Policy 1.9: Final Scholarly Project and/or Dissertation Requirements

All CIPCT students complete a final independent scholarly inquiry, culminating in either a Scholarly Project or a Thesis. Both options demand equivalent scholarly rigor and effort, differing primarily in format and focus:

• Scholarly Project: May address program needs, quality assurance, clinical problem analysis, policy evaluation, research utilization, program development or evaluation, or development of scholarly tools or proposals.
• Thesis: An independent piece of research on a topic of particular interest to the student that involves the application of a research methodology.

Coursework and Credit Requirements

• NMETH 520: Scholarly Inquiry for Clinical Informatics Practice
• NMETH 530: Scholarly Proposal Development
• NMETH 598: Special Projects (minimum 3 credits) for scholarly project pathway (may span multiple quarters)
• NMETH 700: Master’s Thesis (minimum 9 credits) for thesis pathway (completed across multiple quarters; no more than 12 credits per quarter and 25 credits in total).
• The Supervisory Committee must approve the written plan before students may begin NMETH 598 or NMETH 700.
• Total credits required for the degree are stated in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.5: Program Duration & Graduation Eligibility.

Below are the unified process steps, with clear indications where projects and theses diverge.

1. Identify Topic of Interest

• Read and reflect on areas of interest in preparation for NMETH 520.
• Discuss potential scholarly directions in NMETH 520 and begin topic refinement.

2. Refine and Propose Your Plan

• During NMETH 530, narrow the focus and develop an initial plan for a scholarly project or thesis.
  • For scholarly projects: complete a preliminary plan using the Master’s Project Initial Plan & Final Product Report guidelines.
  • For theses: begin drafting a proposal using the Steps to Develop a Thesis guidance.

3. Select and Form Your Supervisory Committee

• Begin by reviewing UW Graduate School Policy 4.2 and identifying a Graduate Faculty member to serve as your Supervisory Committee Chair based on alignment of interests.
  • The Chair must be a graduate faculty member with expertise in the topic of interest.
  • The Chair is selected first, following mutual agreement between the student and faculty member.
• Meet with this faculty member to confirm willingness to serve as Chair and establish expectations.
• In collaboration with your Chair, identify and invite additional members (UW Graduate School Policy 4.2.1 requires at least two members, at least one-half of them drawn from the Graduate Faculty, and a Committee Chair who is a member of the Graduate Faculty). The School of Nursing limits a CIPCT supervisory committee to no more than four members.
• Where it is appropriate for the student’s adviser to be a faculty member who is not Graduate Faculty, the committee consists of three members, one of whom is Graduate Faculty and serves as Chair. In that case the Chair also acts as a consultant to the adviser on matters pertaining to the functions of the committee.
• The supervisory committee keeps a record of student progress in the student file.
• Your full committee should be appointed after completion of NMETH 530.

4. Develop Your Plan or Proposal

In partnership with your Chair:

• Establish a timeline and meeting schedule to support timely progression.
• Determine when to share drafts with other committee members (usually coordinated by the Chair).
• Notify members approximately two weeks before sending drafts; expect approximately one week turnaround for feedback.
• The Chair arranges a follow-up meeting to review comments. Disagreements are resolved by the committee, with the Chair having final decision authority.
• The Supervisory Committee must formally approve the student’s project or thesis proposal, typically a short paragraph outlining the planned inquiry.
• For scholarly projects: finalize the Master’s Project Initial Plan & Final Report.
• For thesis: finalize the Master’s Project Initial Plan & Final Report and the Thesis Proposal following the Structured Outline of Research Proposal and prepare the Thesis Proposal Title Page using ETD guidelines: UW Graduate School thesis and dissertation guidelines.

5. Submit Required Documents

Submit the following documents to uwcipct@uw.edu – program staff will collect signatures and file with the Office of Student and Academic Affairs (OSAA).

• Chair name and email address
• Committee member(s) name(s) and email address(es)
• Your approved initial plan
• Course and number of credits you plan to take in the following quarter.
• Completed Use of Human and Animal Subjects form, required whether or not the work will require IRB review

Students may not begin scholarly work until all required documents are signed and on file with OSAA. All documents must be submitted at least one quarter before graduation.

After signed, the CIPCT program manager will send the student their chair’s faculty code to allow registration for NMETH 598 (Scholarly Project) or NMETH 700 (Thesis).

6. Register and Conduct Scholarly Work

Once the Supervisory Committee approves the initial plan and paperwork is filed, the CIPCT Program Manager will provide the chair’s faculty code you will need to register.

• Scholarly Project: NMETH 598 Special Projects (3 credits minimum)
• Thesis: NMETH 700 Master’s Thesis (9 credits minimum across multiple quarters)

Conduct your scholarly work under the guidance of your Chair and Supervisory Committee.

7. Final Quarter Requirements

Review final quarter requirements page: UW School of Nursing final quarter and graduation requirements

• Apply for graduation. Graduation eligibility and deadlines are stated in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.5. The master’s degree request is submitted to the Graduate School in the quarter the student expects the degree to be conferred.
• Coordinate with your committee to schedule your Final Examination (Defense) during the quarter you expect to complete your work (examination may occur outside your graduation quarter).
• Schedule your Final Examination during the expected completion quarter via MyGrad.

8. Final Examination (Defense)

• A majority of the supervisory committee must approve the examination as satisfactory, and all members of the committee must certify the result.
• Conducted in person, hybrid, or remotely, as arranged with the committee.
• Duration: approximately 60–90 minutes, including presentation, Q&A, and committee deliberation.
• Format Differences:
  • Scholarly Projects: Final Examination is both written and oral.
  • Theses: May involve a written committee-developed exam or an oral defense (presentation and Q&A). Format is negotiated with the committee. Where the examination is written, it consists of an examination written by the committee. The thesis itself may not be treated as the final examination.
• The student elects whether the defense is public, open to students, faculty, and the student’s guests, or private, limited to the student and the committee.

Outcome and Grading

• Satisfactory outcome
  • A majority of the supervisory committee approves the examination as satisfactory, and all members of the committee certify the result.
  • NMETH 598 and NMETH 700 carry an N grade while work is in progress, which converts to CR on satisfactory completion.
• Unsatisfactory outcome
  • The supervisory committee documents the deficiencies and the work required to address them, and outlines what the student must do before reexamination.
  • The Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee places the student on Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
  • The NMETH 598 or NMETH 700 grade remains “N” while the student prepares for reexamination, and the student continues to register for the course, within its credit limits, in each quarter the work continues.
  • The student takes the reexamination after a period of further study, with notification to the Graduate School. UW Graduate School Policy 1.1 permits a maximum of two reexaminations.
  • If the reexamination is unsuccessful, the supervisory committee determines whether to allow a second reexamination:
    • If it allows a second reexamination, the committee outlines what the student must do before it. The grade remains “N,” and the Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee places the student on Final Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
    • If it does not, the course is graded NC, and the supervisory committee recommends Academic Drop to the Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee, which makes the recommendation under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1 as an examination outcome for which reexamination is not recommended.
  • If the second reexamination is unsuccessful, the course is graded NC and the Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee recommends Academic Drop under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
  • The student must be registered in the quarter the degree is conferred.

9. Post-Defense Actions

Upon passing the Final Examination:

• CIPCT Program Staff gather required electronic signatures:
  • Application for Degree (Committee Signature Form)
  • Verification of Degree Form
  • Projects: Master’s Project Initial Plan & Final Product Report
  • Theses: Master’s Supervisory Committee Approval Form
• All students email their abstract to uwcipct@uw.edu (students may elect to have final write-up shared as an example).
• For thesis students only: Upload materials to UW ETD Administrator before the quarterly deadline:
  • Abstract
  • Final Thesis (PDF)
  • Signed Master’s Supervisory Committee Approval Form
  • Application for Degree

All DNP students complete a final DNP project that demonstrates advanced clinical and systems expertise through the translation of evidence into practice. Projects address real-world healthcare challenges in collaboration with an external agency or system partner.

DNP projects are systematic investigations that evaluate and/or translate evidence into practice. While scope and structure vary, students often focus on a single phase of evidence translation. Examples include:

• Appraising evidence and recommending adaptations of clinical guidelines to a specific population/clinic/community
• Disseminating evidence by training staff/community members
• Needs assessment
• Implementing changes in practice, workflow, or policies
• Evaluating the impact of a practice change or new protocol
• Program development or evaluation
• Policy development or evaluation

Coursework and Credit Requirements

UW Graduate School Policy 1.1 requires a minimum of 12 credits of practice doctorate project (801) for the practice doctorate. NMETH 801 and NCLIN 801 together satisfy that requirement.

• NMETH 801: Practice Doctorate Project (Project Planning) – Autumn 3 credits
• NMETH 801: Practice Doctorate Project (Project Implementation) – Winter 3 credits
• NCLIN 801: Advanced Clinical Practicum Immersion – Winter 7-9 credits

Below are the process steps for the DNP final project.

1. Identify and Match to a Project

• As students progress through didactic and clinical coursework, they may identify potential project ideas and discuss them with track faculty. Students do not contact agencies to arrange or secure a project. A project idea a student identifies may be considered for the project menu, but this does not guarantee that the project is offered or that the student is matched to it.
• Faculty explore feasibility and consult with agencies about project alignment. If needed, faculty initiate or confirm an Affiliation Agreement (AA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Establishing a new agreement may take several months. Approved projects are added to the project menu.
• In late July (between Year 2 and 3), students receive a menu of approved projects and submit their top five ranked choices with rationale using the DNP Final Project Match Request Form.
• Students are matched to projects by program leadership and notified by August 15, along with their assigned NMETH 801 section. Students may register once they receive their assigned NMETH 801 section.

2. Form Your Supervisory Committee

• All committees must meet UW Graduate School Policy 4.2 requirements.
• DNP Supervisory Committees are assigned by program officials, with students receiving notification of the composition of their Supervisory Committee in Autumn of year 3.
• Two NMETH 801 faculty serve on the student’s Supervisory Committee, either as Chair and member or as co-Chairs. A third member is assigned for track and/or subject matter expertise.
• An optional fourth member from the practice site or community may be added to the committee if requested by the site. For any member outside the UW, the name and contact information must be provided for entry into the Graduate School database, and a UW NetID will be assigned.
• In Autumn of Year 3, the list of assigned supervisory committees is shared with the DNP Program adviser (dnpadv@uw.edu), who will convey the committees to the Graduate School, making them part of the students’ formal records.
• The Dean of the Graduate School formally appoints the committee via approval in MyGrad.
• Students primarily work with their NMETH 801 faculty on project matters, consulting the broader Supervisory Committee as directed by the Chair or co-Chairs.
• A person may not serve on a supervisory committee if there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest with the student. A person uncertain whether a conflict exists consults the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs (sonadaa@uw.edu) before agreeing to serve.

3. NMETH 801: Project Planning (Autumn)

To receive credit and progress to winter quarter:

• Develop a written project proposal in collaboration with agency stakeholders.
• Deliver a verbal project presentation to articulate overarching goals, individual objectives, and the student’s specific role.
• Finalize and execute a Statement of Mutual Agreement (SMA) with the site/organization.
• Obtain Human Subjects approval (IRB) if needed.
• Complete all required onboarding activities for the project site.
• Participate in peer consultation and class-based discussions throughout the quarter.
• Complete required discussion board postings.
• Participate fully in small group sessions; engage in scholarly discussion of your own and the work of others, demonstrating the ability to give and receive feedback professionally.

Grading

• The NMETH 801 Autumn faculty evaluates the oral presentation using the DNP Project Proposal Rubric.
• The supervisory committee evaluates the written proposal using the DNP Project Proposal Rubric.
• Students must have approval of the oral and written proposal to proceed to implementation. An “N” grade will be issued, which indicates satisfactory progress is being made.
• If the supervisory committee does not approve the oral or written proposal, the student does not proceed to implementation and the N grade stands while the proposal is revised. If the proposal is not approved, or the project is not completed, the course is graded NC, which places the student on Final Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1. Any repeat of NMETH 801 is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 1.6: Course Repeat Policy.

4. NMETH 801: Project Implementation and Evaluation (Winter)

Following proposal approval by the supervisory committee and execution of the SMA, students:

• Implement the DNP project in collaboration with the agency.
• Participate in on-campus class sessions and other course-related learning activities.
• Participate in the final poster presentation of the DNP project on the scheduled DNP Project Day.
• Develop and submit a written executive summary to the supervisory committee and the agency.

5. Final Examination (Defense)

• Conducted on DNP Poster Day and includes a poster presentation and oral defense.
• The supervisory committee meets as a group and all members participate.
• Evaluation is based on program rubrics and agency-aligned deliverables.
• Students are expected to attend the entire DNP Poster day.

Outcome and Grading

• The supervisory committee evaluates deliverables and the oral defense using the DNP Final Project Examination Rubric.
• Satisfactory outcome:
  • If a majority of the supervisory committee agree that the evaluation is positive, the committee recommends to the Dean of the Graduate School, via the Committee Signature Form, that the degree be awarded.
  • A “CR” is issued, which will convert the Autumn “N” grade to “CR”.
• Unsatisfactory outcome:
  • The supervisory committee documents the deficiencies and determines whether they can be remediated within a defined timeline. That determination sets the NMETH 801 grade.
  • If the deficiencies can be remediated:
    • The committee proposes a remediation plan with a timeline. The Chair or co-Chairs notify the Department Chair of the examination result and the remediation timeline, and the Department Chair approves the plan.
    • The NMETH 801 grade is withheld and carries the missing grade annotation “X” until the plan is complete. The annotation follows from an approved remediation plan.
    • Because no failing grade is recorded, the DNP Coordinating Committee places the student on Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
    • The student registers for NMETH 600 in each quarter in which the work continues, until the supervisory committee determines the requirements are met. Continuation in summer quarter depends on the availability of the Committee Chair or another supervising faculty member on the committee. Where neither is available, the work resumes in autumn and the remediation timeline is extended accordingly.
    • The student may retake the Final Examination once. If the student passes, the “X” and the Autumn “N” are converted to “CR.” If the student does not pass the retake, or does not complete the plan, NMETH 801 is graded NC.
  • If the deficiencies cannot be remediated, NMETH 801 is graded NC.
  • When NMETH 801 is graded NC:
    • The DNP Coordinating Committee places the student on Final Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1, because the student has not passed a required course.
    • Any repeat of NMETH 801 is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 1.6. A second failure of NMETH 801 or any other course is grounds for a recommendation of Academic Drop.
  • The student must be registered in the quarter the degree is conferred.

The PhD is completed through a sequence of formal milestones culminating in a dissertation that demonstrates original research contributing to nursing science. The PhD formal milestones include: passing the Preliminary Examination, formation of a Supervisory Committee, approval of a Program of Study, successful completion of a General Examination, approval of a dissertation proposal, dissertation work under committee supervision, review by the Reading Committee, and a Final Examination (defense). The following outlines each step in sequence.

Coursework and Credit Requirements

• NMETH 800: Doctoral Dissertation – minimum of 27 credits
  • The most a student may complete before the dissertation proposal is approved is 10 credits of NMETH 800.
  • The most a student may complete before the General Examination is 6 of those 10 credits.
  • If a student does not pass the General Examination, any NMETH 800 credits already taken are graded NC. Alternatively, a student may register for NMETH 600, or take no dissertation credits, until the examination is passed.
• After 10 credits of NMETH 800, the student registers for NMETH 600 until the proposal is approved.
• The 27 credits must be completed over at least three quarters, with at least one quarter falling after the General Examination. Registration is capped at 10 dissertation credits in any quarter unless the program approves up to 18.

1. Preliminary Examination

Every PhD student must pass the Preliminary Examination. The examination assesses the student’s ability to understand, explicate, and integrate the content of the required first-year nursing core courses, and whether the student is ready to identify an area of research and form a Supervisory Committee. The Preliminary Examination must be passed before the Supervisory Committee described in Section 2 is formed.

• Applicability: A student who entered the program in Autumn 2020 or later must pass the Preliminary Examination before forming the Supervisory Committee described in Section 2.
• Eligibility: A student may schedule the Preliminary Examination after completing all Year 1 required nursing core courses and demonstrating satisfactory progress.
• Scope: The scope is defined and limited by the Year 1 required nursing core curriculum. A student may draw on material outside that scope but is not required to do so, and doing so is not necessary to pass.
• Examination Committee: The Preliminary Examination Committee is composed of the faculty teaching the Year 1 required nursing core courses and the Chair of M/PhDCC. If a member of the Committee is not available, a member of M/PhDCC serves on the committee. The Committee prepares and approves the examination and its evaluation rubric.
• Format: The examination has a written component and an oral component. A student completes both before a decision is issued, and both contribute to the outcome. The oral component occurs no sooner than 48 hours after the written component is submitted.
• Academic integrity: The written component is open book. Students may use readings and notes from Year 1 courses. Students may not consult other sources, may not use generative artificial intelligence in either component, and may not discuss any aspect of the examination with another student. The examination instructions state the resources a student may and may not use, and clarifying questions are directed to the Chair of M/PhDCC. Each student attests to these conditions at submission. These conditions are requirements of the examination, and conduct contrary to them is academic misconduct under SGP 209. Allegations of academic misconduct are reported in alignment with UW School of Nursing Policy 1.2: Assessment and Testing Standards.
• Notification and feedback. The Chair of M/PhDCC notifies each student of the outcome within one business day of the Committee’s decision and provides each student with written feedback identifying strengths and areas to strengthen within one month of the oral component.
• Evaluation and Outcome. The written component is evaluated against an established rubric, and evaluators are masked to student identity until the written component is scored. The Committee determines a single outcome for each student based on both components. The outcome is Pass, Conditional Pass, or No Pass.
  • A Pass indicates the student has demonstrated competency in the subject area and is ready to identify a research area and form a Supervisory Committee.
  • A Conditional Pass is issued where the student does not pass one question. The Committee develops a plan identifying the competencies to be addressed. The student may not form the Supervisory Committee until the plan is completed. Registration is not restricted.
  • A No Pass is issued where the student does not pass more than one question. The Committee identifies the deficiencies, communicates them to the student in writing, and works with the student to develop a plan to address them. The student’s Faculty Academic adviser is informed of the outcome and may participate in developing the plan.
    • The Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee places the student on Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1. The status letter states that a further No Pass may result in a recommendation for Academic Drop.
    • The re-examination is rescheduled in the following autumn quarter. The student may not form the Supervisory Committee until the examination is passed. Registration is not restricted.
    • The re-examination is conducted by a two-member committee drawn from the Chair of M/PhDCC, the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs, another member of M/PhDCC, and a substitute determined by the Chair of M/PhDCC.
• Consequences of a further No Pass: The Preliminary Examination permits one retake, and further reexamination is not recommended. A student who does not pass the retake, or who declines to retake, is referred to the Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee, which recommends Final Academic Alert or Academic Drop under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
• Appeal: A student who believes a component was evaluated in error may submit a written appeal to the Chair of M/PhDCC within one week of the distribution of results, and the full Committee reviews the appeal. A student whose concerns are unresolved may proceed under UW School of Nursing Policy 5.2: Student Grievance & Appeals Process.
• Accommodations. A student with accommodations established through Disability Resources for Students communicates the approved accommodations to the Chair of M/PhDCC in advance of the examination. A student with a temporary health condition or disability requiring accommodation for the examination contacts DRS.

2. Supervisory Committee Formation

Students are encouraged to begin exploring potential faculty mentors in their first year and finalize the Supervisory Committee early in the second year.

Committee Requirements

• All committees must meet the requirements of UW Graduate School Policy 4.2.
  • The committee must include at least three Graduate Faculty members with Doctoral Endorsement, including the Committee Chair and the GSR.
  • At least two members of every PhD supervisory committee must be School of Nursing faculty. This ensures adequate School representation and support for the student’s progression.
• Each committee must include a minimum of four members:
  • Chair: A member of the SoN Graduate Faculty endorsed to chair doctoral committees.
  • Graduate School Representative (GSR): must be a Graduate Faculty member endorsed to chair. The GSR may not be a member of the School of Nursing, and may not have any actual or perceived conflict of interest with the student or the graduate program.
    • The GSR is responsible for ensuring that no conflict of interest, and no appearance of a conflict of interest, exists, and attests to this on request.
    • The student may publish work arising from the dissertation before the degree is conferred. The GSR is not listed as an author on that work while serving as GSR, because a publication relationship with the student may create a conflict of interest under UW Graduate School Policy 4.2. If the GSR is listed as an author, the Supervisory Committee is reconstituted with a new GSR. A former GSR may be named an author after the degree is conferred.
  • Additional members: selected for relevant expertise and collaborative potential.
  • For a member from outside the University, a curriculum vitae may be requested along with the justification and contact information.
  • The supervisory committee convenes at least twice, to conduct the General Examination and to conduct the Final Examination, with the GSR present at both. Additional meetings are common and arranged by the Chair, often at committee formation to approve the Program of Study, to agree to the format of the General Examination, and to approve the dissertation proposal.

Forming the Committee

Students should have a clearly identified research direction at the time of committee formation.

• Begin identifying potential committee members in the second quarter of the program. Students typically finalize their committee by early in the second year.
  • Discuss areas of interest with faculty adviser to begin identifying potential faculty to serve as Chair.
  • The initial faculty adviser may or may not be part of the Supervisory Committee.
• Student meets with faculty to discuss areas of interest and assess willingness to serve as Chair.
• Once a faculty agrees to serve as Chair, student works with Chair to identify additional committee members, including a GSR.
• Once all committee members agree to serve, student submits a written letter of request for committee appointment to the Associate Dean for Student & Academic Affairs (sonadaa@uw.edu) and copy the PhD Program adviser (phdadv@uw.edu) and Chair.
  • For non-UW members, include a justification and contact information.
• Once the appointment request is approved by the ADAA, the PhD Program adviser will submit the committee membership in MyGrad.
• The committee is officially appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School via approval of the committee in MyGrad.
• Once formed, the supervisory Chair advises and mentors the student through the remainder of the program, replacing the faculty adviser.
  • Establish regular appointments with your Chair to support progression.
  • The Chair submits quarterly progress notes to the student’s file.
• A change to an appointed supervisory committee is requested in the same manner as the original appointment. The student submits a written memorandum to the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs, copying the Program adviser and the Committee Chair, stating the members to be added or removed, the reason for the change, and confirmation that the resulting committee meets the composition requirements of UW Graduate School Policy 4.2 for the degree.

3. Program of Study Approval

• The Program of Study outlines your planned coursework and scholarly direction.
• The program of study is drafted after the supervisory committee is formed, generally in Year 2 of study.
• The program of study should align with your dissertation goals and UW Graduate School requirements.
• Draft the Program of Study using the template, indicating planned and completed courses.
• The Supervisory Committee reviews and discusses the Program of Study (may be done via email or during a meeting).
  • Credit from prior graduate coursework is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 1.8: Course Equivalency & Credit Substitution and by UW Graduate School Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements. Transfer credits are not accepted into the doctoral program apart from the substitutions those policies allow, and substituted credit may not be applied toward the dissertation requirement.
  • A request to apply prior graduate coursework toward part of the nursing or related fields requirement is approved by the Supervisory Committee when it approves the Program of Study, within the limits stated in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.8. Such coursework must be directly relevant to the student’s area of research and taken within the previous ten years.
• Following Supervisory Committee review, the Supervisory Committee chair sends phdadv@uw.edu the approved program of study, at which point staff will route the Program of Study for Supervisory Committee signatures.
• A change to an approved Program of Study requires Supervisory Committee approval and is filed in the same manner as the original.

4. General Examination

PhD students generally complete the General Examination near the end of Year 2 or the beginning of Year 3 (for full-time students). Passing this examination marks advancement to candidacy.

Purpose of the General Examination

The General Examination is intended to:

• Assess the student’s ability to independently analyze and synthesize scholarly content.
• Evaluate breadth and depth of knowledge in the area of emphasis and intended dissertation topic.
• Determine awareness of recent developments in relevant scholarly and scientific issues.
• Ascertain readiness to begin dissertation research.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

A student may schedule the General Examination if:

• At least 60 credits have been completed (credits from the quarter of the exam may count toward this total).
• The Preliminary Examination is complete.
• All members of the Supervisory Committee confirm that the student is sufficiently prepared and approve the request to schedule the exam.
• The student has shared a draft of their dissertation proposal, including drafted proposal aims, with the Supervisory Committee for review and discussion prior to scheduling the General Exam.
• The student is registered as a graduate student in the quarter the exam occurs.
• At least four committee members must be present for the oral examination, including:
  • The Chair
  • The Graduate School Representative (GSR)
  • At least one additional Graduate Faculty member
• The General Examination may not be scheduled in the same quarter as the Final Examination, consistent with UW Graduate School policy.

Examination Format

The General Examination consists of written and oral components, developed and evaluated by the Supervisory Committee.

Written Component:

• The Committee designs 2–4 questions.
• Questions may:
  • Support finalization of the dissertation proposal (e.g., probing analytical methods or theoretical frameworks), or
  • Probe deeper understanding of components within an already developed proposal (e.g., background or significance).
• The Committee provides the student with:
  • A written document outlining the questions,
  • A writing timeline, and
  • Whether editorial support is permitted.
• The writing period may span several weeks or up to one quarter (as determined by the committee).
• Students may register for up to 4 credits of NMETH 600 in the quarter of the exam but are not required to do so.
• If the exam writing spans more than one quarter, credits may only be taken in one quarter.

Oral Component:

• Occurs after successful completion of the written component. The student must pass the written component to progress to the oral examination.
• The oral exam is scheduled by the student in MyGrad at least three weeks in advance.
• All required members of the committee (including GSR) must be present as a group.

Outcomes and Post-Examination Steps

• Supervisory Committee chair emails phdadv@uw.edu the outcome.
• If Passed:
  • Supervisory Committee members sign the Committee Signature Form via DocuSign no later than the last day of finals week.
  • Upon Graduate School approval, the student achieves doctoral candidacy status.
  • Students may refer to themselves as a “Candidate for the PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Washington.”
  • The use of “PhDc” as a professional credential is not permitted.
• If Not Passed:
  • The Supervisory Committee states whether it recommends reexamination.
  • Where reexamination is recommended, the Supervisory Committee may recommend to the Graduate School that the student be allowed up to two additional reexaminations following additional preparation, as UW Graduate School Policy 1.1 permits. The Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee places the student on Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1 after a first unsuccessful examination, and on Final Academic Alert after a second, because the next examination is the last permitted.
  • Where reexamination is not recommended, including after an unsuccessful final permitted reexamination, the Supervisory Committee may indicate on the committee signature form a recommendation that the student be moved to Final Academic Alert or recommended for Academic Drop, under UW Graduate School Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress. Immediate Academic Drop is reserved for rare circumstances. The Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee determines the status under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
  • A member who does not agree with the majority recommendation uses the minority report portion of the form and is encouraged to submit a minority report to the Dean of the Graduate School.
• A student who believes the examination was conducted unfairly may raise the concern under Section II.D below.

After Advancement to Candidacy, students devote their time to:

• Dissertation research,
• Writing the dissertation, and
• Preparing for the Final Examination.

Note, the doctoral degree may not be awarded in the same quarter that the General Examination is passed.

5. Eligibility for Dissertation Status

• Permission from the Supervisory Committee Chair is required to register for NMETH 800 credits.
• Students typically begin NMETH 800 after successfully completing the General Examination.
• If a student does not pass the General Examination and reexamination is not recommended, or does not pass the final permitted reexamination, any NMETH 800 credits taken to that date are graded NC. While the student prepares for a reexamination, those credits continue to carry an “N” grade.
• A minimum of 27 credits of NMETH 800 is required to fulfill degree requirements.

6. Approval of the Dissertation Proposal

Proposal Development

• Students begin proposal development in close collaboration with their Supervisory Committee Chair following successful completion of the General Examination.
• The Chair provides primary guidance on the scope, structure, methods, and literature grounding of the proposed work.
• Students are encouraged to establish a timeline and regular meeting schedule with their Chair to support timely development.

Committee Review & Feedback

• The Chair advises the student when the proposal is ready to be shared with the full Supervisory Committee, including the GSR, for review and feedback.
• The Chair coordinates feedback and determines when the proposal is ready for formal approval.
• Revisions may be requested by any committee member; final decisions rest with the Chair in consultation with the committee.

Formal Dissertation Proposal Approval Process

• After incorporating feedback and obtaining committee agreement, the student initiates the Dissertation Proposal Approval form via DocuSign by emailing phdadv@uw.edu.
• All committee members, including the GSR, sign to indicate formal approval.
• Approval is required before submitting Human or Animal Subjects applications.

Credit Limits Prior to Approval

• Students may complete up to 10 credits of NMETH 800 before receiving formal proposal approval. This School of Nursing limit is separate from the Graduate School’s cap of 10 dissertation credits in any one quarter and from the 6 credits of NMETH 800 permitted before the General Examination.

Dissertation Format

• At the time of formal approval, the student and committee indicate the selected format:
  • Traditional six-chapter format, or
  • Three-manuscript format
• For the manuscript option, working titles of the three planned papers are documented on the approval form.

Special Considerations

Students planning to use secondary data are advised to review the Appendix at the end of this document with their Chair during proposal development to address IRB, authorship, and methodological concerns. Where the data are not publicly available, a written agreement covering use of the data is in place before the analysis begins. A data use agreement between the University and another entity is signed by the Office of Sponsored Programs and not by the student or the Chair. Under UW Executive Order 8, a dissertation that cannot be freely published or disseminated may not be accepted in fulfillment of degree requirements, so any restriction on publication proposed by a data owner is resolved before the proposal is approved.

7. Dissertation Format

The UW School of Nursing supports two approved formats for the final written dissertation. Both are considered rigorous scholarly contributions and are subject to Graduate School formatting and submission requirements.

Format Selection & Timing

The dissertation format must be selected at the time of Dissertation Proposal approval, in consultation with the Supervisory Committee. The selected format, along with tentative manuscript titles (if applicable), is documented on the Dissertation Proposal form. Students are encouraged to discuss publication goals during this stage, especially if selecting the three-manuscript format.

Traditional Chapter-Based Dissertation

This format consists of six chapters, preceded by standard front matter and optionally followed by appendices. It is appropriate for dissertations with a single integrated study or project.

Required Structure:

• Title Page (required)
• Copyright Page (optional)
• Abstract (required)
• Dedication (optional)
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Table of Contents (required)
• List of Figures and Tables (if applicable)

Chapters:

1. Introduction: Statement of the problem or research question, specific aims, significance, and overview of the study.
2. Literature Review: Comprehensive synthesis of the current state of knowledge related to the dissertation topic.
3. Research Methods: Description of design, methodology, sample, data collection, and analysis plan.
4. Results: Presentation of findings, including tables, figures, and statistical outputs where appropriate.
5. Discussion: Interpretation of findings in context, comparison to existing literature, and consideration of limitations.
6. Conclusions and Implications: Summary of key findings, implications for nursing science and practice, and recommendations for future work.

Appendices:

May include data collection tools; supplementary data, figures, or tables; IRB approvals; statistical coding, and other relevant documents.

Three-Manuscript Format Dissertation

This format includes three stand-alone but thematically linked manuscripts (part of a broader research agenda – not unrelated studies), each prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. This option is best suited for students intending to publish components of their dissertation during or shortly after the program. For students selecting the three-manuscript option, at least one manuscript must be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal prior to the Final Examination. This requirement ensures that the student demonstrates lead authorship and scholarly independence. Authorship of each manuscript, including the order of co-authors and the contributions that warrant authorship, is determined under UW School of Nursing Policy 4.5: Research Integrity and Authorship, and is documented at the time of proposal approval. Copyright is addressed in Section II.E.

The three manuscripts must be thematically congruent and must not be written on disparate topics. Where the planned manuscripts change as the work progresses, the change is discussed and agreed by the student and the committee and a record of the discussion is placed in the student file. A manuscript may have been previously published or accepted for publication at the time the dissertation is accepted. In that case the student follows copyright rules and requests permission where copyright has been granted to the journal.

Required Structure:

• Title Page (required)
• Copyright Page (optional)
• Abstract (required)
• Dedication (optional)
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Table of Contents (required)
• List of Figures and Tables (if applicable)

Chapters:

1. Introduction: Overview of the research problem, aims, theoretical framework (if applicable), and rationale for the manuscript-based format.
2. Manuscript #1: First paper (formatted per journal style or dissertation formatting rules).
3. Manuscript #2: Second paper.
4. Manuscript #3: Third paper.
5. Synthesis Chapter: Integrates the findings of the three papers, discusses broader implications for nursing science, policy, education, or practice, and identifies future research directions.

Appendices:

May include data collection tools; supplementary data, figures, or tables; IRB approvals; statistical coding, and other relevant documents.

8. Dissertation Supervision

Registration & Oversight

• Students register for NMETH 800 Dissertation credits under the faculty code of their Supervisory Committee Chair. Email phdadv@uw.edu if you need assistance locating a faculty code.
• At least 27 credits of NMETH 800 are required for the PhD degree.
• Students should maintain regular contact with their Chair and meet periodically to assess progress.

Quarterly Planning & Documentation

• Prior to each quarter of NMETH 800 registration, students and their Chair complete the NMETH 800 Quarterly Planning form (via DocuSign, initiated by emailing phdadv@uw.edu).
• This form includes the number of credits, goals, and proposed activities for the quarter.
• At quarter’s end, students and the Chair revisit the form to document progress and ensure goals were addressed.

Chair Unavailability

If the Chair is on leave or sabbatical, the student should:

• Appoint another SoN faculty member on the approved committee to provide primary oversight.
• Register using that faculty member’s code until the Chair returns or a new Chair is appointed.

A student whose own progress is interrupted should consult UW School of Nursing Policy 2.3: Leave of Absence. Time spent on leave counts toward the time to degree stated in UW School of Nursing Policy 1.5.

9. Reading Committee

Purpose

The Reading Committee evaluates whether the dissertation is a significant contribution to nursing science and whether the student is ready for the Final Examination (defense).

Composition & Appointment

• At least three members of the Supervisory Committee serve on the Reading Committee.
• At least one member must hold an endorsement to Chair doctoral committees.
• Typically, all members of the committee except the GSR serve as Reading Committee members.
• After the General Examination, the Chair emails phdadv@uw.edu to request official Reading Committee appointments.
• The PhD Program adviser updates MyGrad and notifies the Graduate School.

Review & Readiness

The Reading Committee is responsible for:

• Ensuring the dissertation meets scholarly standards.
• Determining readiness for Final Examination.
• The full dissertation, in the format previously approved by the committee, must be provided to all Supervisory Committee members at least two weeks before the Final Examination.
  • If this timeline is not met, the defense must be rescheduled.
  • All members of the Supervisory Committee read the dissertation and provide feedback.

Note: The Reading Committee’s recommendation does not guarantee a pass at the Final Examination.

10. Final Examination (Dissertation Defense)

The Final Examination (also known as the dissertation defense) is the culminating evaluation of the student’s doctoral study. It consists of a written dissertation and an oral defense that must be completed in accordance with both the UW Graduate School and School of Nursing policies.

Students are eligible to schedule the Final Examination after:

• Completing all required coursework
• Earning at least 27 credits of NMETH 800 Dissertation
• Receiving the Reading Committee’s agreement that the dissertation is ready for the Final Examination
• Being registered as a graduate student in the quarter of the examination and in the quarter the dissertation is submitted. On-leave status is not registration and does not satisfy this requirement.

The Final Examination may not be taken in the same quarter as the General Examination.

Scheduling the Final Examination

• The student schedules the Final Examination in MyGrad in advance of the exam date. An examination that is not formally scheduled with the Graduate School is not valid. The School of Nursing requires the scheduling request to be submitted at least 10 business days before the exam date.
• The student elects, at the time the examination is scheduled, whether the presentation is open to students, faculty, and the student’s guests, or limited to the student and the Supervisory Committee. If the student elects an open presentation, the School of Nursing announces the date and time.

Attendance & Format

• The Final Exam includes both a written and an oral component.
• Written Component: The full dissertation (in the approved format) must be distributed to the Reading Committee at least two weeks prior.
• Oral Component:
  • A formal defense, typically including a public presentation and Q&A, followed by closed session with the Supervisory Committee for deeper discussion and deliberation.
  • At least four members of the Supervisory Committee, including the Chair or Co-Chairs, the Graduate School Representative (GSR), and one additional Graduate Faculty member, must be present in person or virtually. Where a remote examination loses communication and the minimum number of participants can no longer be met, the examination is terminated and rescheduled.
  • Remote final exams use Zoom or similar platforms and must ensure that all participants can see and hear each other.
  • The defense usually lasts between 60-90 minutes.

Evaluation and Outcome

The Committee uses the Final Examination to assess:

• Scholarly significance and rigor of the dissertation
• Student’s ability to defend their methods, findings, and conclusions
• Readiness to earn the doctoral degree

The Supervisory Chair notifies the PhD Program adviser (phdadv@uw.edu) of the outcome. The adviser initiates the Examination Report for electronic signature and circulates it to the committee members who participated in the examination. The report records one of three outcomes:

• Passed. The student proceeds with final dissertation submission via the UW ETD system once any required revisions are confirmed.
• Reexamination required. The Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee places the student on Academic Alert under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1 after a first unsuccessful examination, and on Final Academic Alert after a second, because the next examination is the last permitted. NMETH 800 continues to carry an “N” grade while the student prepares for reexamination. The candidate must be reexamined after a further period of study, and a new Request for Final Examination is submitted to the Graduate School. UW Graduate School Policy 1.1 permits a maximum of two reexaminations.
• Not recommended for further work toward the doctoral degree. Reexamination is not recommended, and the Master’s/PhD Coordinating Committee recommends Academic Drop under UW School of Nursing Policy 1.1.
• Members sign the Examination Report electronically, and the adviser files the completed report in the student’s program record by the last day of the quarter. A member who does not agree with the majority recommendation uses the minority report portion of the form and is encouraged to submit a minority report to the Dean of the Graduate School.
• The committee may pass the examination and require revisions to the dissertation before it is approved. The Chair states the revisions in writing, the Committee determines who will review them, and agrees to a completion date with the student. The dissertation is not approved until those members confirm completion.
• Once the required revisions are confirmed:
  • Reading Committee members approve the dissertation electronically in MyGrad Committee View, using the link created when the Final Examination is scheduled.
  • The student follows up with Reading Committee members as needed until all required approvals are recorded.
  • The student then submits the dissertation and the Survey of Earned Doctorates Certificate of Completion through the UW ETD Administrator Site.
  • Approvals and submission are both due by the last day of the quarter in which the degree is to be conferred.
• If required revisions to the content of the dissertation extend past the last day of the quarter:
  • The dissertation is submitted in a later quarter, and the registration requirement above applies to that quarter.
  • The Graduate Registration Waiver (UW Graduate School Policy 3.6) applies only when the Reading Committee has approved the dissertation and the student needs additional time for formatting. It does not apply to content revisions.

Submission Requirements

Upon successful completion of the Final Examination, students:

• Submit materials electronically via the UW ETD Administrator:
  • PDF of the final approved dissertation
  • Abstract
  • Signed Committee Signature Form
• The Graduate School requires that all theses and dissertations be deposited electronically and made available through ProQuest and through the UW Libraries’ ResearchWorks repository.
• Understand that the dissertation will be publicly accessible through:
  • ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
  • UW Libraries’ ResearchWorks Repository
• Consult the Health Sciences Librarian for:
  • Copyright compliance (particularly for submitted and/or published papers)
  • Securing permissions for any previously published content.
  • Ensuring fair use of figures, tables, or reprinted material
• Review formatting and submission instructions provided by the Graduate School.
• Copyright in the dissertation is addressed in Section II.E.

Students who believe they have experienced bias or unfair treatment during the project or dissertation process should follow the procedures outlined below:

• Informal Resolution: Concerns should first be raised with the Supervisory Committee Chair or the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs (sonadaa@uw.edu). The UW Ombud Office is available to assist with informal resolution and consultation.
• Formal Grievance Process: If the issue is not resolved through informal channels, students may file a formal grievance under UW School of Nursing Policy 5.2: Student Grievance & Appeals Process. Under UW Graduate School Policy 3.8: Academic Grievance Procedure, a graduate student must first follow the procedure established within their school or college. An appeal to the Graduate School is filed within 15 business days of the conclusion of the School’s procedure and is limited to whether the School applied its own documented procedure uniformly; the Graduate School does not re-decide the merits. A dispute about an individual course grade is not a grievance under Policy 3.8 and follows the change of grade procedure in SGP 110 §2.
• Discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and related retaliation: A concern that conduct was based on a protected class is not an academic grievance and does not follow the process above. It is reported to the UW Civil Rights Compliance Office, which receives reports from students, staff, faculty, and members of the public. A student may raise such a concern with the Supervisory Committee Chair or the ADAA at the same time, but the School does not substitute its grievance process for that review.
• Role of the Graduate School Representative (GSR; PhD only): For PhD students, the GSR is a voting member of the committee responsible for ensuring fairness and Graduate School policy compliance. The GSR may escalate concerns to the Graduate School when warranted.

Research misconduct

UW Executive Order 61 applies to original research undertaken in fulfillment of thesis or dissertation requirements for a graduate degree. It does not apply to work undertaken in fulfillment of class assignments or course requirements. Research misconduct is fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. A complaint may be submitted to the Office of Research Misconduct Proceedings, or to a dean, department chair, or unit head, who forwards it to that office. A supervisory committee does not adjudicate an allegation of research misconduct and does not resolve one informally.

Academic misconduct in coursework

Cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, multiple submission of the same work, and behavior specifically prohibited by an instructor are academic misconduct under SGP 209. Allegations are reported through the University’s central student conduct reporting form to Community Standards and Student Conduct, which completes the initial review and involves the School of Nursing in reviewing the matter.

Free publication

Under UW Executive Order 8, no thesis or dissertation may be accepted in fulfillment of degree requirements that cannot be freely published or disseminated. A restriction proposed by a sponsor, a clinical site, an employer, or the owner of a dataset is identified and resolved before the plan or proposal is approved. This applies to DNP projects conducted with an agency partner and to any analysis of data held by another organization.

Copyright

Under UW Executive Order 36, students retain copyright in scholarly works they create, subject to the conditions stated in that order. Those conditions include work created in the course of University employment, work supported by a sponsored project, and work subject to a sponsor’s conditions on rights in data. A student whose project is supported by a research appointment, traineeship, or fellowship confirms the position with the Chair before the dissertation is deposited.

Human participants

Under UW Executive Order 24, University research with human participants that is not exempt from applicable regulations requires IRB approval before the research is initiated, without exception. This responsibility is shared with students and is not held by faculty alone.

Authorship

Authorship is governed by UW School of Nursing Policy 4.5: Research Integrity and Authorship. Students and Chairs document authorship expectations at the time the plan or proposal is approved. Committee membership does not by itself warrant authorship, and provision of a dataset for secondary analysis does not by itself warrant authorship.