Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Objectives
The DNP prepares nurse leaders as healthcare change agents to: 1) Synthesize scientific evidence for the development of initiatives for best practices; 2) Analyze policy, care delivery, and organizational systems for current and future health care needs of patients and populations; 3) Integrate health care informatics and evidence-based approaches in scholarship to critically evaluate, design and implement quality health care services for individuals, populations and systems 4) Translate scientific, theoretical, ethical, and cultural principles into health care for individuals, families, and populations, and 5) Assume interdisciplinary leadership roles to advance health care delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations. The program offers both clinical and leadership tracks.
Admission Requirements
- A master's degree from a college or university approved by a recognized regional accrediting body.
- A current license to practice professional nursing.
- International students must meet the standards for proficiency in English described in the International Graduate Student Admissions section of this catalog.
- A 3-5 page paper linking professional goals to an evidence-based approach to healthcare issues emphasized in this program.
- Three academic and/or professional letters of reference.
Consideration for admission to the DNP program will also be given to one or more of the following: the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community, service, and family responsibilities.
Degree Requirements
This degree program is delivered online. Students are required to attend a summer orientation on the UT Tyler campus prior to beginning coursework and an annual summer workshop. Students may be required to be present for other activities throughout their program of study (e.g. clinical, on-campus intensives, DNP scholarly project presentation).
- Minimum Credit Hours (42 hrs.)
- Required Courses - 36 hrs.
- Electives - 6 hrs.
- Special degree requirements (for details on university doctoral requirements, see the general graduate section of this catalog and the Graduate Nursing Handbook available on the School of Nursing Graduate Programs website)
- A minimum grade of “B” is necessary in all required courses for the DNP degree. Two course failures (i.e. grade < B) will result in dismissal from the program.
- Nursing courses within the DNP curriculum may be repeated only once. A course withdrawal is counted as one course attempt. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances.
- A Scholarly Project related to implementation of evidence-based practice and contributing to nursing practice will be required.
- The DNP Scholarly Project, embedded within NURS 6375/NURS 6385, is the culmination of all coursework. Students are not deemed complete in degree requirements until all requirements of the DNP Scholarly Project have been satisfactorily completed.
- Students have a maximum of seven years to complete the program. Students unable to complete the program within the designated time limits must file for an extension.
- Transfer work: Students may transfer up to nine hours of coursework with the approval of their advisor and the DNP Program Director. Students will be responsible for providing necessary documentation of course equivalency.
Below is a typical outline of program progression for a part-time student.
Year 1
Summer (1)
| NURS 6341 | Scholarship of Writing for the PhD and DNP | |
Fall
Spring
Summer (2)
| NURS 6358 | Population Health Within a Context of Culture | |
Year 2
Fall
Spring
Year 3
Summer
Fall
Spring