Additional Requirements

Study Progression and Graduation Requirements

Progression in the program requires active enrollment status and maintaining a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Graduation requirements include a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, completion of the required number of clinical hours, and successful defense and completion of the evidence-based translational research project.

Students may not participate in commencement or have the degree posted to their transcript until the document has been accepted by the library. Any exceptions are by petition only.

Leaves of Absence

Students in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward their degrees who must interrupt their studies for a compelling reason (e.g., illness, study abroad, family conditions, or crises) may petition for a leave of absence for a stated period of time not to exceed two years. Requests for a leave must be in writing and state both the reasons for the leave and the semester in which the student will re-enroll. Leaves of absence must be approved by the director of the DNP program, the chair of the doctoral studies department, and the dean of the School of Nursing in advance of the semester for which the leave is requested.

The petition for return to enrolled status should be filed one full term before the intended date of re-enrollment. If the student went on leave with conditions for re-enrollment, these must be fulfilled before re-enrollment may occur. If a student is on leave for two years, the Doctoral Admissions Committee, as well as the DNP director, the chair of the doctoral department, and the dean will review her/his re-enrollment petition. Depending upon the amount of time elapsed, the student’s stage of study in the program, and the student’s academic activity during the leave, readmission may be contingent.

Evidence-based Translational Research Project

The evidence-based translational research project (TRP) is the culminating scholarly, clinical inquiry project for students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. The TRP represents the translation or application of research evidence into nursing with advanced practice. The completion of the TRP lays the groundwork for future scholarship.

The process of conducting a TRP consists of several steps: (a) the identification and selection of an area of interest, (b) the writing of an evidence-based TRP proposal, (c) the selection and formation of a TRP Scholarly Project Committee, (d) submission of the TRP proposal to the Scholarly Project Committee, (e) approval of TRP proposal by the Scholarly Project Committee, (f) submission of TRP for IRB approval, (g) implementation of the TRP, (h) presentation and approval of completed TRP by the Scholarly Project Committee, (i) submission of a hard-bound copy of the completed TRP to the director of the DNP program, and (j) a completed manuscript on the TRP ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.