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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Criteria for Admission, Transfer, and Graduation

Admission Criteria

MSN degree from an institutionally accredited higher education institution recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines and a nationally accredited school of nursing (CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN) or BSN degree from an institutionally accredited school of nursing and master’s degree in a related discipline from an institutionally accredited higher education institution recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines.

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the master’s program
  • Name and contact information for two professional references (educator, supervisor, professional colleague)
  • Well-written statement of background and goals
  • Well-written essay
  • Current résumé
  • Relevant professional work experience (two years recommended)
  • Current valid unencumbered registered nurse license in the United States or United States Territory where the DNP project will be completed.

Criteria for Acceptance of Transfer Courses

  • A maximum of 9 doctoral-level credit hours (from another doctoral program outside TESU) may be transferred into the DNP program. Courses must be equivalent in content and credits to courses in the DNP program at TESU.
  • A minimum of 27 DNP-level credit hours must be completed at TESU in the DNP program to earn the DNP degree from TESU.
  • Courses transferred into the DNP program must have been completed at an institutionally accredited higher education institution recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines and a nationally accredited school of nursing (CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN).
  • Courses transferred into the DNP program must have been completed at an equivalent accredited international institution of higher education and an equivalent accredited international school of nursing, if credits were earned outside the United States.
  • The student must have earned a grade of B or higher for a course to be accepted as a transfer course into the DNP program.
  • Courses transferred into the DNP program must have been completed within five years of enrollment in the DNP program at TESU.

Progression Criteria

  • Students admitted to the DNP program progress through the DNP curriculum with the cohort to which they were admitted.
  • DNP students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in the DNP program.  
  • Student may not accrue clinical hours during a term when they are not enrolled in a DNP program. 
  • Students must earn a minimum grade of B to receive credit in a DNP course.  Students may repeat one DNP course one time only.

Graduation Criteria

  • DNP students must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and be in good standing at TESU to be certified for graduation.

NOTE: A minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate supervised clinical hours must be completed for the DNP degree; a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours must be completed during the DNP program at TESU.