History
Since our inception as the Normal School in North Adams in 1894, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has provided educational access and exceptional learning opportunities to generations of students and alumni. Over the years, MCLA has evolved to meet the needs of changing times.
Education
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students are community-minded, idea-driven, and motivated. MCLA graduates become scientists, business people, inventors, artists, sculptors, actors, managers, engineers, journalists, and more.
Research
One of the biggest strengths of our program is the opportunity for you to work closely with faculty on scholarly research. All of our full-time faculty are active researchers who encourage you to participate in faculty-directed projects or help you develop your own research.
As you can see by the long list of presentations and publications, these collaborative endeavors are quite successful in producing quality research. You can present at professional conferences, at the Council for Undergraduate Research, and right here at MCLA's Undergraduate Research Conference where many Psychology majors present their work every year.
Career
A degree in history provides you with skills in research, analysis, and communication that prepare you for a career or graduate study in a wide range of fields. Although many people associate history with teaching or museums, that only scratches the surface. Did you know that the CEO of YouTube and recent CEOs of Gillette, IBM, and Sony were all history majors? Did you know that Conan O' Brien, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Malcolm Gladwell were history majors? A degree in history does not necessarily direct you to a certain career, but always offers many possibilities.
Distance Learning Courses
Business & Management (1)
- M.B.A. Business Administration
Student services
Whether you live on campus or commute, I and my colleagues in Student Affairs want MCLA to feel like home to you whenever you’re here. We are here for YOU, to help you make your MCLA experience the best one possible.
Housing services
Our three residence areas house more than 1,000 full-time, traditional-aged students. Each residence area is supervised by a Residence Director and a team of Resident Advisors.First-year students entering the College live on campus and participate in a College meal plan for three years. If you transfer in with prior college experience, you will receive a one, two or three-year residency requirement commensurate with the number of credits completed. The Office of Admission assigns the appropriate residency requirement at the time of admission
Library services
- The Freel Library may very well be the most popular place on campus next week as students take advantage of a new program to help them relax while they prepare to take their final exams.
- According to Freel Library Director Maureen Horak, two library staffers are behind some changes aimed to help students do their best as they close out their spring semester studies.
ICT services
The Center for Academic Technology is committed to supporting and empowering MCLA faculty to improve the quality of instruction in all courses through training, consultation and support. We're here to assist you with
• Instructional design and development;• Canvas, our learning management system;• Digication ePortfolios;• Outlook Web App and Office 365;
Medical services
The Office of Student Health Services, located on the first floor of the MountainOne Student Wellness Center, provides health care for students. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. when fall and spring semester classes are in session. Gynecological assessment is available through the Office of Health Services.
Campus life
Located in the Berkshires: a true mecca for lovers or art, music, culture and outdoor exploration. Students tell us that visiting MCLA made a difference. After meeting students and faculty, and touring our vibrant campus in the beautiful Berkshires, they decided to attend.
Sports facilities
The MountainOne Student Wellness Center, located next door to the President's Office on Church Street, is a resource for education and services. Programs and information on the six aspects of wellness are featured. Also, Counseling Services and Health Services are housed in the Wellness Center. These programs offer students a quiet setting and easy access to important resources.
Student clubs
These are a few student associations :
- African Student Association
- Aikido Club
- Allegrettos
- American Sign Language
- Anime Club
- Asian & American Union
- The Beacon (student newspaper)
- Biology Club
- Black Student Union
- Book Club
- Cape Verdean Student Alliance
- Cheerleading Squad
- Chemistry Club
- Christian Fellowship.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC).