History of The Graduate School
The oldest institution of higher education in the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, and Western Minnesota, UND has been educating generations of students for more than one hundred years. An established regional and national leader, it offers students a stimulating university environment, the state's largest library, the resources of its medical and law schools and research center, and a wide range of cultural and recreational opportunities. At UND, we combine that diversity with a tradition of caring and what has been called "a remarkable sense of family."
In 1889, the same year North Dakota gained statehood, UND initiated its first postgraduate research program, looking for ways to better utilize the region's mineral resources. In 1895, the University presented its first graduate degree, an M.A. in Latin, to Harrison A. Bronson for a study of Greek life in the plays of Terence. The discernment and discipline reinforced by this work served Harrison well as he went on to become a Justice for the Supreme Court of North Dakota.
George R. Davies received UND's first doctoral degree in 1914 in the fields of sociology and history. He studied with John Gillette, widely regarded as the "Father of Rural Sociology", and the renowned historian Orin G. Libby. His academic career lead to numerous scholarly publications and a faculty position at the University of Iowa.
The Graduate School is responsible for all graduate programs at UND, including all master's and doctoral programs, certificates and a specialist program. Fields of study include the humanities, social sciences, physical and natural sciences, fine arts, business, education and human development, aerospace sciences, engineering, medical sciences, and nursing. UND enrolls approximately 14,000 students of which approximately 2, 500 are graduate students. The University of North Dakota is committed to increasing its graduate program offerings and its research base in accordance with its strategic plan.
