Synthesis Project

1. Each candidate for the DNP degree is required to complete a Synthesis Project that is clinically and/or organizationally relevant and that is of a reasonable scope.Although not a dissertation or thesis, it is a rigorous project through which the student identifies issues in the practice setting and evaluates, integrates, and applies research-based evidence to improve patient care or practice outcomes. The synthesis project is the culmination of DNP coursework. It provides evidence of the student’s experience and growth, represents a significant contribution to the discipline of nursing, and provides a foundation for the graduate’s future scholarly endeavors.

2. The topic of the synthesis project must be formally identified on the DNP Progress Report Form and officially approved by the faculty advisor/committee chairperson.

3. A Synthesis Project Committee, comprised of a faculty advisor/committee chairperson, two program faculty members, and an approved mentor from the agency in which the student expects to implement the project, will provide oversight for the project.A committee must consist of at least two members of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate faculty, and, in all cases, must be chaired by a faculty member who possesses Level 2 membership on the UL Graduate Faculty.

4. A student actively engaged in work on a synthesis project, as determined by the student’s faculty advisor/committee chairperson, must be officially enrolled for synthesis project credit (NURS 809, 810, 811, 812, 821, 822, or 823), whether the student is on or off campus.

5. The synthesis project must be prepared according to the requirements specified in the publication Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Dissertations, and DNP Synthesis Projects, available on the Graduate School website. The DNP program has established American Psychological Association (APA) as the style to be used for synthesis projects in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

6. Each student must participate in some on-campus activities, including the DNP Orientation Intensive at the outset of the program and the formal, end-of-the-program presentation of the Synthesis Project.

7. Prior to the synthesis project presentation, the candidate must submit copies of the synthesis project to members of the synthesis project committee, in the form specified by the committee and according to a schedule set by the committee, to permit review by committee members.

8. The synthesis project is officially approved upon unanimous vote of the synthesis project committee. This approval is required for satisfactory completion of the DNP degree requirements.

9. One perfect copy of the synthesis project in final, finished format must be presented to the Graduate School office for the official approval of the Graduate Dean by the date designated in the schedule of classes. The required copy must conform to the requirements specified in the publication, Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Dissertations, and DNP Synthesis Projects. Projects not meeting these guidelines will be returned. Failure to meet deadlines may delay graduation.

10. When the final copy of the synthesis project is presented to the Graduate School for the Dean’s approval, the student must submit one original approval page signed by each member of the committee to be signed later by the Dean of the Graduate School and incorporated into the final copy of the synthesis project. Original signatures in black ink are required on the approval sheet; copies of the approval sheet with duplicated signatures are not acceptable.

11. In instances where the Dean of the Graduate School is an official member of a student’s synthesis project committee, the approval sheet of the synthesis project will contain the name, rank, and signature of the Chair of the Graduate Council in the space normally provided for the Dean of the Graduate School. In such instances, the Dean will sign only as a member of the synthesis project committee.

12. A synthesis project abstract, not to exceed 350 words, must accompany the required copy of the synthesis project. Two additional copies of the abstract must be furnished to the Graduate School office when the synthesis project is presented.

13. Each candidate must pay a binding charge of $15.00 per copy for the required copy of the synthesis project presented to the Graduate School office. In cases where special binding expenses are incurred, the student may be required to pay additional charges. The Graduate School office makes the arrangements for binding. The final copy of the synthesis project will be provided to the Dupre Library. Additional copies are to be prepared as specified by the candidate’s department, or as desired by the candidate for personal use, at a binding charge of $15.00 per copy. Additional copies of the synthesis project are not required to be printed on archival quality paper, as specified in the Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Dissertations, and DNP Synthesis Projects, but are required to include original certificates of approval with committee members’ signatures.

14. In addition, students must submit a PDF of the final version of the synthesis project to Proquest/UMI ETD Administrator. All submissions must be published under the “Open Access” option through ProQuest/UMI Dissertations Publishing, and students must pay the $95.00 publishing fee. If the “Traditional Publishing” option is selected, then the student will be required to resubmit his or her synthesis project under the “Open Access” option. If the “Embargo” option is selected, the student must have already obtained permission for an embargo from the Graduate School. Students who select the embargo option without securing permission will be required to resubmit their synthesis project with the “Embargo” option deselected. Students that request, for any reason, an embargo on the release of their work must still submit to ProQuest/UMI Dissertations Publishing. If the embargo request is approved by the Graduate School, then their synthesis project will be stored within the ProQuest/UMI database until the schedule lift date of the embargo.

15. The student is encouraged but not required to have the synthesis project registered with the Library of Congress. Proquest/UMI Dissertations Publishing provides a copyright filing service for an additional fee.