History of Medical Education at WVU

West Virginia became a state in 1863.  One of its immediate needs was the development of a system of higher education.  Under the provisions of the Congressional Land-Grant (Morrill) Act of 1862, the State Legislature act on February 7, 1867, created the Agricultural College of West Virginia to be located in Morgantown.  In an extra session in 1868, the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to West Virginia University.

Between the years of 1867 and 1912 different titles appeared in the University catalogue to designate the medical curriculum.

• 1867-1868    Agricultural College “Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene” course
• 1869-1878    West Virginia University “Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene” course
• 1878-1882    The Medical Department – pre medical courses
• 1882-1887    The School of Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene
• 1887-1888    A New School of Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene
• 1888-1889    The School of Biology (Premedical Course)
• 1899-1900    The “AB” Medical Course
• 1900-1901    “College of Medicine”
• 1901-1902    Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (College of Arts & Sciences)
• 1902-1911    College of Medicine
• 1911-1912    Department of Medicine in College of Arts & Sciences
• 1912-1960    The Two-year School of Medicine
• 1902-1911    78 students completed courses in the College of Medicine.
• 1912-1960    1,462 students completed the Two-year School of Medicine

*Information taken from “History of Medical Education in West Virginia,” by Edward J. VanLiere, PhD, MD, and Gideon S. Dodds, PhD