Simmons College

1902
Developed articulation agreements with Children's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital to provide college level science courses to their diploma students.

1906
Established a Public Health Nursing Program in collaboration with the Boston Instructive District Nursing Association (later to become the Boston Visiting Nurse Association).

1915
Established a Department of Public Health Nursing.

1933
Implemented a 5 year baccalaureate program in Nursing, became a charter member of the National League for Nursing.

1952
In collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health established a masters program in Public Health Nursing. The Rockefeller Foundation supported this program.

1976
Developed the graduate program in Adult Primary Health Care Nursing in collaboration with the Peter Brent Brigham Hospital.

1983
Expanded the Primary Care graduate program to include Occupational Health and Geriatric Health.

1989
Initiated the RN-MS program. Developed the 2nd degree baccalaureate degree program for individuals seeking a career in nursing.

1990
Expanded the Primary Care Core to include Parent/Child.

1993
Established the undergraduate evening/weekend program for Dix Scholars. Initiated the School Health and Women's Health concentration in the graduate nursing program.

1994
Developed the Simmons/Westbrook Partnership in Primary Health Care Nursing, an off-site weekend program for graduate nursing in cooperation with Westbrook College, Portland, Maine.

1999
Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing merge as one. The Nursing Programs at Simmons are now consolidated as one faculty and student body with Chairperson of Nursing and Associate Dean of School for Health Studies, Dr. Judy Beal as its leader. The Nursing Programs are one of 4 programs within the School for Health Studies. The other programs include Health Care Administration, Nutrition, and Physical Therapy.

2000
Expanded the curriculum to include a: 1) direct entry masters' program for non-nurses with a BA/BS who wish to become nurse practitioners. 2) a 5 year BS-MS program option, and 3) a revised 4 year BS curriculum with increased community and clinical experience.

2003
implemented a number of tracks for Dix Scholars including: a) 18-month Dix Scholars Program, b) 2-year Dix Scholars Program, c) 3-year Dix Scholars Program.