Proposal to Establish a New Davis Division Regulation (DDR) for

Proposal to Establish a New Davis Division Regulation (DDR) for the

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Background: The first and current Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP)

degree program at UC Davis was established in fall 2021 and enrolled its first cohort of students in

summer 2022. The proposed Davis Division Regulation (DDR) below is based on the current DNP

program’s degree requirements as well as the current requirements at the other UC Schools of Nursing

summarized in the table below. This professional doctorate is an applied doctoral degree and a different

scholarly endeavor than a PhD. Therefore, this new DDR for DNP programs will cover the DNP-FNP as

well as future DNP offerings at the School of Nursing.

Table 1. Comparison of DNP Program Requirements Across the UC

Campus

Length of

Program

MS(N)

required for

admission?

Total

Units

Clinical

Units/Hours

Advancement to

Candidacy

Requirement

Final

Requirement

UC Davis

12 quarters

N 115-124 1000 hours N

(see Section C of

proposed DDR

519)

(see Section D of

proposed DDR

519)

Irvine

3 years

(DNP-FNP)

7 quarters

(Post-

Master’s)

(DNP-

FNP)

(Post-

Master’s)

1020 hours

(DNP-FNP)

540 hours

(Post-Master’s)

Completion of the

DNP Scholarly

Project Proposal

(see form

)

Scholarly Project

UCLA

7 quarters Y 61 500+ hours Y

Completion of

core coursework

and the QE

Scholarly Project

UCSF

7 quarters Y 53-57 500+ hours N

Completion of

core coursework,

and a

minimum of three

DNP Residency

and DNP Project

series courses (see

handbook)

Scholarly Project

PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF DAVIS DIVISION REGULATION 519:

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE (DNP)

Submitted by UC Davis Graduate Studies.

Endorsed by Executive Council.

Rationale: The proposed new Davis Division Regulation 519: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

establishes the academic requirements for the DNP degree objective, analogous to the requirements for

higher degrees established in regulations 500-520 within the existing UC Davis Academic Senate Davis

Division Regulations. The first DNP program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner

(DNP-FNP), was established at UC Davis in 2021 and enrolled its inaugural cohort in summer 2022. In

fall 2022, Graduate Studies received the proposal for a new DNP program in Nurse Anesthesia. Thus, the

establishment of the proposed DDR 519 will ensure a consistent standard is applied in the evaluation of

new programs within the DNP degree objective as well as the revision of degree requirements for current

and future DNP programs.

The proposed regulation was drafted in consultation with the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of

Nursing and the Graduate Council at its March 17, 2023 meeting. The proposal is based on the

requirements for the established DNP program that was approved by the Graduate Council and the

Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs (CCGA) in 2021. In addition, the requirements listed in the

proposed regulation are consistent with the expectations of other DNP programs across the UC. All UC

DNP programs require a scholarly project. UCLA requires a Qualifying Examination prior to advancing to

candidacy.

Proposed New DDR:

519. Doctor of Nursing Practice

The degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice will be granted on the following conditions:

A. Candidates for admission to a DNP program must possess the following minimum criteria for

admission, in addition to the requirements for admission to graduate standing at UC Davis:

1. Current unencumbered registered nurse (RN) licensure to practice in California or a

current unencumbered R.N. licensure in another state plus eligibility to receive California

licensure by the end of year one in the program.

2. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or a Bachelor’s Degree with RN

licensure, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and within the science prerequisite

coursework as defined in the program degree requirements.

B. Students must complete a minimum of six quarters of academic residence (as defined by Graduate

Council) at the University of California.

C. Students are eligible for advancement to candidacy upon successful completion of the following:

1. Nine quarters (including summer) of required graduate courses with a minimum GPA of

3.0, including clinical practice hours as specified by the program degree requirements.

2. Formal evaluation by the Scholarly and Clinical Advancement Committee appointed by

Graduate Studies to assess the following:

i. Readiness to engage in scholarly work.

ii. Clinical competence.

D. After advancement to candidacy, students must complete a DNP Scholarly Project and a

comprehensive clinical examination as established by the Graduate Program Committee and

completed under the direction of a Scholarly and Clinical Doctorate Committee appointed by

Graduate Studies.

1. Successful completion of the Scholarly Project requirement as determined by the

candidate’s Scholarly and Clinical Doctorate Committee. The Scholarly Project includes a

written component and may include an oral presentation.

2. Successful completion of the comprehensive clinical examination as determined by the

candidate’s Scholarly and Clinical Doctorate Committee. The comprehensive clinical

examination includes a written and/or practical examination.

Satisfaction of these requirements must be verified for each student by the Scholarly and Clinical

Doctorate Committee Chair.