The admissions process for Nursing has recently changed. First-time applicants to UMass Amherst are now reviewed for direct admission to the Nursing major. Prospective students apply through the University Admissions office. Acceptance to the University does not guarantee admission to the Nursing major. Because of the limited number of spaces in the Nursing major, the review process is very selective. The benefit of this change is that successful candidates enter the University as full Nursing majors. Given the competitive nature of admission to Nursing programs at many colleges and universities, direct admission to the major is an advantage to students.

Freshman applicants have the greatest access to the Nursing major, since students will enter as a cohort and proceed through the curriculum together. Transfer applicants will be considered as spaces become available in the major. Transfer students are responsible for all prerequisite coursework needed to enter the junior year of Nursing. Applicants must have an overall University GPA of 3.0 or better and must completed 12 credits of coursework at the university.. For more information, please refer to the Undergraduate Student Handbook. See the section on Admission Requirements for the Traditional Pre-Licensure track.

Pathophysiology and Medical Microbiology courses are offered every semester. Because of very limited space, priority for enrollment to these two classes are given to the students that have been formally accepted to begin the Upper Division Nursing major and will begin the Upper Division the following the semester. Students should check with Liz Theroux, undergraduate secretary to be added into these two courses.  (Top)

Each department has its own requirements for an academic minor. For more information, consult the Undergraduate Online Catalog and select the department of interest. The Declaration of an Academic Minor form can be downloaded through the Undergraduate Registrar's Forms Page. (Top)

The Undergraduate Registrar web page includes a link to the complete schedule of classes for the up-coming semester.  (Top)

Nursing plans of study are fully detailed in the School of Nursing's Undergraduate Handbook, which includes:

• First Two Year Plan, Traditional Pre-Licensure track
• Second Two Year Plan, Traditional Pre-Licensure track
• Second Bachelor Track Plan
• RN-to-BS Online Mobility Track Plan

For more information, please see the Student Handbook page.  (Top)

All students must meet the University's General Education Requirements. Be aware that some General Education requirements are fulfilled while taking prerequisites in Nursing and Nursing courses. You'll want to refer to the School of Nursing Plan of Study requirements to ensure you take the General Education courses needed for students in the School of Nursing. The Registrar's office also offers a list of specific general education courses.  (Top)

Commonwealth College, the honors college at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was established to offer academically talented students a community that promotes engagement with peers, leading scholars, and society.  (Top)

• For general information, visit the Commonwealth College main page
• To see the requirements for departmental honors in Nursing, click here.
• See the Commonwealth College course guide for current honors courses in Nursing (select Nursing from the 'Subject Area' menu).
• For other questions, please contact the Director of the Honors Program in Nursing, Cynthia Jacelon: jacelon@nursing.umass.edu.

The Registrar's Office provides a form for students who wish to take credits at another institution, and transfer them to UMass to meet their degree requirements. To view and print the form, please click here. A complete set of instructions and guidelines is provided on the second page.  (Top)

Before obtaining a RAC, the School of Nursing continues to require that students attend an advising session and understand curriculum requirements that are expected of them in order to be able to complete their academic careers successfully. The procedure for obtaining a RAC is as follows:

1. The Undergraduate Secretary will provide the professor with their advisees'
   4-digit RAC numbers and the secretary will keep the student master list.
2. If a student's name is not listed on the RAC # list, it is possible
   that their number is with their previous department. Ask the student
   to fill out a problem identification form and bring it to the Undergraduate
   Secretary to solve the problem with the Registrar's Office or the previous
   department.

The RAC # assists the School of Nursing in knowing how many students attend their advising appointment in a timely fashion. NO RAC # should be given out unless the student keeps their advising appointment. (Top)

Volunteering is an excellent way to serve others while building your own skills and sense of connection with the world.

• You may want to begin with a Volunteering Work Skill Analysis to help you assess how you may best apply existing skills or develop new ones through your volunteer experience.
• The UMass Office of Community Service Learning offers a wealth of ideas and connections for volunteering, both locally and nationally.
• Other volunteer opportunities include:
  • The Springfield Red Cross
  • The Student Nurses Association
  • The ALANA Nursing Association
  • School of Nursing Committees (see the Undergraduate Handbook for more information)
  • Educational Fairs
  • Majors Fair - held every November

For more information contact Liz Theroux, Undergraduate Program Assistant. (Top)