DNP Program and Degree Requirements

Academic Performance

Progression in the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program is contingent upon satisfactory academic achievement in all required courses.

Doctor of Nursing Practice students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above in all courses taken for credit as a DNP student at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing to be awarded the DNP degree. All DNP students must successfully defend their scholarly project.

The grade of incomplete (I) will be given at the discretion of the instructor for work not completed in the semester. A grade of I must be removed by the end of the semester following the one in which the course was taken or before the student enrolls in a course for which the initial course is a prerequisite. No credit is given for an I grade. The I will remain a permanent part of the transcript if the student fails to complete course requirements within the next semester.

Scholarly Project

The DNP program culminates in successful completion of a scholarly project. The scholarly project is designed by the student in collaboration with a 3-member committee approved by the Program Director. The scholarly project must focus on an issue related to improving patient outcomes. The scholarly project can take the form of a thesis or a manuscript suitable for publication. The procedures and written product must conform to the regulations of the FPB School of Nursing.

Students must successfully defend their completed scholarly project in an “oral examination” with their committee members who are responsible for certifying that it meets acceptable scholarly standards. The defense is open to faculty and students; the chair determines whether the defense is open to those outside of the University. The committee determines the adequacy of the oral examination and written product. A student will pass if two or more of the committee members agree that the student successfully responded to questions during the defense and the written product met scholarly standards.

Degree Requirements

• Post-master's entry students must complete the DNP program within four years. Students who do not complete the DNP program within the above timeframe should send a letter to the Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program with a request for an extension and a proposed plan for completing of remaining requirements.

• Records of students who do not complete the program within the specified timeframe will be re-evaluated in terms of the curriculum in effect at the time of review. The student may be required to take additional course work to graduate.