All application materials must be submitted to the Second Bachelor's Program office in the School of Nursing by the September 1 deadline for admission to the program beginning January of the coming year. These include proof that you have completed all prerequisite course work. If you are taking any such courses in the fall semester of your application, you will need to submit a mid-semester grade and a final transcript.

Applications are reviewed only after the September 1 deadline, so early submission is not necessary. However, we do start a file for all application materials that are received.

We highly recommend that you collect all application materials and send them all together in one packet so that you know that your application is complete. Send in unopened, official transcripts along with your application. Also, have references returned to you unopened, sealed, and with a signature across the back part of the envelope. It makes it easier on you, and helps assure materials are received in a timely manner.

The required prerequisite courses are listed in the general information and application document. Most students take prerequisite courses at local Community Colleges or at other accredited and conveniently located institutions. Other students find appropriate online courses. See our list of Approved Prerequisites, which shows courses meeting our prerequisite standards that are available within the local region.

All prerequisites must be passed with a grade of C or better. Five of the prerequisites must be completed at the time of application; an additional two may be still in progress during the Fall in which you apply. If you have questions regarding any of your course selections, please call (413) 545-2703.

The program typically receives about 100 applications per year; of those, about 48 students are accepted into each cycle, which starts in January and finishes in May of the following year. Only completed applications are reviewed.

There is no time limit; however, you will need to have working knowledge of the course material from all of your prerequisite courses. If a long period of time has elapsed since you completed key prerequisites, you may want to consider retaking them prior to beginning your studies in the secondary bachelor's program.

Second bachelor's students are eligible for loans through the University of Massachusetts Financial Aid Office. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office or visit www.umass.edu/umfa. In addition, Second Bachelor's students may apply for selected scholarships specifically for nursing students; for more information, please visit our nursing scholarships page.

This is a full-time, intensive program with courses regularly scheduled on weekdays and also involving full-day practica which may include evenings and weekends (to get an indication of time and academic demands, see the The Plan of Study on page 2 of the Second Bachelor's program flyer). Although some students will need to work part-time, they should plan to devote semesters entirely to study in order to sustain satisfactory academic progress. If possible, it is recommended that you not work during your time of study.

Even though this is a Continuing Education program, we follow the regular University of Massachusetts Amherst academic calendar.

You will receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, entitling you to attend both the university graduation ceremony and the School of Nursing Pinning and Hooding celebration. Students are eligible to sit for the RN licensure exam immediately upon graduation.