The College awards the baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) and provides basic preparation in nursing to those who are studying for the first professional degree in the field. Such students include high school graduates with no prior college experience, college graduates with degrees in other disciplines who made a later decision to study nursing, and adults who are studying for their first college degree.
The Graduate Program awards the master's degree (MSN) and provides preparation and leadership development in selected areas of advanced nursing practice, development of research skills and knowledge of health policy. In addition, course options prepare individuals for positions such as clinical teachers, faculty, nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. The Graduate Program also awards the doctoral degree in nursing (PhD) to individuals who are prepared as teacher-scholars for academic careers in higher education and the Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP) for nurse administrators and advanced practice nurses such as nurse practitioners, registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives.
The Program in Continuing Education is committed to providing short courses, conferences, workshops and symposia for nurses, other health professionals and the public-at-large on topics related to health care. Some of these programs are developed to update the knowledge of practicing nurses while others provide an academic arena for the sharing and critiquing of papers and ideas relevant to current issues or trends in health care.