Our History

Some of Radford University's more established programs are currently housed in the Waldron College of Health and Human Services. For example, the nursing program began in 1966 when it was approved by the State Council of Higher Education and the Virginia Board of Nursing. The charter class of students was admitted three years later in 1969 and today the School of Nursing is recognized as one of the premier programs in the Commonwealth. Another program with a rich tradition is the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, which began in 1972, and now represents RU’s most selective graduate program admitting only the very best students for advanced study in speech-language pathology. Similarly, our programs in Social Work are over 25 years old and continue to attract students from across the nation. And while we have a rich history at Radford University, we also offer the University’s newest departments and doctoral programs of study. In 2007, Dean Linville initiated efforts to develop doctoral programs in physical therapy and nursing, as well as a new graduate program in occupational therapy. Today, these programs are major points of pride for the University and represent not only the latest instructional innovations, but also unique partnerships with the region’s largest health-care providers. Our students are steeped in history, but also well positioned for the future of health care, and our faculty and staff are simply ”the best.”