Our History

1960s

1960
5 grads in the Co Op program with BS degree with a minor in Biology and an RN Diploma from the Delaware School of Nursing.

Nov. 1962
Madeleine O. Mc Dowell appointed Associate Professor and First Chairman of the Department of Nursing

April 23rd 1963
Proposed curriculum in nursing approved by the UD faculty

June 1966
First Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degrees awarded to 15 full time generic students and 9 students in the Co OP program who had senior year nursing courses with UD faculty

July 1966
The Department of Nursing became the College of Nursing and Mary Kathryn Carl with appointed as the First Dean

June 1968
Board of Trustees approval of Graduate Programs in Psych/Mental Health and Maternal Child Nursing.

Sept. 1968
The First 8 graduate students enrolled (6 in PMH, 2 in MC)

Dec. 1968
Award from USPHS toward construction of new College of Nursing Building.

1968
Diploma and Associates degree nurses could obtain a BSN degree from UD

Spring 1969
Check from Longwood Foundation for matching funds for nursing building
Board of Trustees approval for Med/Surg Graduate Program
Approval for Nursing Honor Society – Epsilon Epsilon Epsilon

1970s

June 1972
College of Nursing moved to Mc Dowell Hall

Spring 1973
Initial Accreditation of Graduate Programs in Nursing

April 1974
Installation of Beta Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society on Nursing

1990s

1993
Bachelor for the Registered Nurse (BRN) Degree offered in a distance format

1994
Accelerated Second Degree Program for returning adults with a previous bachelor’s degree initiated

2000s

Fall 2004
An online RN to MSN Program was established for clinical nursing specialty areas, two Nurse Practitioner tracks, and a health services administration program

Fall 2011
the PhD in Nursing Science Progam was launched. 

Spring 2015
The First two students graduated with a PhD in Nursing

Spring 2016
2016 – Graduated the 50th Class of the BSN and the

Fall 2016
Doctorate of Nursing Practice approved