Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Information for students admitted to the DNP program in or after the summer semester of 2015.

Overview - The Graduate College accepts prospective candidates for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice. Requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree are the same as those for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, with the exception of the following:

Time Limit - No course on the Plan of Study may be more than 10 years prior to the student's expected graduation term. All degree requirements must be completed within 5 years of the most recent course on the Plan of Study.

Candidacy fees: DNP students admitted in summer semester 2015 and after will be billed the candidacy fees once their Plan of Study receives final approval in GradPath.

NURS-922 DNP Project Units - DNP students are required to complete 6 units of NURS 922. Students in the dual DNP and Nursing Ph.D. are required to complete 18 units of NURS 920

Comprehensive Examination - DNP students admitted in summer semester 2015 and after do not complete the comprehensive exam. Instead, satisfactory completion of the DNP portfolio, a practice certification exam. and the DNP project, along with the final oral defense of the project, provide evidence of synthesis of essential knowledge and application required for the profession.

DNP Project Committee - All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students must complete a final oral defense of the DNP Project. The DNP Project committee must consist of at least three members, two of whom must be Graduate Faculty. Remaining committee members may be any combination of Special Member or Graduate Faculty.

Deadlines: Please refer to doctoral deadlines. Those that apply to DNP students admitted in or after the summer semester of 2015 are: 

  • Deadline to Submit the Plan of Study
  • Deadline to Submit the Announcement of Final Oral Defense
  • Deadline to Complete the Final Oral Examination/Defense
  • Deadline to Submit Dissertation/disciplinary doctoral project
  • Commencement, and Degree Award Date

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Information for students admitted to the DNP program before the summer semester of 2015.

Overview - The Graduate College accepts prospective candidates for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice. Requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree are the same as those for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, with the exception of the following:

Time Limit - No course on the Plan of Study may be more than 10 years prior to the student's expected graduation term. All degree requirements must be completed within 5 years of the most recent course on the Plan of Study.

NURS-922 DNP Project Units - DNP students are required to complete 6 units of NURS 922. Students in the dual DNP and Nursing Ph.D. are required to complete 4 units of NURS 922 and 18 units of NURS 920.

DNP Project Committee -All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students must complete a final oral defense of the DNP Project. The DNP Project committee must consist of at least three members, two of whom must be Graduate Faculty. Remaining committee members may be any combination of Special Member or Graduate Faculty.

DNP Defense - The date, time, and location of the final examination must be scheduled with the Graduate College in advance using the Announcement of Final Oral Defense form in GradPath. Candidates should indicate in the comments section of this form if the Final Oral Examination will be held remotely or in a hybrid format. This form should be submitted far enough in advance of the examination that all approvers can grant their approval in time for the form to reach the Graduate College one week prior to the exam.  The Graduate College will place an announcement on the UA master calendar to invite the public to attend the candidate's presentation of his or her work.  Final Oral Examinations should be scheduled during days when the university is in session and during normal business hours. Permission to hold examinations during University holiday closures or outside of normal university business hours may be granted by Graduate College.

Deadlines: Please refer to doctoral deadlines.

Additional Information:

  • Comprehensive Examination - DNP students admitted prior to the summer 2015 semester must complete the comprehensive examination.  
  • Candidacy Fees: DNP students admitted prior to the summer 2015 semester will be billed the candidacy fees upon advancement to candidacy.