Yale University School of Nursing Programs
The Yale School of Nursing (YSN), an integral part of Yale University, is located in New Haven, Connecticut. YSN is renowned for its commitment to excellence in nursing education and consistently ranks among the top nursing schools in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report (2024). The school boasts a comprehensive array of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level nursing programs, preparing students for diverse and impactful roles in healthcare.
A Legacy of Innovation
Founded in 1923, YSN holds the distinction of being the first school within a university to prepare nurses through an educational framework rather than an apprenticeship model. Dean Annie Goodrich's revolutionary vision emphasized that students should come to Yale to learn a highly skilled profession rather than to provide extra hands to already trained nurses. This pioneering spirit has continued to shape the school's trajectory, with groundbreaking research by figures like Virginia Henderson and the founding of the American hospice movement by Dean Florence S. Wald further solidifying YSN's legacy of innovation. The ultimate mission of the Yale School of Nursing is better health for all people.
The Yale School of Nursing was founded in 1923 with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. The Yale School of Nursing was the first School of Nursing to adopt the strong professional standards from the Goldmark Report of 1923 which it had sponsored with the Rockefeller Foundation to determine the best form of nurse training in 1918. It had its own Dean, faculty, budget and required a standardized degree. In 1934, bachelor's degrees were required for admission and Yale Corporation authorized the Master of Nursing degree. This program, allowing students with no prior background in nursing graduate entry, would continue until 1956 when the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program began. The MSN required students to have a prior background in nursing in order to gain entry into the program. The Nurse Practitioner track within the MSN degree was established in 1971 with the offering of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specialty. This was expanded in 1972, when the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty began. By 1975 YSN offered 10 specialty programs and tracks, and was at the vanguard of the education of nurse practitioners at the graduate level along with clinical nurse specialists and nurse-midwives. Annie W. Goodrich served as the first dean, followed by figures like Judith B. Krauss and Catherine L. Gilliss.
Degree Programs Offered
YSN offers a range of degree programs to suit various educational and career goals:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): A practice-focused doctoral degree designed to prepare advanced practice nurses as leaders in healthcare delivery.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing: A research-intensive doctoral degree for students seeking to advance nursing science through original research.
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): A graduate degree program offering various Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialties.
Areas of Specialization
YSN provides specialized training in high-demand areas of nursing, including:
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- Nursing Management, Policy, and Leadership
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialties:
- Family NP
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Pediatric Primary Care NP
- Pediatric Acute Care NP
- Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
- Women's Health NP
- Nurse-Midwifery
Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing (GEPN) Program
For individuals holding a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing (GEPN) program offers an accelerated pathway to becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). This intensive program equips students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for advanced nursing practice.
Joint Degree Programs
Recognizing the interconnectedness of healthcare disciplines, YSN offers joint degree programs in collaboration with other Yale schools:
- MSN/MPH (Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health): Offered in conjunction with the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), this program is designed for individuals seeking to integrate advanced nursing practice with public health principles. This option is especially oriented to individuals who wish to combine careers in advanced nursing practice and public health that might involve direct practice, planning, and policy-making in a variety of health care systems in the public health sector. A joint degree is more than simply a list of courses taken at both Schools. It is an integrated educational program designed to achieve a combination of the two programs in a way that is complementary to both, while protecting the integrity of each separate program. YSN students in any of the clinical specialties except for Nurse Midwifery/WHNP (this program is not recommended for Nurse Midwifery/WHNP students due to competing scheduling demands) may apply for the joint degree program. Study in one of the following YSPH departments is most appropriate for the joint MSN/MPH degree: Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE), Health Policy (HP), or Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS). YSPH students in the Health Care Management program are not eligible for the joint MSN/MPH program.
- MSN/MA (Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Arts): Offered in collaboration with the Yale Divinity School, this program combines nursing expertise with theological and ethical perspectives.
MSN/MPH Joint Degree Program: A Detailed Look
The joint MSN/MPH program is a unique opportunity for students to gain expertise in both nursing and public health. The two schools have made accommodations in order to make possible the completion of the joint courses of study in three or four years without burdening students with extraordinary course loads in any term.
Curriculum: Plans of study should be reviewed with each student on an individual basis.
Joint Program Sequence:
- For students entering the GEPN program the joint degree program requires four full time academic years.
- For full time RNs entering the MSN program, the joint degree program requires three full time academic years. RN students entering the MSN program (except for Midwifery/WHNP and Online PMHNP) also are required to begin their first full time academic year at YSPH. The second year is spent in full time study at YSN (with elective courses taken at YSPH), while the third year is spent taking courses at both schools. Course planning for joint degree candidates should be carried out in consultation with the appropriate educational officers, as well as faculty advisors at the School of Nursing and YSPH, and must satisfy the following general requirements:
The Public Health Component: Joint degree candidates must complete all of the core MPH courses as described in the School of Public Health Bulletin. All MPH students must complete a set of six core courses:
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- PUBH 100 - Professional Skills Series (no credit)
- PUBH 101 - Professional Skills Series (no credit)
- PUBH 505 - Biostatistics in Public Health (not required for BIS)
- PUBH 507 - Social Justice and Health Equity
- PUBH 508 - Foundations of Epidemiology and Public Health
- PUBH 510 - Health Policy and Health Care Systems
Students must also complete all departmental requirements, public health practice experience and the thesis/ capstone course. The total number of YSPH course units required for the joint degree is reduced from 20 to 15. If a student obtains an exemption for a required course, an elective must be substituted; an exemption does not reduce the total number of required course units below 15. Joint degree students are required to complete an applied practice experience. GEPN students who have successfully completed the course NURS 5130, Community Health Nursing and Public Health, may use this course to satisfy the applied practice experience requirement. YSN students not enrolled in the GEPN program will be required to satisfy the practice requirement with an appropriate applied practice experience through PUBH 521 or a practicum course. The YSPH Committee on Academic Progress reviews each studentâs progress toward the public health component of the joint degree.
The Nursing Component: Joint degree candidates must complete all YSN required courses contained in their Specialty curriculum as described in the YSN Bulletin. The total number of credits in the joint degree program will vary, depending upon the studentâs specialty choice. Some courses taken at YSPH will meet requirements at the School of Nursing. Similarly, courses taken at YSN may meet requirements for elective courses at YSPH. Specifics must be negotiated with the YSN Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Specialty Coordinator and YSPH advisor.
Tuition and Financial Aid: Tuition is paid to the school where the student is in residence. Students requesting financial aid during a particular semester must make arrangements with the school charging tuition during that semester. Tuition, fees, and financial aid policies may differ between the two schools. Financial aid applications will be judged by each school according to its own policy. Students should consult the financial aid officers in each school for a description of their respective policies.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Yale University, including the School of Nursing, is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. The university bases judgments concerning admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.
In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individualâs sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Inquiries concerning this policy may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity & Accessibility.
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