Degree Progression & Conferral

Program Plans & Registration

• Doctor of Nursing Practice students are admitted to the program in a specific 2-year, 3-year or a 4-year progression plan. Students are expected to follow the program plan appropriate for their year of admission, specialty, and assigned progression plan.  Students must consult with the program advisor and specialty coordinator of their specialty area before deviating from the appropriate program plan.  A formal request is required if the student would like to change their assigned progression plan.  The DNP Professional Advisor can provide guidance for this process. 

• Post Graduate Certificate students will develop an individualized program plan with the program faculty advisor at the time of admission. 

Annual Progress Review

Per University of Minnesota Graduate School policy, all doctoral students are required to have an annual progress review to ensure the student remains in good standing and is adequately progressing toward completion of the program. 

The Annual Progress Review (APR) is a student self - assessment of progress through their DNP program. The annual review survey is completed online by the student through a secure web format. The DNP Program Director and Professional Advisor review the student’s self - assessment and supports/recommends changes to assure success and forward progression in the program. The program advisor reviews all students who have progression issues to assure a plan is established for the student to complete the program. The annual review is conducted during the summer semester with feedback to the student and program advisor in the fall semester. 

Time to Degree 

All DNP degree requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate option must be completed and the degree awarded within 6 years of initial enrollment. Time from completion of the last precepted practicum to degree conferral cannot exceed one year. If the time period exceeds one year, additional practicum hours through enrollment in a practicum course will be required to verify competency in the specialty, per the recommendation of the student's specialty coordinator. 

For the Post-Master’s option and pos-graduate certificate programs, all degree requirements must be completed and the degree awarded within 4 years of initial enrollment.  

Students will be notified via the Annual Progress Review one year prior to the stated time limit for degree conferral.  If the degree is not conferred by the stated limit, a plan for completion must be approved by the Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee to continue pursuit of the degree.

Degree Conferral

Degrees are conferred by the University of Minnesota at the end of the month in which all degree requirements are met. The Professional Advisor will prompt students for action regarding degree conferral processes. The degree is formally posted on the transcript approximately two weeks after the last day of the month of degree conferral.

To be eligible for degree conferral, students must meet the following guidelines:

• Remain an "active" student, meaning you have registered for at least 1 credit or NURS 777 (the no tuition, no credit option) in the semester you plan to graduate;

• Apply for degree conferral on or before the first day of the month in which the degree requirements will be met; and

• Complete and have all grades posted for courses by the last day of the month.(any Incomplete grades must be changed to a grade). 

Commencement 

The School of Nursing hosts a commencement ceremony in May and December of each year to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of students.   In order to be eligible for commencement participation students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Graduate Certificate program must be on track to complete all degree requirements (all coursework  and for DNP all aspects of the DNP project) no later than the end of the month in which the commencement ceremony takes place.  Students in the SRNA specialty receive an exception as their planned coursework progression can not allow for completion prior to the end of August.