School of Nursing - Columbia University - Overview
Columbia University School of Nursing
Founded in 1892, the Columbia University School of Nursing has a long history of emphasizing clinical excellence and research. The school was the first in the country to award a master's degree in a clinical nursing specialty (in 1956) and is the first nursing school to develop a doctoral degree in clinical nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice or D.N.P., which was established in 2004.
The School of Nursing is part of the Columbia University Medical Center, which includes the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the College of Dental Medicine, and sits among its Medical Center neighbors on a 20-acre campus in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The School of Nursing has partnerships with over 200 clinical practices throughout New York City as well as alliances with 3 major hospitals: New York Presbyterian, the school's primary affiliate; Mt. Sinai; and St. Luke's-Roosevelt.
The School of Nursing offers a number of graduate programs including a combined B.S./M.S. program for non-nurse college graduates, a master's program for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, a research-intensive Ph.D. program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Doctoral Programs
The Columbia University School of Nursing offers 2 doctoral programs. The Ph.D. in Nursing is a research-intensive program that prepares graduates to design and carry out research studies, translate data into practical applications, and develop and deliver health policies with a focus on improved organization and delivery of healthcare services. The Ph.D. student's studies are organized around the theoretical and analytical foundations of nursing science and applied and elective courses that concentrate on the student's primary area of research interest.
Admission requirements for the program include a current New York state nursing license or eligibility and a master's degree in nursing or in a related discipline.
The D.N.P. is the highest academic degree available in the field of nursing and prepares the student to administer fully accountable care in a clinical setting. D.N.P. graduates are prepared to work in an independent practice or alongside a physician, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses. The D.N.P. graduate must complete 30 credits of scientific practices curriculum, a yearlong residential internship, and an academic portfolio of case studies, research papers, and published articles.
Master's Programs
The combined B.S./M.S. Entry to Practice program at the Columbia University School of Nursing allows non-nurse college graduates to complete their pre-licensure study and gain clinical experience at an accelerated pace. Students begin working with patients in clinical settings during their first term. Post-licensure coursework focuses on a student's preferred specialty, which might include acute care, women's health, psychiatric mental health, or nurse midwifery, among others.
Students with undergraduate nursing degrees may earn a master's degree in 1 of 9 specialty areas. In addition to the programs mentioned above, the specialty areas include adult, family, or neonatal nurse practitioner; nurse anesthesia; or pediatrics. Two master's completion programs are designed for nurses who have already completed some advanced study in a specialty area and are pursing a master's degree in their specialty.
The school also offers 2 joint degree programs, the combined M.S./M.B.A. for students interested in being both clinical practitioners and business managers in health care settings, and the combined M.S./M.P.H. for students who wish to be both clinical practitioners and public health practitioners or administrators. Both joint programs are offered in conjunction with Columbia University (the School of Business and the Mailman School of Public Health).
World Health Organization Collaborating Center
The Columbia University School of Nursing was the first school to be named a World Health Organization Collaborating Center for the International Nursing Development of Advanced Practice. The center hopes to foster the growth and sharing of knowledge among nurses around the world of best practices and culturally sensitive care for populations around the globe.
The center organizes lectures and conferences around the world. Additionally, students of the School of Nursing have the opportunity to volunteer in areas of need, developing their understanding of health issues around the world and their clinical skills in the field. Recent volunteer opportunities have included work with the International Medical Corps, Midwives for Haiti, Doctors Without Borders, and International Medical Volunteers Abroad.
A Faculty Committed to Research
The faculty of the Columbia University School of Nursing is committed to the continual growth of research that can improve the lives of people around the world. The School of Nursing was the first school faculty to gain full admitting privileges at a major teaching hospital and the only nursing school faculty working collaboratively with physicians at an academic medical center.
Columbia is the only nursing school which requires all faculty to practice clinically or conduct funded research. In addition to the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for International Nursing Development in Advanced Practice, which allows faculty to develop research in collaboration with colleagues internationally, faculty have developed studies investigating health services, seamless care across practice sites, comparisons of care between nurse practitioners and physicians, and the prevention and control of infection.
Study in New York City
The School of Nursing is located on the Columbia University campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. Along with renowned medical facilities, students have access to the unparalleled cultural and entertainment resources that make New York a world capital.