reading Assessment Test with a score of 72 or better.
- Documentation from a healthcare provider stating that you have a positive Hepatitis B titer, or have completed the Hepatitis B vaccine series and are a “non-responder” to the vaccine. You must allow a minimum of 6 months to complete this process.
Once students have been admitted to the program the following preprogram requirements must be completed:
Orientation: Nursing students are required to attend a New Student Orientation and Registration session and complete a mandatory two-day orientation. Students who do not complete this two-day orientation will be withdrawn from the program and be considered for readmission at a later date.
Required Pre-entry Documentation:
In order to be eligible to start class and remain in the program all new and progressing students are required to have Castle Branch accounts initiated at least 6 weeks in advance of the first day of class. All required forms and documentation outlined below must be uploaded to CastleBranch accounts by August 1st.
Failure to have completed this step will result in the student being withdrawn from the program. Students who are withdrawn will be considered for readmission at a later date.
- Medical clearance and proof of immunizations as outlined in the Division of Health Sciences handbook and in admission paperwork.
- Proof of CPR certification. The Healthcare Provider Card (from the American Heart Association) and the Professional Rescuer Card (from American Red Cross or National Safety Council) are the only types of CPR certification that meet this requirement (Copies of both sides and a valid signature required).
- Completion of CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sexual Offender Registry Information) in accordance with state regulations (CORI and SORI results are confidential).