Program Track Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Length (Full-Time) | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $30,198-$30,794.25 | 2 years, 10 months | 51-54 |
Cost estimate based on 36 MSN core credits at $588 per credit hour plus 15-18 MSN NP role and population-focused credits at $603.75 per credit hour.
Post University’s MSN-PMHNP specialization allows students to complete their education one class at a time.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP Specialization requires 51-54 total credit hours including:
- Core Courses (18-21 credits)
- Specialization Courses (33 credits)
All nurse practitioner courses taken one at a time with all courses 8 weeks in length, completing clinical hours within allotted 8-week period. Nurse practitioner specializations not offered on part-time or accelerated basis.
Core Courses (18-21 credits)
N 502 – Advanced Role Development and Organizational Leadership
Frames the APRN—especially the NP—as clinician, educator, leader, and change agent. Reviews historical, legal/regulatory, social, and ethical foundations alongside scope-of-practice and accountability. Emphasizes leadership behaviors that advance quality, safety, and team performance.
N 503 – Policy Advocacy and Healthcare Ethics
Explores how policy, finance, and ethics shape care delivery and nursing influence. Learners analyze systems (public, private, third-party), craft and evaluate policy, and weigh ethical standards tied to quality and safety. Connects cost-effective care to outcomes and resource stewardship.
N 515 – Research Design
Covers the full research process in nursing with qualitative and quantitative methods. Students critique current studies for rigor, relevance, and application to practice. Focus is on translating evidence into actionable clinical insights.
N 512 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Integrates biology and nursing science to explain disease mechanisms across systems and the lifespan. Highlights cellular processes, genetics, defense, and organ-level alterations linked to common conditions. Builds diagnostic reasoning through simulation-supported application.
N 521 – Advanced Pharmacology
Builds pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacotherapeutic competence for acute and chronic care. Stresses safe prescribing, monitoring, and patient education across diverse populations and products (Rx, OTC, and natural agents). Addresses legal, ethical, and economic considerations.
N 522PE – Advanced Physical Assessment
Expands comprehensive, culturally responsive assessment across the lifespan. Strengthens advanced history, exam skills, prevention focus, and documentation. Uses a health promotion/disease prevention framework to guide clinical decisions.
N 523 – Diagnostic Reasoning
Integrates the “3 Ps” (pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment) for primary-care–oriented diagnostic thinking. Uses body-system and lifespan modules to refine pattern recognition and decision-making. Prepares learners for the APEA 3P exam and clinical readiness.
After completing first three courses (N 512, N 521, N 522PE), students must pass APEA 3P Exam before progressing to next course. Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credit course) required for students that do not pass.
Specialization Courses (33 credits)
N 560 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I – Psychiatric Assessment Across the Lifespan
Introduces epidemiology, etiology, and differential diagnosis of common psychiatric disorders. Teaches structured psychiatric assessments and tools across age groups. Applies theoretical models to guide treatment planning and intervention.
N 559 – Psychotropic Psychopharmacology
Builds evidence-based prescribing grounded in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Aligns medication choices with DSM-5 symptom clusters and special population needs. Covers mechanisms, monitoring, adherence, and legal/ethical standards for PMHNP practice.
N 561 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing I Preceptorship Experience
Applies core assessment and diagnostic skills in supervised settings across the lifespan. Incorporates individual and group therapy elements into plans of care. Emphasizes clinical reasoning as the basis for treatment strategies.
N 562 – Advanced Practice Psych Nursing II: Child and Adolescent
Focuses on DSM-5–based management of pediatric psychiatric conditions. Integrates family dynamics and development into care planning. Advances skills in age-appropriate assessment and intervention.
N 563 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing Preceptorship II: Child and Adolescent
Provides 135 supervised clinical hours with children/adolescents and families. Refines assessment, diagnosis, and management across primary and acute mental health settings. Strengthens collaboration with faculty and preceptors to meet pediatric outcomes.
N 564 – Advanced Practice Psych Nursing III: Adults and Older Adults
Covers major psychiatric disorders in adults and geriatric populations. Prioritizes safe, effective, culturally competent management using guidelines and assessment tools. Links didactic learning to forthcoming preceptorship validation.
N 565 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing Preceptorship III: Adult and Older Adult
Requires 135 precepted hours managing adult/older-adult psychiatric needs. Consolidates diagnostic accuracy, medication/therapy selection, and outcome evaluation. Emphasizes interprofessional collaboration in primary and acute settings.
N 566 – Psych Specialty for Advanced Practice
Examines substance use disorders with attention to special populations. Develops patient-centered, family-engaged, evidence-based management strategies. Prepares learners to validate knowledge in the subsequent specialty preceptorship.
N 567 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing Preceptorship: Psych Specialty for Advanced Practice
Delivers 90 supervised hours focused on SUD care across diverse settings. Applies prior didactic learning to assessment, prevention, and management for special populations. Hones teamwork with faculty and preceptors for measurable outcomes.
N 568 – Advanced Practice Psych Nursing Integration IV
Synthesizes curriculum content to prepare for ANCC PMHNP certification. Targets exam readiness, professional role transition, and practice standards. Reinforces comprehensive, lifespan-focused competencies.
N 569 – Advanced Practice Psych Nursing Integration IV Preceptorship Experience
Provides 135 hours to demonstrate full-scope PMHNP synthesis in practice. Students construct complete plans of care—assessment through prevention and management—under guided mentorship. Emphasizes proficiency, independence, and certification readiness.
More curriculum information available in the course catalog here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-PMHNP Specialization requires 630 total clinical hours distributed across 15 clinical credits through individualized precepted clinical experiences.
Clinical work completed through five preceptorship experience courses (N 561, N 563, N 565, N 567, N 569) translating online classroom learnings to different mental health situations.
Courses must be completed in specified timeframe including clinical hours completed within allotted 8-week period. Practice experiences built into courses for opportunity to apply online class learnings to real-world situations.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
MSN-PMHNP Specialization Requirements:
- Active, unencumbered registered nursing license (post-licensure program requiring students maintain active and unencumbered RN license throughout program)
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing with minimum GPA of 3.0
- Minimum of one year of full-time work experience in nursing clinical role in last three years
- Must reside in eligible state (program not offered to residents of Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Guam, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands, Utah, or Washington)
For MSN-Prepared Nurses
MSN-prepared nurses interested in becoming nurse practitioners can earn second MSN in nearly same time as most certificate programs. Complete MSN with Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization in as few as 11 courses and prepare to sit for nurse practitioner certification examination. Transcript evaluation required to determine transfer credit.
State Authorization and Licensure
Post University has authorization to administer the PMHNP specialization in the following 43 states/territories:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Check the Post University state approvals page for the latest information.
Tuition
MSN core courses cost $588 per credit hour. MSN
Nurse Practitioner role and population-focused courses cost $603.75 per credit hour.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Post University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Post University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).