History of the School of Nursing
- In 1962, the Department of Nursing was established in the College of Arts and Sciences. The first bachelor of science in nursing degrees were awarded in 1966, and the program was accredited by the National League for Nursing. In July 1966, the Board of Trustees approved a change in the status of the department and the original College of Nursing was founded.
- In the 1990s, the college was expanded to include the Department of Medical Technology, the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Department of Physical Education and Recreation (called the Department of Health and Exercise Sciences) and was renamed the College of Health and Nursing Sciences. As the nursing program grew in size and expanded its focus on the tripartite mission, the 鈥淒epartment鈥 changed its name to reflect this growth; effective July 2005, the name changed to the 鈥淪chool of Nursing鈥 (SON) and the College then revised its name to the 鈥淐ollege of Health Sciences鈥 (CHS). In 2009, the department of Physical Therapy joined the CHS. The Department of Health & Exercise Science was divided into the departments of 鈥淏ehavioral Health & Nutrition鈥 and 鈥淜inesiology & Applied Physiology鈥 in 2010 so that currently the CHS includes four departments and the SON.
- In 1968, the College of Nursing initiated a plan for registered nurses from diploma or associate degree programs to obtain a BSN degree. In 1993, a revision of that plan resulted in the Bachelors for the Registered Nurse (BRN) major for RN students. The BRN major is offered in a distance format and is specifically designed to meet the learning needs of RN students. In 1994, an accelerated second degree program for returning adult students with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in another major was initiated.
- The Master of Science degree program was established in the fall of 1968 and awarded initial accreditation in Spring, 1973. During the Fall, 2004, an online RN to MSN program was established for clinical nurse specialty education. In Fall 2011, the PhD in Nursing Science Program was launched; a student鈥檚 fit with research expertise of nursing and interdisciplinary faculty defines the program of study and dissertation. Currently two Doctor of Nursing Practice tracks are offered in addition the PhD in Nursing Science.