Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP (BSN–MSN) | $25,155 | ≈ 21 months (full-time) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP | $17,050 | ≈ 18 months |
South College ranked #8 for 2025 Best Colleges for Nursing in America by Niche, and the programs are CCNE accredited with graduates eligible to sit for national PMHNP certification through ANCC.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is $25,155 and takes approximately 21 months to complete full-time across 81 credits.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP program totals 81 credits delivered over 10-12 week quarters, consisting of 40 credits of MSN core courses and 41 credits of PMHNP concentration courses. All didactic courses are delivered asynchronously online through the learning management system.
MSN Core Curriculum (40 credits):
- NSG 5110 – Foundational Concepts & Applications (4 credits)
- NSG 5120 – Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice (4 credits)
- NSG 5140 – Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NSG 5210 – Advanced Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice (4 credits)
- NSG 5220 – Healthcare Informatics (4 credits)
- NSG 5310 – Role Development in Healthcare Policy (4 credits)
- NSG 5320 – Role Development in Leadership (4 credits)
- NSG 5240 – Advanced Pharmacology (4 credits)
- NSG 5340 – Advanced Health Assessment Didactic (4 credits)
- NSG 5343 – Advanced Health Assessment Practicum (4 credits)
Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Concentration (41 credits):
NSG 5901 – Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
Covers core principles of clinical psychopharmacology for patients across the lifespan. Students study medication classes, indications, contraindications, dosing in special populations, side effects, and collaborative monitoring of drug and alternative treatments.
NSG 5902 – Psychiatric Theory & Assessment (2 credits)
Examines theoretical foundations of psychiatric disorders using the DSM-5 as a central framework. Emphasis is on comprehensive psychiatric assessment, use of standardized tools, and ethical and legal issues in advanced practice.
NSG 5903 – Models of Counseling & Psychotherapy (3 credits)
Reviews major psychotherapy approaches for individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. Highlights the advanced practice nurse’s role as psychotherapist and shows how to adapt interventions for special populations.
NSG 5905 – Models of Care: Children, Adolescents, & Young Adults (3 credits)
Focuses on common psychiatric disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. Links proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms to symptoms and teaches evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment using medication and psychotherapy.
NSG 5907 – Models of Care: Adults & Older Adults (3 credits)
Addresses psychiatric and crisis conditions typically seen in adults and older adults. Students learn to connect disease mechanisms to presentation and plan safe, effective, ethical, and legally sound treatment using psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.
NSG 5909 – Models of Care: Individuals, Couples, Families, & Groups (3 credits)
Draws together prior coursework to examine the full scope of the PMHNP role. Focus areas include expert clinical care, care management, coaching, consultation, evidence-based practice, leadership, collaboration, and ethical decision-making.
NSG 5911 – PMHNP Capstone Project (3 credits)
Serves as the culminating course in which students demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the PMHNP role. Learners complete and present a scholarly project that applies advanced knowledge and leadership to a significant psychiatric-mental health issue.
NSG 5920 – Models of Counseling & Psychotherapy Practicum (5 credits)
Provides supervised clinical experience using individual, family, and group psychotherapy across the lifespan. Clinical work emphasizes advanced assessment, patient evaluation skills, and safe, evidence-based psychotherapeutic care.
NSG 5921 – Models of Care: Children, Adolescents, & Young Adults Practicum (5 credits)
Offers hands-on experience assessing, diagnosing, and treating psychiatric conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults. Students focus on thorough assessment and development of ethical, legally sound, evidence-based treatment plans.
NSG 5922 – Models of Care: Adults & Older Adults Practicum (5 credits)
Gives supervised practice in assessing, diagnosing, and treating psychiatric disorders in adults and older adults. Clinical work centers on accurate diagnosis and development of safe, effective treatment plans guided by evidence, ethics, and law.
NSG 5923 – Models of Care: Individuals, Couples, Families, & Groups Practicum (6 credits)
Extends clinical experience in the full PMHNP role with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Students practice as advanced clinicians, care managers, coaches, consultants, leaders, collaborators, and ethical decision-makers in real-world settings.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
MSN-PMHNP students complete 570 total clinical hours, including 60 hours in the core curriculum (Advanced Health Assessment Practicum) and 510 hours across the PMHNP concentration practicum courses. Students are responsible for identifying and securing their own preceptors and clinical sites before program admission, though faculty and staff provide guidance and support throughout the placement process. Clinical sites must be approved and located within states where South College is authorized to provide practicum experiences.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN degree from accredited institution (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA) with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Current unencumbered RN license verified through Nursys or state board verification system
- Minimum 800 hours of nursing work experience as a registered nurse prior to first practicum course
- Identification of potential clinical sites and preceptors for practicum requirements
- Two-page typed personal statement of professional goals and objectives
- Completed South College application and MSN program application
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
- $50 application fee
- Conditional admission available through APR Committee review on case-by-case basis
Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate is $17,050 and takes approximately 18 months to complete across 55 credits.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate Certificate requires 55 credits delivered over 10-12 week quarters. The curriculum includes foundational advanced practice courses and PMHNP specialty coursework.
Required Courses (55 credits):
- NSG 5140 – Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NSG 5240 – Advanced Pharmacology (4 credits)
- NSG 5340 – Advanced Health Assessment Didactic (4 credits)
- NSG 5343 – Advanced Health Assessment Practicum (4 credits)
- NSG 5901 – Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
- NSG 5902 – Psychiatric Theory & Assessment (2 credits)
- NSG 5903 – Models of Counseling & Psychotherapy (3 credits)
- NSG 5905 – Models of Care Across the Lifespan: Children, Adolescents, & Young Adults (3 credits)
- NSG 5907 – Models of Care Across the Lifespan: Adults & Older Adults (3 credits)
- NSG 5909 – Models of Care Across the Lifespan: Individuals, Couples, Families, & Groups (3 credits)
- NSG 5912 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Capstone Review (1 credit)
- NSG 5920 – Models of Counseling & Psychotherapy Practicum (5 credits)
- NSG 5921 – Models of Care Across the Lifespan: Children, Adolescents, & Young Adults Practicum (5 credits)
- NSG 5922 – Models of Care Across the Lifespan: Adults & Older Adults Practicum (5 credits)
- NSG 5923 – Models of Care Across the Lifespan: Individuals, Couples, Families, & Groups Practicum (6 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Post-Graduate Certificate students complete 570 clinical hours across practicum courses, including 60 hours in Advanced Health Assessment Practicum and 510 hours in PMHNP specialty practicums.
Students take an active role in finding and securing their own preceptors and clinical sites with guidance from faculty and staff. Clinical experiences must be completed at approved sites in states where South College is authorized to provide practicum experiences.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- MSN, DNP, or higher nursing degree from accredited institution
- Current unencumbered RN license verified through Nursys or state board verification system
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Identification of potential clinical sites and preceptors for practicum requirements
- Completed South College application and certificate program application
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- $50 application fee
- Students with transcripts showing failure from two nursing programs not eligible for admission
- Conditional admission available through APR Committee review on case-by-case basis
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition for the MSN program is $310 per credit for online students (10-20 credits: $5,775 per quarter; 6-9.5 credits: $3,950 per quarter; 1-5.5 credits: $2,100 per quarter).
Post-Graduate Certificate tuition is $310 per credit with the same quarterly rate structure. A nursing fee of $245 per quarter and technology/services fee of $695 per quarter apply to all nursing students.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
South College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric Mental Health Certification Examination.
Other Nursing Programs
South College School of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice with Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
- Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia (Post-Doctoral)
- MSN concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Informatics, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
- Post-Graduate Certificates: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- BSN programs (Traditional, Hybrid, Accelerated, LPN/BSN, RN/BSN)
- AS Nursing