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University of Washington School of Nursing
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Evaluating PhD & DNP Student Previous Courses for Core Course Equivalency

Academic Services Memorandum No. 33

A matriculated student in the PhD in Nursing Science (PhD) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program may pursue the process below whereby previous course work may be deemed equivalent to core course work at the UW School of Nursing.

If a previous course is deemed equivalent to a core course, the total number of required credits is not automatically diminished. Rather, the student's program of study, including course equivalency, must be approved by the supervisory committee.

Note: Some PhD/DNP core courses are prerequisites to later core courses. A course instructor has the right to deny enrollment in a course for which the student has not taken a prerequisite. Additionally, the supervisory committee has authority to decide at any time that the student must take a core course, regardless of an earlier recommendation for course equivalency.

If no supervisory committee has been established:

  1. Student submits information (formal description, number of credits, syllabus) to the faculty member next scheduled to teach the core course the student has identified as being equivalent to his/her previous course work.
  2. The instructor assesses the previous course information and submits a written justification for equivalency/lack of equivalency to the PhD Coordinating Committee the DNP Coordinating Committee (DNPCC).
  3. PhDCC/DNPCC discusses and acts upon the recommendation by:
    1. Notifying the student of the decision, including reference to the risks incurred by the student seeking core course equivalency outlined in the NOTE above, and
    2. Filing the instructor's written justification in the student file to record either i) the course is considered equivalent to a core course, or ii) the course is not considered equivalent to a core course.
  4. A student may appeal the decision by requesting a meeting with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Chair of the PhDCC/DNPCC, and course instructor to review the potential for course equivalency again. The Associate Dean will make the final decision as to acceptance or denial of the instructors' justification.

If a supervisory committee has already been established:
The supervisory committee reviews the previous course information. If the committee finds the course to be equivalent to a core course, the chair of the committee lists it as fulfillment of a core course requirement in the student's program of study.

Revised September 2012