Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (NYS Part-Time) | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS PMHNP | ~$22,560 resident | ~2–3 Years |
| Advanced Certificate PMHNP | ~$12,690–$16,920 resident | ~1.5–2 Years |
| Post-BSN DNP PMHNP | ~$55,800 resident | ~6 Years Full-Time |
| Post-Master’s DNP PMHNP | ~$26,040 resident | ~2–3 Years |
Program Highlights:
- As part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, Hunter College offers some of the most affordable PMHNP graduate tuition in New York State — $470/credit for NYS resident part-time students and $620/credit for the DNP
- All programs are available on a full-time or part-time basis; the MS and DNP post-BSN include both options with flexible scheduling designed for working nurses
- Graduates across all three tracks are eligible for New York State NP certification and meet ANCC national board certification educational requirements
Master of Science – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Hunter College MS PMHNP program is approximately $22,560 for NYS residents or $41,040 for out-of-state students, and would take approximately 2–3 years to complete.
Estimate is based on 48 credits × $470/$855 per credit.
The program is available on both a full-time and part-time basis, with a Fall start.
MSN Curriculum
The 48-credit curriculum is organized into three tiers: a nursing core, an advanced practice core covering the 3 Ps, and a 27-credit PMHNP specialization block that includes two large clinical practicum courses.
NURS 70000 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
Examines nursing science, metaparadigm concepts, and worldviews through selected theories. Explores relationships between nursing theory, research, practice, and advanced roles in nursing education.
NURS 78400 – Theoretical Foundations Of Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Care And Practice
Analyzes concepts from humanities, sciences, and nursing underpinning the PMHNP role. Covers human development, psychodynamic theory, therapeutic relationships, transference, and Peplau’s nurse-client model through case studies.
NURS 70400 – Healthcare Systems and Policy
[Brief summary based on typical course content: Examines healthcare delivery systems, policy development, financing, and quality improvement strategies for advanced nursing practice.]
NURS 73700 – Mental Health Policy and Advocacy: The Role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Reviews ethical, legal, and social factors shaping mental health policy. Explores PMHNP role in advocating for access, equity, quality, and policy development.
NURS 74900 – Health Promotion/Disease Prevention in Diverse Populations
Focuses on strategies for health promotion and disease prevention across diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and vulnerable populations.
NURS 74600 – Epidemiology of Behavioral Health and Community Mental Health
Examines behavioral health epidemiology at state, national, and global levels. Teaches mental health risk assessment, early prevention, and interventions to reduce disparities.
NURS 71700 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice
Analyzes pathophysiology of acute/chronic conditions in adolescents through older adults, integrating physiological knowledge.
NURS 74700 – Advanced Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Brain and Psychiatric Mental Health And Illness
Provides neuroanatomy and neurophysiology foundation linking brain function to behavior and psychiatric disorders.
NURS 70200 – Advanced Nursing Research
Develops skills in research design, methodology, data analysis, and evidence appraisal for advanced nursing practice.
NURS 75100 – Advanced Health Assessment
Applies evidence-based guidelines for comprehensive screening and multidimensional health assessment across the lifespan.
NURS 77700 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment and Intervention: General
Provides foundation for assessing, diagnosing, and managing complex mental health disorders across diverse populations.
NURS 75000 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Analyzes medications across lifespan including OTC, complementary, and herbal products. Meets NYS NP prescription requirements.
NURS 71900 – Psychopharmacology
Prepares PMHNPs for pharmacological management of mental/behavioral disorders using evidence-based guidelines, safety monitoring, and quality improvement.
NURS 77800 – Advanced Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment and Intervention
Develops skills to assess, diagnose, and treat complex mental health disorders in children and adolescents.
NURS 78100 – Topics in Comprehensive Primary Mental Health Assessment and Intervention
Advances PMHNP competency in assessing, diagnosing, and treating common psychiatric disorders.
NURS 74800 – Therapeutic Counseling Modalities: Advanced Nursing Perspectives and Practice
Examines theoretical frameworks and evidence-based psychotherapeutic modalities for non-pharmacological PMHNP management.
NURS 77900 – Family & Group Theories & Therapeutic Modalities
Introduces family and group theories and therapeutic approaches for PMHNPs working across the lifespan.
NURS 78200 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Practicum I
Entry-level clinical practicum focusing on comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning under supervision.
NURS 78300 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Practicum 2
Advanced clinical practicum developing autonomous PMHNP practice in diverse psychiatric mental health settings.
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
MSN Clinicals
The MS program requires 630 hours of supervised clinical experience, distributed equally across two practicum courses. Students receive supervised clinical placement; specific placement support details should be confirmed directly with the program.
- NURS 782 – PMHNP Clinical Practicum I: 315 hours (4.5 cr.)
- NURS 783 – PMHNP Clinical Practicum II: 315 hours (4.5 cr.)
- Total: 630 supervised clinical practicum hours
- BLS/CPR and malpractice insurance required; verify specific clinical prerequisites with the program
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from an accredited program; minimum cumulative and nursing GPA of 3.0
- Current New York State RN license and active registration
- Minimum 2 years of post-baccalaureate full-time registered nursing experience
- Completion of an undergraduate statistics course and a discrete undergraduate research course (may be admitted conditionally if missing either, with completion required by end of first semester)
- Statement of purpose (~500 words) demonstrating a strong understanding of the PMHNP specialization and motivations for pursuing it
- Two letters of recommendation — from nursing instructors, supervisors, clinical specialists, or nurse leaders (co-worker/friend letters not helpful)
- Professional résumé listing education and relevant work experience
- US citizenship or permanent residency required — F-1 and J-1 visa applicants are not eligible
- Application submitted exclusively through NursingCAS
- Application Deadline: February 15 for Fall start
- Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission; some specializations are more competitive than others
Advanced Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Hunter College PMHNP Advanced Certificate program ranges from approximately $12,690 (27 credits, with 3 Ps waived) to $16,920 (36 credits) for NYS residents, or $23,085–$30,780 for out-of-state students ($470–$855/credit), and would take approximately 1.5–2 years to complete.
⚠️ 3 Ps Waiver: NURS 717 (Pathophysiology), NURS 750 (Pharmacotherapeutics), and NURS 751 (Health Assessment) may be waived based on prior graduate coursework, reducing the program from 36 to 27 credits. Final credit requirements are determined by individual advisement.
Certificate Curriculum
The 27–36 credit curriculum mirrors the PMHNP specialization block from the MS program, with all core PMHNP theory and both clinical practicum courses required. The three waivable courses (3 Ps) are included in the full 36-credit plan.
- Always Required Courses (27 credits)
- NURS 784 – Theoretical Foundations of Advanced PMH Nursing Care and Practice (1 cr.)
- NURS 737 – Mental Health Policy and Advocacy: The Role of the PMHNP (1 cr.)
- NURS 746 – Epidemiology of Behavioral Health and Community Mental Health (1 cr.)
- NURS 747 – Advanced Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of the Brain (1 cr.)
- NURS 777 – Advanced PMH Assessment and Intervention (3 cr.)
- NURS 778 – Advanced Child/Adolescent PMH Assessment and Intervention (2 cr.)
- NURS 719 – Psychopharmacology (3 cr.)
- NURS 748 – Therapeutic Counseling Modalities (3 cr.)
- NURS 779 – Family & Group Theories & Therapeutic Modalities (2 cr.)
- NURS 781 – Comprehensive Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment (1 cr.)
- NURS 782 – Clinical Practicum in Advanced PMHNP I (4.5 cr., 315 practicum hours)
- NURS 783 – Clinical Practicum in Advanced PMHNP II (4.5 cr., 315 practicum hours)
- Waivable Based on Prior Graduate Coursework (9 credits)
- NURS 717 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (3 cr.)*
- NURS 750 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr.)*
- NURS 751 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)*
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
Certificate Clinicals
The Advanced Certificate requires the same 630 hours of supervised clinical experience as the MS program, distributed across the two practicum courses. Clinical hours are unchanged regardless of which courses are waived.
- NURS 782 – Clinical Practicum in Advanced PMHNP I: 315 hours (4.5 cr.)
- NURS 783 – Clinical Practicum in Advanced PMHNP II: 315 hours (4.5 cr.)
- Total: 630 supervised clinical hours
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program; minimum GPA of 3.0
- Current New York State RN license and active registration
- 1–2 years of full-time RN or APRN experience preferred (not a firm requirement)
- Completion of a basic statistics course and an undergraduate research course (conditional admission available if missing either)
- Statement of purpose (~500 words) demonstrating understanding of the PMHNP specialization
- Two letters of recommendation from nursing instructors, supervisors, or clinical leaders
- Professional résumé
- US citizenship or permanent residency required — F-1 and J-1 visa applicants are not eligible
- Application through NursingCAS
- Application Deadline: February 15 for Fall start
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Hunter College PMHNP DNP program is approximately $55,800 for NYS residents or $90,000 for out-of-state students for the full post-BSN track, and approximately $26,040 for NYS residents or $42,000 for out-of-state students for the post-master’s track (42 credits).
Estimate based on 90 credits × $620/$1,000 per credit.
The post-BSN full-time program plan runs approximately 6 years; the post-master’s track is typically 2–3 years.
⚠️ Advanced Standing Available: Students with a prior master’s degree in nursing may be eligible for advanced standing, with up to 42 credits and relevant clinical hours from their MSN waived.
Former Hunter MS PMHNP graduates are exempt from a 6-credit elective requirement because 48 credits (vs. 42) from their MSN are applied. Final standing is determined by individual assessment of the student’s prior graduate record.
DNP Curriculum
The 90-credit post-BSN curriculum is organized across six years full-time (per the program plan). The first 48 credits mirror the MS PMHNP program entirely, followed by 42 credits of DNP-level coursework including a 4-course, 500-hour capstone sequence. The post-master’s track begins directly with the 42-credit DNP coursework.
- Post-BSN Entry: PMHNP MS Courses (48 credits, Years 1–3) — Same curriculum as the MS program above (see MS Curriculum section)
- DNP Core Courses (30 credits, Years 4–6)
- NURS 716 – Informatics for Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 780 – Health Care Ethics in the Lifespan (3 cr.)
- NURS 800 – Leading Systems and Organizations (3 cr.)
- NURS 801 – Leadership for Quality Improvement (3 cr.)
- NURS 802 – Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 804 – Finance and Management of Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr.)
- NURS 810 – Clinical Genetics (3 cr.)
- NURS 850 – Health Policy and Population-Focused DNP Practice (3 cr.)
- PH 750 – Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3 cr.)
- PH 752 – Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 cr.)
- DNP Capstone Courses (12 credits, 500 practicum hours)
- NURS 90001 – Capstone 1: Internship (3 cr., 105 practicum hours)
- NURS 90002 – Capstone 2: Proposal Development (3 cr., 105 practicum hours)
- NURS 90003 – Capstone 3: Implementation (3 cr., 210 practicum hours)
- NURS 90004 – Capstone 4: Evaluation & Dissemination (3 cr., 80 practicum hours)
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
DNP Clinicals
The post-BSN DNP requires a total of 1,130 supervised clinical hours — 630 hours from the PMHNP MS courses (Practicums I and II) plus 500 hours across the four DNP Capstone courses.
Post-master’s advanced standing students must complete a minimum of 500 additional capstone hours, with prior master’s-level clinical hours validated through gap analysis.
- NURS 782 + NURS 783 – PMHNP Practicum I & II: 630 hours total (post-BSN track)
- NURS 90001 – DNP Capstone Internship: 105 hours
- NURS 90002 – DNP Capstone Proposal: 105 hours
- NURS 90003 – DNP Capstone Implementation: 210 hours
- NURS 90004 – DNP Capstone Evaluation & Dissemination: 80 hours
- Total (Post-BSN): 1,130 supervised clinical hours
- Total (Post-Master’s): minimum 500 additional hours (prior clinical hours validated at admission)
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
Post-Baccalaureate Applicants:
- BSN from an accredited program; minimum cumulative and nursing GPA of 3.5
- Current New York State RN license and active registration
- Minimum 2 years of post-baccalaureate full-time RN experience
- Undergraduate statistics course and discrete undergraduate nursing research course
- Statement of purpose (~500 words), two letters of recommendation, professional résumé
- Satisfactory interview required
- GRE not required
Post-Master’s Applicants:
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program; graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Current New York State RN license and active registration
- National certification at the advanced level (requiring a graduate degree) from a national nursing certifying body
- Written descriptions of career goals and capstone project interests
- Statement of purpose (~500 words), two letters of recommendation
- Satisfactory interview required
- GRE not required
All DNP Applicants:
- US citizenship or permanent residency required — F-1 and J-1 visa applicants are not eligible
- Application through NursingCAS
- Application Deadline: February 15 for Fall start
Tuition
| Program Type | NYS Resident (Part-Time, Per Credit) | Out-of-State (Per Credit) | NYS Full-Time (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS & Advanced Certificate | $470 | $855 | $11,090 |
| DNP | $620 | $1,000 | $14,630 |
As a CUNY tax-supported institution, Hunter College maintains some of the most affordable graduate nursing tuition in New York.
NYC/NYS residents pay identical rates; non-NYC NYS residents must submit a Certificate of Residency Form to the Bursar’s Office to qualify for the lower rate.
Mandatory fall/spring semester fees for graduate students: $153.45 full-time / $90.95 part-time (includes CUNY Technology Fee, Consolidated Fee, Student Activity Fee, and Student Senate Fee). Summer part-time graduate fee: $77.50.
More tuition details are available here.
Application Deadlines
| Program | Deadline | Start Term |
|---|---|---|
| MS PMHNP | February 15 | Fall |
| Advanced Certificate PMHNP | February 15 | Fall |
| DNP PMHNP (Post-BSN & Post-Master’s) | February 15 | Fall |
All NP specialty graduate programs start in Fall and share the February 15 deadline. Applications are submitted exclusively through NursingCAS. For program-specific questions contact pmhnpinfo@hunter.cuny.edu.
For DNP inquiries contact the DNP program coordinator. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission — NP specializations can be highly competitive.
Accreditation
The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing is an accredited institution within the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Graduates of all three PMHNP tracks — MS, Advanced Certificate, and DNP — are eligible for New York State NP certification and meet the educational requirements for national board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), qualifying them to sit for the PMHNP-BC examination.
More PMHNP Programs in New York
- Adelphi University - Adelphi
- Binghamton University - Binghamton
- D'Youville University - Buffalo
- Mercy University - Dobbs Ferry
- Pace University - New York
- St. John Fisher University - Rochester
- Stony Brook University - Stony Brook
- SUNY Upstate Medical University - Syracuse
- University of Rochester - Rochester