Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Description and Goals

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 38 to 52 credit-hour post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree options that provide nurses with a terminal practice-focused nursing degree. The program builds on clinical knowledge to prepare graduates for the highest level of practice in a complex healthcare environment. The DNP graduate has the scientific knowledge and practice expertise to improve population health outcomes through the implementation of evidence-based practice and positively impact access to care at multiple levels. Leadership and nursing education tracks are available for students wishing to expand their knowledge in these areas.

The curriculum is designed for the working professional to complete in five to eleven semesters. All courses are delivered in an online format with both asynchronous and synchronous class meetings. A new cohort begins each fall semester. At the University of North Georgia Nursing Graduate Program, we operate on a rolling acceptance basis process, meaning you can submit your application whenever it is completed within our application period, up to and including the due date, and receive an admissions decision shortly after. 

In line with recommendations by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), DNP graduates are required to complete a minimum of 1000 post-baccalaureate clinical/practice hours. To meet this requirement, the UNG DNP program may accept up to 500 clinical hours from a student’s master’s in nursing program or nursing specialty certification upon review of transcripts, master’s program verification, certification requirements, and the completion of a gap analysis. Advanced practice or nursing specialty certifications used toward DNP practice hours must be active and related to the applicant’s current nursing practice.

A minimum of 500 additional post-master’s clinical/practice hours is required during the program. The majority of practice hours completed in the program will occur during the planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of the DNP project. This project will focus on a practice change initiative that may include but is not limited to a program evaluation or quality improvement project. Additional hours may occur through participation in doctoral-level activities at the discretion of the course faculty. Students not qualifying for transfer of previous clinical/specialty practice hours are required to complete 1000 clinical/practice hours to meet the requirements of the DNP degree. The student will work with the DNP Program Coordinator before enrolling in the first course to develop a plan for obtaining the required hours. Students may be required to enroll in Advanced Nursing Professional Development courses ranging in credit from 1 to 4 credits to satisfy this requirement based on the individual student’s needs. The student’s plan of study will include these additional courses to meet the requirement of the DNP degree track options. 

For additional program information, contact the Department of Nursing.

Accreditation

For specific information on program accreditation, refer to the Accreditations and Compliance section.

Program Requirements

Graduation requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree include:

1. Completion of 38 designated semester hours of study for DNP, 44 designated semester hours if new track selected. Additional credits may be required after a gap analysis has been done upon admission to determine Advanced Nursing Professional Development courses needed.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, with no grade of C or lower.
3. Successful completion of the DNP Project and successful upload of DNP Project to NOIR. (Please contact Graduate Studies or see the Graduate Student Handbook if you have any questions on how to upload your project.)
4. All transfer credits must be approved by the DNP program coordinator, Dean of CHW, and Registrar. No more than 9 transfer credits will be accepted and must align with the DNP curriculum.
5. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credit, within a six-year period.

Method of Delivery

Online

Notice Regarding Online Offerings

In compliance with state authorization for the delivery of distance education, UNG online courses, degrees, and certificate programs are not available in some states. If you are not a Georgia resident, email onlineapproval@ung.edu to check program availability in your state. This email address is exclusively for questions regarding state authorization of online offerings. Other inquiries should be directed to the academic department offering the online program or to Graduate Admissions.

International applicants who must be issued an F-1 visa by UNG to enter the United States to attend school may not apply for completely online programs or part-time programs (less than nine hours in fall and spring semesters).

Time to Completion

38-52 hours

Admission Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or the DNP website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, the applicant will be notified, and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Interviews (on-line) will be conducted with applicants upon completion of the admission requirements. Upon review of the student’s application, the DNP Program Coordinator will request an interview with the candidate. After the interview and application are completed, the student will be notified of their acceptance into the program.

Students who are admitted to UNG but do not enroll within three semesters of acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned.

Requirements

The following documents are required for consideration for admission to the DNP program:

1. Graduate Admissions application and non-refundable application fee.
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a master’s degree program in nursing or another healthcare-related field. Transcripts must include certification that the applicant has received a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative GPA.
3. Copy of unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license (required) and APRN license (if applicable).
4. If applicable, a copy of current APRN and/or specialty certification.
5. A signed verification form from the student’s master’s program documenting the number of precepted clinical hours or supervised residency hours completed in the master’s level nursing program.
6. Two professional references. Please provide name, title, organization and contact information.
7. Current vitae or resume including education, work experience, and professional development, professional and/or community activities, research, and publications.
8.  A professional writing sample consisting of a two-page double spaced statement of purpose briefly describing your current nursing practice (site, patient population, your role, etc.), two (2) ways the DNP role will assist you in reaching your professional goals, and identification of one potential evidence-based healthcare issue and solution in your practice area that could be the basis for your DNP Project.
9. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
10. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), for applicants whose native language is not English with a minimum of 79 on the internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test.
11. Interviews (on-line) will be conducted with applicants upon completion of the admission requirements.

Supplemental Documents

The following documents must be received before the first day of the initial semester for which the student is enrolled:

1. Completed accident/illness waiver form.
2. Criminal background check.
3. Completed Department of Nursing Medical form. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all requirements are up to date.
4. Proof of professional liability insurance.

Students who have not submitted all of the above documentation before the first day of the semester will not be allowed to attend until all documentation has been received.

Regular Admission

Requirements

1. M.S.N. or M.S. with nursing focus from an accredited nursing program; or B.S.N. with a master’s degree in another healthcare-related field.*
2. Cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. An unrestricted RN license and APRN license (if applicable) in the state of residency and/or practice.
4. Minimum of two years of clinic experience as a registered nurse and currently practicing in nursing or an approved healthcare-related field.

*Applicants with a master’s degree in a healthcare-related field may be required to complete a graduate-level research course and/or a statistics course before admission to the DNP program.

Application and Application Fee

Submit the online application for Graduate Admissions.

Please allow three business days after submitting your application for processing. You will receive an email from grads@ung.edu after your application has been reviewed for accuracy and updated with submitted documents. Please do not check your application status prior to receiving an email from this office as your online application checklist will not accurately reflect the required items for your program of interest.

• Non-refundable application fee of $40.
• Pay with a credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) or electronic check (U.S. banks only) when completing the online application.
• Required supplemental documents may be uploaded with your application or emailed to grads@ung.edu.

Official Transcripts

Submit one set of official transcripts from each institution attended for all course work, undergraduate and graduate level.

• Transfer credit posted on records of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from original institutions. Please request a transcript from each institution attended.
• Transcripts that have been opened, scanned or forwarded by email are not official and will not be accepted.
• Official paper transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution and mailed to University of North Georgia Admissions Imaging Center, P.O. Box 1358, Gainesville, GA 30503-1358. Student paper transcripts are accepted only when issued to the student in a sealed envelope and submitted to Graduate Admissions unopened.
• Official electronic transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution to grads@ung.edu. Depending on the transcript service you are using, grads@ung.edu may not be an available option. You may then select any admissions or undergraduate admissions @ung.edu address. Electronic transcripts forwarded via email from the student are not accepted.
• International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations must be sent directly from the agency to the Admissions office. Refer to the evaluator website for a full list of NACES or AICE members. Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant’s course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average. Evaluations should be submitted from the evaluation service to Graduate Admissions. Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.75. 
• Graduate Admissions will retrieve transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at UNG. You do not need to order official transcripts from UNG.

Verification of Lawful Presence in the U.S.

Board of Regents’ policy requires all applicants accepted for admission or readmission to UNG seeking in-state for tuition classification provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the state of Georgia and the United States.

Persons Aged 62 or Over

Submit a birth certificate or Georgia driver’s license to enable UNG to determine eligibility.

• Must be a resident of Georgia and 62 years of age or older at the time of registration.
• May enroll as a regular or auditing student in courses on a “space available” basis without payment of fees, except for supplies, laboratory or shop fees.

International and Foreign National Students

International applicants who must be issued an F-1 visa by UNG to enter the United States to attend school may not apply for completely part-time (less than nine hours) or online programs. This program is only offered as an online program and therefore does not permit F-1 visa student admission.

Provisional Admission

Requirements

An applicant failing to meet the GPA requirements for regular admission may be eligible for provisional admission for up to 9 credit hours, if space in the program is available, under conditions specified at the time of admission. To qualify for provisional admission, an individual must have:

1. M.S.N. or M.S. with nursing focus from an accredited nursing program; or B.S.N. with a master’s degree in another healthcare-related field.*
2. An unrestricted RN license and APRN license (if applicable) in the state of residency and/or practice.
3. Minimum of two years of clinic experience as a registered nurse and currently practicing in nursing or an approved healthcare-related field.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of one semester. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade of C or lower in any graduate-level nursing course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the DNP program.

*Applicants with a master’s degree in a healthcare-related field may be required to complete a graduate-level research course and/or a statistics course before admission to the DNP program.

Non-Degree Admission

An applicant interested in taking graduate courses in nursing, but not interested in pursuing a doctorate degree, may apply as a non-degree-seeking student. A non-degree applicant must complete all the same admission requirements as a degree-seeking student, with the addition of the following stipulations:

Non-degree students:

• May register for no more than 9 semester hours of graduate credit.
• Will not be allowed to continue in the graduate level counseling courses if a grade of C or lower in any graduate course is earned.
• May apply for readmission after three semesters from the date removed from the program because of a deficient grade by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions with a letter addressed to the program coordinator requesting readmission.
• Are not eligible for federal financial aid.
• Must submit a new application to Graduate Admissions and meet all program admission requirements if the student later decides to pursue a Doctor or Nursing Practice degree at UNG.

Transient Admission

The DNP program does not permit transient students.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

An applicant whose admission is denied may appeal the decision, regardless of the basis for denial. To submit an appeal, email a signed letter of appeal as a PDF attachment to the Office of Graduate Admissions at grads@ung.edu.

Your letter must present substantial evidence supporting the basis of your appeal. The information provided should go beyond what was previously submitted in your application and clearly demonstrate your potential for success in graduate-level study.

Graduate programs at the University of North Georgia grant appeals for provisional admission status only. If admitted under provisional status, your academic record will be reviewed post enrollment to determine eligibility for regular status. Timelines and requirements vary by program. While enrolled provisionally, you may register only for the maximum number of credit hours permitted for provisional students in your program and must maintain the GPA required by your program each term to continue enrollment. Students admitted under provisional status are not eligible for federal financial aid. Additional program-specific restrictions can be applied.

If your appeal is approved, the Graduate Admissions Office will notify you of your admission status. 

Academic and Professional Integrity

Code of Conduct

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or the Director of Graduate Nursing Studies may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the Director of Graduate Nursing Studies with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Health & Wellness.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Standards

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Academic Catalog.

Academic Information and Policies

Academic Standing Policy

Graduate nursing students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

• Probation – A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
  • The student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
  • The student earns a U or any other grade of C or lower.

No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. In cases where the student is placed on probation due to grade(s), probation will be removed when the course(s) is/are repeated with a grade of S or B or above, and the overall grade point average is 3.0 or greater. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.

• Suspension – A degree-seeking student will be suspended from the DNP program for any of the following reasons:
  • The student earns two grades of C or lower.
  • The student earns two U’s.
  • Has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.

The period of suspension will consist of three semesters. No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was suspended by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter addressed to the Dean of the College of Health & Wellness presenting a rationale for readmission and a new application for readmission. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of the College of Health & Wellness and the Nursing Graduate Coordinator.

Students who believe that their academic progress was affected by extenuating circumstances may appeal their suspension to the Department Head of Nursing and the Dean of the College of Health & Wellness.

Transfer Credit

Requests for transfer course credit for courses completed at an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) within six years will be reviewed by the DNP Program Coordinator and Department of Nursing upon the request of the student. Requests must include the syllabus for the semester in which the proposed transfer course credit was completed. Requests may only include courses from programs at the DNP and Ph.D. levels and must align with the UNG DNP program. Transfer credit awarded will be up to 9 credit hours.

Incomplete Grades

The DNP program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. No student carrying two Incomplete grades may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the DNP Program Coordinator. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete grade remaining on his/her transcript.

Academic Progression and Repeated Courses

For purposes of retention and progression in the DNP degree program, graduate nursing students progress through the program of study as long as a minimum of a B is earned in each graduate course. In courses including exams, exams must average a minimum of 75 before other grades are added or averaged into the course grade. If less than a 75 average on exams is earned, the student will receive a C or lower for the course and must repeat the course, if eligible to do so.

DNP Project Information

Committee

The project committee shall consist of a minimum of 1 faculty member serving as the DNP Chair appointed by the Graduate Nursing Faculty . Two additional committee members will be selected by the student serving as a mentor and content expert. Faculty outside of UNG may be solicited to serve on the committee as the mentor and/or content expert if approved by the Graduate Nursing Faculty

Format Standards - General Information

Students are required to seek initial approval of their DNP Project during the NURS 8316 DNP Project Proposal Course. Final approval of their project defense will occur during NURS 8418 DNP Project II course. Requirements for the initial and final defense will be listed in the course. Manuscript development will be initiated during the Project courses with a final submission in the NURS 8418 DNP Project II course.