Grade, Credit, and Time Requirements

1. Each degree candidate must complete at least 39 hours of doctoral credit subsequent to earning a master’s degree; at least 29 of these hours must be earned in non-synthesis project coursework.

2. Each degree candidate must complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate supervised academic program practice hours. The required 420 practice hours in DNP program residency courses shall be included in these hours.

3. Each degree candidate must present acceptable grades in the coursework specified for the curriculum, and must earn grades of B or better.No more than one course in which a grade of C has been earned may be permitted; a student who earns a second grade of C becomes ineligible to continue in the DNP program. No course in which a grade of C has been earned may be applied toward fulfillment of the DNP degree requirements.

4. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requires that the majority of the credits applied toward the degree be earned through instruction at the institution granting the degree. A maximum of 19 semester hours of appropriate graduate coursework, subject to approval by the program coordinator and the Graduate School Dean, may be transferred from other accredited institutions. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the program coordinator to determine the acceptability of previous coursework and to apply to transfer that coursework.

5. Transfer credits for Nursing 803, 809, 810, 811, 812, 821, 822, and 823 will not be considered.

6. All degree requirements must be completed within five years following admission to the DNP program.Admission is defined as the first semester the student is enrolled as a DNP student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.