History of The School of Nursing

The Florida A&M University School of Nursing is the oldest continuing baccalaureate nursing program in the United States at a historically black institution.

Established in 1904 as a hospital based program, it became the first baccalaureate program in Florida in 1936. The Florida Board of Nursing approved the program and its graduates were permitted to write the licensure examination in 1941. Ten years later, the program obtained accreditation by the Collegiate Board of Review of the National League of Nursing Accreditation Service.

Nurses at the FAMU Hospital, Sept. 13, 1953

Established in 1904 as a hospital-based program, it became the first baccalaureate program in Florida in 1936. The Florida Board of Nursing approved the program and its graduates were permitted to write the licensure examination in 1941. Ten years later, the program obtained accreditation by the Collegiate Board of Review of the National League of Nursing Accreditation Service. Currently, the program offers both baccalaureate and master's degrees: the Bachelor of Science degree for students who have completed requirements for admission to the professional level; and a Master's of Science in Nursing degree for post-baccalaureate nurses. The graduate program has both face-to-face and online options.

The baccalaureate program is an upper-division (junior and senior year) five-semester program for generic students. The fast track for RN-BSN students can be completed in three semesters.

The Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Masters Certificate programs, with a specialty focus in Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner preparation, was approved by the State University System Board of Regents in 1997 and admitted its first class in 1998. The Master of Science in Nursing program received initial accreditation from NLNAC in 2002 and continuing accreditation in 2007. Following University approval, the first cohort of online students was admitted to the master’s program in the Fall of 2011. The forty-two credit hour full-time curriculum can be completed in two years or five semesters, while the part-time curriculum plan can be completed in seven semesters.

"The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are."

Maya Angelou

African American Poet, Memoirist, and Civil Rights Activist

FAMU HISTORY

Every university has a history, but few have a history as unique and impressive as ours. Learn more about FAMU's rich History here!

Here are the moments that led FAMU to be the premiere school among historically Black colleges and universities, and the only historically Black university in the 12-member State University System of Florida.

History of FAMU