The first baccalaureate degree in nursing, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education, was offered in 1928 for the first time through the School of Nursing Education in the Department of Education, made possible by an endowment of $50,000 from the Graduate Nurses' Association of Virginia in memory of Sadie Heath Cabaniss, Virginia's outstanding pioneer nurse. The purpose of this degree program was to train registered nurses for teaching, supervisory, or administrative positions. The present baccalaureate program was established in 1950 as a four-year course, with a curriculum consisting of a two-year academic concentration followed by the two-year nursing major. In 1953, a Department of Nursing was established to administer the diploma program and the two baccalaureate programs: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education. Three years later, in 1956, this department became the School of Nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing Program, initiated in 1972, currently offers nurse practitioner preparation in primary and acute care as well as clinical specialist preparation in several areas of concentration. The primary care nursing program prepares family nurse practitioners and pediatric nurse practitioners. The acute care program prepares nurse practitioners to function in acute care settings. A post master's program (non-degree) that prepares nurse practitioners in primary care and acute care is also available. Both the clinical nurse specialist preparation and post-master's programs are offered in acute and specialty care nursing, community/home health nursing, and psychiatric-mental health nursing.

A master's degree program in health systems management began in 1996.

The school also offers two additional joint degrees: an M.S.N.-M.B.A. program in collaboration with the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, and
an M.S.N.-M.A. in Bioethics in collaboration with the School of Medicine, the School of Law, and the Department of Religious Studies.

The Ph.D. in Nursing Program, begun in 1982, is designed to prepare scholars and researchers committed to expanding the base of nursing knowledge. Major components of the program include nursing, research, cognates, and electives.

The School of Nursing is a member of the Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs of the National League for Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing of the Southern Regional Education Board. The School of Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing and by the Virginia State Board of Nursing. The school was first accredited by the National League for Nursing Education in 1941 and appeared on the first list of accredited nursing schools issued by the League.

In addition to actively participating in the leading national nursing organizations, the school has an active chapter, Beta Kappa, of Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing. Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for membership.