College Profile:
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

A public college with a private college atmosphere, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is regarded as one of higher education's best buys. MCLA is one of the most affordable small liberal arts colleges in the country, and is part of the public Massachusetts State College system.

A personalized education

Located in the Berkshires and surrounded by numerous cultural and recreational venues, MCLA features a tight-knit community of students and faculty dedicated to the liberal arts goals of developing strong analytical and communication skills. With a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, MCLA offers students an intimate learning experience and a personalized education at a near tutorial approach, and provides them with numerous study abroad, internship, and research opportunities.

"Because of our size, we offer a much different educational experience than a large university," said Steven King, MCLA's assistant director of enrollment management. "MCLA gives students the feel of a smaller, private college that fosters closeness between students and faculty, but they also get the advantages of a larger school with an expanded curriculum and affordable cost."

Academics

The College serves nearly 1,600 undergraduate students. At the undergraduate level, studies are offered in 17 majors in the liberal arts which lead to either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. A Master's of Education degree is offered with concentrations in administration, reading, special education, and curriculum and instruction.

New programs include bachelor's degrees in arts management, art, and political science and public policy; and a 3+2 dual degree program in engineering with the University of Massachusetts. Collaborations with other institutions launched such initiatives as Berkshire Compact for Higher Education and MCLA Gallery 51 in downtown North Adams, which features the works of international, national, and local artists, including MCLA faculty and students.

Campus facilities and amenities

MCLA Gallery 51 is home to the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center and the Berkshire Hills Internship Program (B-HIP), an intensive arts management internship program, bringing students from across the nation and around the world to Berkshire County for experiential learning at cultural institutions, classes taught by MCLA faculty, and talkbacks with the area's leading arts professionals.

MCLA reached a milestone in 2006 with the completion of an $8.5 million renovation of historic Murdock Hall, which restored the landmark building to its former grandeur and equipped it with the latest technology. In 2007, Smith House, another historic building on campus, was revitalized; and the College made improvements to its art labs, the TV studio–which include Avid Media Composer, a software program used by the majority of producers in the film and television industries; student lounge space; and the athletic fields, including an artificial turf soccer field and renovated tennis courts.

MCLA is an NCAA Division III institution, competing in 11 intercollegiate sports for men and women, and is a member of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference. MCLA also has more than 50 student clubs and organizations.

Critical thinking skills

MCLA physics professor Adrienne Wootters is passionate about how the sciences fit into the liberal arts foundation.

"It's not just teaching physics in a vacuum. I often teach science through history. You have to understand the social consequences. It's important to understand where our knowledge comes from," she said. "This is a good place to be curious. It is a good place to say, ‘I wonder about this.'"

Likewise, chemistry professor Rob Harris thinks the chemistry discipline is at the heart of the liberal arts goal of developing critical thinking skills.

"Chemistry teaches students a different way of thinking," he said. "Student have to devise logical ways to solve problems. This broadens their minds, gives them a new way to think about things other than just rote memorization. It is the sort of problem-solving they can use in any discipline, not just chemistry."

Most recently, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a Higher Education Bond Bill in August 2008 that includes $54.5 million for a new Center for Science and Innovation at MCLA. The College looks forward to the feasibility study and design work to begin this academic year. MCLA also is the lead partner in the Berkshire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Pipeline Network.

Accreditation

MCLA is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and a member of Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC). It has been noted by Newsweek as a "Hot College" in the category of "Most for You Money" and identified by U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Colleges."