Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Duration | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP PMHNP | 3–4 years | ~$96,250 |
| Post-Master’s APRN to DNP (no role change) | 1.5–2 years | ~$46,250 |
BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP PMHNP program is $96,250 and takes approximately 3-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Students complete 15-week courses across three terms per year under the guidance of nationally recognized faculty, with comprehensive clinical placement support provided by the university.
Curriculum
The 77-credit hour program combines 47 credits of DNP Advanced Practice Nursing Core coursework with 30 credits of specialized Psychiatric Mental Health NP concentration courses.
NUR 5281 Psychopathological Disorders Across the Lifespan
Builds a foundation in psychopathology to inform assessment, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders in individuals and families across the lifespan.
NUR 5282 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Management I: Didactic
Develops interviewing and psychiatric assessment skills to create evidence-based diagnoses and treatment plans, emphasizing lifespan care and the application of theoretical and conceptual models, including psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups.
NUR 5284 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Management I: Clinical
Provides direct patient care experiences treating common mental health disorders in diverse populations, applying evidence-based guidelines, psychopharmacology, and non-pharmacologic interventions to deliver safe, patient-centered care.
NUR 5285 Theoretical, Conceptual, and Clinical Models of Mental Health Care
Examines mental health and addiction models across the lifespan and defines the PMHNP role, emphasizing comprehensive symptom evaluation, diagnostic frameworks, and development of wellness-focused, patient-centered care plans.
NUR 5291 Psychiatric Mental Health Residency
Advances competency in diagnosing and managing acute and chronic mental illness across the lifespan, integrating prior practicum learning with evidence-based guidelines, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, and safety-focused care tools.
NUR 5383 Advanced Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology
Explores neurobiology, pharmacokinetics/dynamics, and psychopharmacology to select, monitor, and manage medication therapies for psychiatric conditions, applying diagnostics to guide treatment across the lifespan.
NUR 5387 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Management III: Practicum
Refines advanced assessment, critical thinking, clinical management, and psychotherapy strategies, coordinating primary and complex psychiatric care for individuals and families using theory and evidence-based guidelines.
NUR 5392 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Management II: Complex Psychiatric Management Across the Lifespan
Focuses on serious mental illness and substance use disorders, integrating individual and family psychotherapy models with pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic care, while cultivating self-awareness and bias recognition.
NUR 5393 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Management II: Practicum
Provides intensive clinical experience managing acute and chronic serious mental health disorders, sharpening assessment, diagnosis, and multimodal treatment skills to ensure safe, patient-centered care.
NUR 5394 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Management III Didactic
Covers group psychotherapy theories and techniques alongside pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic care for individuals, families, and groups, emphasizing self-awareness and PMHNP leadership in collaborative practice.
NUR 6V76 Advanced Practice Nursing Residency
Offers customizable, in-depth clinical immersion: APRN students deepen expertise delivering safe, efficient care to focused populations, while post-MS to DNP students pursue experiences aligned with mastery of the DNP Essentials.
More curriculum information is in the course catalog here.
Clinicals
The program culminates in a 5-credit Advanced Practice Nursing Residency, providing extensive hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings including inpatient, outpatient, and group therapy environments. Students complete a total of 1,125 clinical hours throughout the program.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from regionally accredited school of nursing
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (courses taken pass/fail not eligible)
- One year of full-time professional nursing experience by first day of class
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Written personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation (immediate supervisor, peer nurse, MSN/DNP/PhD-prepared nurse)
- No GRE or MAT required
- Residency requirements in approved states (Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia)
Post-Master’s APRN to DNP Track
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s APRN to DNP program is $46,250 and takes approximately 1.5-2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 37-credit hour program is designed for practicing APRNs seeking doctoral preparation without role change.
Students complete 30 credits of Post-Master’s DNP Advanced Practice Nursing Core coursework focusing on advanced practice leadership, healthcare systems, and evidence-based practice.
Clinicals
The program includes a 7-credit Advanced Practice Nursing Residency providing intensive clinical experience. This accelerated pathway recognizes prior advanced practice preparation while elevating practice to the doctoral level with emphasis on leadership, quality improvement, and healthcare innovation.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Current APRN certification
- Master’s degree in nursing from regionally accredited institution
- Meeting specific admissions requirements for this advanced track
- Demonstrated advanced practice experience
Tuition
DNP program tuition is $1,250 per credit hour. Total program costs vary based on credit requirements and any applicable transfer credits.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Baylor University’s baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The Louise Herrington School of Nursing is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and maintains membership in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
The program adheres to educational guidelines from the Texas Board of Nursing, AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (2021), National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), and National Taskforce on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (2022).
Other Nursing Programs
Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing offers additional online DNP tracks:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse-Midwifery
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
More PMNHP Programs
- Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
- Texas A&M - Texarkana
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas State University - Round Rock
- Texas Tech University - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- UT Health Houston - Houston
- UT Health San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington
- University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso
- UTTyler - Tyler