There will always be debates in academic circles about best practice and academic discipline and these issues have to be dealt with by fledgling universities. In 1861, Yale adopted a practice that was prevalent in Germany of awarding Ph.D. degree to students who had completed courses of study as well as defended a substantial dissertation of original research. This method for awarding higher degrees is familiar to American students from then until now.
Alongside survival and recognition, Yale University expanded its academic parameters. The university's school of medicine was recognized in 1810 and a school devoted to divinity followed in 1822. The School of Law was granted a charter in 1824 followed by the Graduate School for Arts and Sciences in 1847. Other disciplines followed in rapid succession -- music was accepted in 1894, forestry and environment six years later, nursing in the 1920s, drama in the 1950s and architecture and management in the 1970s. Yale awarded the first Ph.D. degree in the United States in 1861.
Yale University has more than 5,000 undergraduate and more than 6,000 graduate and professional students. Among these scholars are about 2,000 international students. A mark of its dedication to academic achievement rather than short term gain can be shown by the fact that it has nearly 4,000 faculty supported by more than 9,000 other staff. It also has more than 2,000 international scholars.
The mark of a successful university lies in the discipline and standards it applies to the work of its students. The world is full of failed or second rate establishments who have, at some point in their history, sacrificed academic excellence for short term financial gain. This means that one logical way of assessing those that have done this and those that have not is by international comparison. Yale University is consistently in the top 10 of world universities by most recognized indices.