The medical school actively encourages its students to engage in community health projects or basic science and clinical research. The School of Nursing offers a full complement of nursing education programs, enrolling undergraduate, RN to BSN, master s, post-master s, and doctoral students each year. The undergraduate curriculum leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Students learn to promote health in those who are well or who are at risk for illness and to deliver care to the sick and dying. Students become comfortable and proficient health care providers through independent inquiry and collaborative work with health care professionals.
Undergraduates are prepared as generalists in nursing practice.
Graduate programs include a master s program, a post-master s program, and PhD program. Master s students may become certified as nurse practitioners, clinical specialty or nurse managers, depending on their specialty. The doctoral program develops scholars who are able to critically analyze people s responses to health and illness and the context in which prevention and care are embedded. Doctoral students interested in the study of chronic illness complement regular course work in research methods and theory analysis and construction with courses on the prevention and management of chronic health problems. Students learn to process, compound, and dispense prescriptions, as well as counsel and educate patients, use diagnostic and monitoring equipment, and retrieve drug information using written and electronic resources.