Policy 1.5: Program Duration & Graduation Eligibility  

I. Policy Statement

The School of Nursing is committed to supporting timely degree completion and ensuring that students meet graduation eligibility standards consistent with university policies. Degree requirements, including allowable time to degree, are defined by the University and detailed in applicable Graduate School and undergraduate policies.

Students are responsible for maintaining awareness of academic requirements and timelines for their program. Faculty and staff provide guidance and monitoring to support student progression.

Graduation eligibility is determined by the University of Washington and the School of Nursing based on:

• Completion of all degree requirements (curriculum, milestones, clinical hours, and final project/thesis/dissertation as applicable)
• Meeting minimum GPA and credit requirements
• Satisfying all professionalism and essential qualifications standards
• Submission of all required graduation applications and approvals within stated deadlines

II. Program Duration

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

• ABSN: Expected to complete within 4 academic quarters (1 calendar year)
• BSN: Expected to complete within 6 academic quarters (2 academic years)
• Altered progression plans must be reviewed and approved by the BSN Coordinating Committee (BSNCC).

B. Graduate (CIPCT, DNP, PhD) Students

Graduate students must complete all degree requirements within the maximum timeframes below. Time-to-degree is measured from the student’s initial quarter of enrollment in the program.

• CIPCT: 6 years
• DNP: 4 years
• PhD: 10 years
• Altered progression plans must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Program Coordinating Committee (DNPCC, M/PhDCC).
• Quarters spent on approved On-Leave status count toward the maximum time to degree. See UW School of Nursing Policy 2.3: Leave of Absence and UW Graduate School Policy 3.5: Graduate Student Status: Leave, Withdrawal, Reinstatement, and Re-Entry Policies, §3.5.1.4, which specifies that time in on-leave status counts toward time-to-degree limits except where the leave results from an emergency suspension.

III. Graduation Eligibility Requirements

In programs requiring clinical coursework, completion of degree requirements includes demonstration of end-of-program competencies. Clinical evaluation determines whether a student has demonstrated those competencies, and a student who has not does not complete the program in that quarter. Clinical evaluation is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 3.3: Clinical Evaluation.

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

To be eligible to graduate, students must:

• Complete all SoN program requirements, including coursework, clinical hours, and meet essential qualifications/professional standards.
• Meet UW undergraduate degree requirements:
  • Cumulative GPA ≥ 2.0
  • Satisfy general education and writing requirements
  • Earn at least 45 credits of the final 60 credits as a matriculated student in residence at the UW campus awarding the degree (SGP 114 1.B)
• Complete the graduation application process:
  • The undergraduate advisor submits the online graduation application to the UW Registrar and uploads the degree audit.
  • The student receives an email from the Registrar with a link to review and confirm the application.
  • The application is filed with the Registrar no later than the third Friday of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate (SGP 114 2.F).

B. Graduate (CIPCT, DNP, PhD) Students

To be eligible to graduate, students must:

• Complete all SoN program requirements, including coursework, milestones, and any required final project, thesis, or dissertation. See UW School of Nursing Policy 1.9: Final Scholarly Project and/or Dissertation Requirements.
• Meet Graduate School requirements:
  • Cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0
  • Be registered for the quarter of degree conferral
  • At least 18 credits at the 500 level and above and at least 18 numerically graded credits at the 400 and/or 500 level (UW Graduate School Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements, 1.1.1)
  • Submit the Graduation Request via MyGrad by the posted Graduate School deadline
• Degree-specific requirements:
  • CIPCT: a minimum of 36 credits (SGP 114 6.A)
  • DNP: a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including 12 credits of practice doctorate project or capstone (Graduate School Policy 1.1). Practice hour and clinical experience requirements are set by the AACN Essentials edition applicable to the student’s cohort, together with the specialty accreditation standards governing the student’s track: the National Task Force Standards for NP population-focused tracks, and the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education criteria for the nurse-midwifery track.
  • PhD: a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including at least 27 dissertation credits completed over at least three quarters (Graduate School Policy 1.1). See School of Nursing Policy 1.9 for the culminating experience requirements.
• Have no unresolved academic or professionalism concerns under UW Graduate School Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress or School of Nursing policies.
• Submit any required final materials to the Graduate School (e.g., ETD for PhD dissertations).

IV. Process

A. Undergraduate (A/BSN) Students

• OSAA monitors progression each quarter.
• Near program completion, the undergraduate advisor submits the graduation application to the Registrar, uploads the degree audit, and triggers the student confirmation process.
• Students must confirm the application via the Registrar’s email link and resolve any outstanding degree requirement issues prior to the end of their final quarter.
• Students transferring credit into the program should review the residence requirement in Section III.A with their advisor early in the program, since the final-60-credit window can be affected by coursework taken elsewhere after matriculation.

B. Graduate (CIPCT, DNP, PhD) Students

• OSAA and program staff monitor progression and communicate with students nearing degree completion.
• CIPCT, DNP, and PhD students must submit a Graduation Request in MyGrad by the Graduate School deadline for the intended quarter of graduation. Students must be registered for the quarter in which the degree is conferred.
• OSAA and the Coordinating Committee verify that all degree requirements are complete before approving the MyGrad request.
• Students complete any required final Graduate School submissions (e.g., ETD for PhD dissertations).

V. Eligibility to Participate in UW Commencement, School of Nursing Convocation, and Pinning Ceremonies

Participation in the University of Washington Commencement, the School of Nursing Convocation, and School of Nursing pinning ceremonies are celebratory events and do not constitute degree conferral. Degree conferral is determined solely by the University of Washington upon successful completion of all graduation requirements.

A. University of Washington Commencement

All undergraduate and graduate students may participate in the University’s Commencement ceremony at the end of spring quarter in accordance with UW Commencement participation guidelines.

B. School of Nursing Convocation

• Standard eligibility: Students who have graduated between the prior summer quarter and the current spring quarter of the academic year.
• ABSN students: Both autumn and spring ABSN cohorts may participate at the end of spring quarter during their program enrollment.
• Graduate case-by-case exception: A graduate student may participate if:
  • They have a committee-approved summer defense (master’s) or final exam (doctoral) date, and
  • Their supervisory committee chair (and program advisor, if applicable) confirms all other degree requirements are fulfilled, and
  • The Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs grants written approval at least 14 calendar days before Convocation.

C. Pinning Ceremonies

• ABSN autumn-entry cohort: pinning ceremony at the end of summer quarter.
• ABSN spring-entry cohort: pinning ceremony at the end of winter quarter.
• BSN students: Pinning ceremony occurs in the second (final) year of the program at the end of spring quarter, either before or after Convocation.
• DNP students: Pinning ceremony occurs at the end of winter quarter.

D. Event Selection

Students may choose to participate in one, multiple, or none of these celebratory events in a given academic year.

VI. Roles and Responsibilities Summary

Last updated: September 2026