Academic Catalog

POLICY SUMMARY

The policy provides guidance on the following aspects of the DNP Doctoral Degree, including definitions related to:

1. General degree requirements;
2. Requirements for a student to obtain a DNP at NAU: 

• academic requirements; 
• professional development requirements; 
• application and admission/designation requirements; 
• scholarly project requirements;
• time parameters to complete the degree

REASON FOR THIS POLICY

The policy guides students, faculty, staff, and administrators in the development and provision of doctoral degrees at the university.

ENTITIES AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY

• Curriculum and Assessment Office
• Graduate Advisors
• Graduate College
• Graduate Deans
• Faculty
• IRA
• Office of the Registrar

WHO SHOULD KNOW THIS POLICY

• Curriculum and Assessment Office
• Graduate Advisors
• Graduate College
• Graduate Deans 
• Faculty
• IRA
• Office of the Registrar
• Students
   

SOURCES

ABOR Policy

DEFINITIONS

candidacy: a period in a doctoral student’s studies when they are deemed ready to undertake independent and original research resulting in a dissertation after meeting certain academic milestones
dissertation: a document presenting a student's original research and findings submitted as part of academic requirements for a doctoral degree 
residency: a period of time of on-the-job training that is part of a formal educational program

POLICY

The following general requirements pertain to all students pursuing the Doctor of Clincal Psychology degree. Additional program and discipline-specific requirements not addressed by this policy may be found in the program/department/school graduate handbook as well as the Academic Catalog. 

1. General Degree Requirements – Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP)

Doctoral degrees at NAU require the successful completion of a minimum of 60 units in a course of study, and many degrees require more units for completion of the degree. In addition to coursework, all doctoral degrees require their graduate students to engage in extensive and rigorous research, scholarship, practicum, and/or clinical experiences and to prove a high level of competency in their field. The Doctor of Nurse Practice is a terminal degree in nursing and is a post-master’s degree designed for nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing. It is a clinical doctorate with emphasis on enhancing leadership expertise in rural and underserved populations. The DNP consists of approximately 70-79 units and requires one thousand hours (1,000) of clinical practice with a minimum of 240 hours completed at NAU. Students must complete a minimum of 30 units of coursework at NAU that directly supports the DNP requirements.

 
2. The following requirements must be fulfilled for a student to graduate with a DNP degree:

2.A. Academic Requirements

Students must complete all courses in an approved Program of Study (POS) totaling the number of units specified for the program and meet all academic requirements and standards set by the academic unit for the doctoral program. The POS must be approved by the student’s major advisor and other appropriate academic unit administrators designated by the program. 

All graduate students must adhere to the academic requirements and criteria outlined by their program, the Graduate College, and NAU. See NAU Policy 100319: Academic Continuation, Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission - Graduate for more detailed information. 

Graduate students must, at a minimum, meet the “Academic Requirements for Continuation in a Graduate Program” found in NAU Policy 100319: Academic Continuation, Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission - Graduate, in order to graduate. To begin the graduation process, please see NAU Policy 100334: Applying for Graduation, Graduate Students. 

2.B. Professional Development Requirement

NAU’s professional development requirement provides doctoral students the benefit and opportunity to engage in and contribute to the full spectrum of educational and professional opportunities provided by faculty and other students within their program and across the university. The Graduate College and the University Graduate Committee concur that the doctoral professional development requirement at NAU may be met in a variety of ways, some of which fit the ethos of a particular discipline or type of cohort engaged in a particular program. 

When considering appropriate standards for professional development, graduate program faculty are expected to encourage, design, provide, and monitor the professional development activities in which their doctoral students acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values appropriate to their discipline. These activities extend beyond the required coursework and may include, but are not limited to: attending and presenting at professional conferences; participation and active engagement in presentations of scholarly work, seminars, and events; assisting and engaging in various funding efforts to support research, scholarship, and creative work; and active participation in professional development opportunities offered by programs and the Graduate College. 

A minimum of 5 hours of professional development activities is required between matriculation in the program and completion of the scholarly project.

Graduate program faculty have the responsibility of identifying and approving how the specific professional development requirement for their program will be met, in consultation with the dean of the Graduate College. Details regarding the DNP program’s professional development requirement are listed on the program of study and verified prior to submission of the final Program of study.

2.C. Application and Admission/Designation
Minimum Admission Requirements 

Applicants must:

• have completed a Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally-accredited university and a nationally accredited nursing program. If the institution and the program are outside of the US, equivalent accreditation standards must be met;
• have a current Registered Nurse License in good standing;
• present letters of recommendation from three professional persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s potential to work effectively in advanced professional and scholarly roles;
• prepare a comprehensive statement about their experiences, interests, and goals. 

Additionally:

• there are no required admission exams, such as the GMAT or GRE;
• there is no foreign language requirement for this degree;
• a structured interview with faculty may be required;
• following admission, an advisor will analyze prior academic credit and will develop an individualized plan of study.

Application for and Admission to Candidacy
There is no discrete candidacy stage associated with this degree.

2.D. Scholarly Project

Rather than a dissertation or thesis, the culmination of this degree is a scholarly project, which includes an oral presentation, and demonstrates an integration and translation of research evidence for the purpose of enhancing the clinical practice. 

Each student is expected to participate in a real-time final oral presentation of the completed project. Student projects are guided by a faculty member assigned by the School of Nursing. 

2.E. Time Parameters to Complete Degree

Students who are admitted to the DNP program have eight years to complete all requirements for the doctoral degree. The eight-year period starts with your first semester of doctoral study at Northern Arizona University. If you do not complete the degree in eight years, you may petition the Graduate College for one extension of this time limit.

Responsibilities

Academic Requirements

Program faculty are responsible for creating and updating graduate programs, courses, and requirements in line with discipline-specific standards and university policy; for approving updates to Programs of Study; and for approving completion of degree requirements.

The Graduate College is responsible for updating and maintaining Programs of Study, confirming academic requirements and criteria and adherence to continuous enrollment, confirming completion of degree requirements, and conferring degrees.

Office of Curriculum and Assessment is responsible for supporting program faculty in articulating and defining program and course curricula and student learning outcomes and in accurately publishing curricular requirements in the academic catalog.

Professional Development Requirement

Program faculty are responsible for identifying and approving how the specific professional development requirement for their program will be met, in consultation with the dean of the Graduate College.