Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS PMHNP | ~$73,530 | ~3 years (part-time) |
| DNP PMHNP | ~$148,420 (BS-to-DNP est.) | ~5 years (part-time) |
| Certificate PMHNP | ~$32,490 | ~2 years (part-time) |
The DNP program is structured as a hybrid, part-time format with spring-only admission and two entry pathways depending on existing credentials.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The MS in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is a 43-credit program with an estimated tuition of approximately $73,530 at $1,710 per credit, designed for part-time completion in approximately 3 years.
MSN Curriculum
The curriculum covers advanced practice nursing foundations, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and lifespan mental health treatment across individuals, families, and communities. Courses span psychiatric diagnostics, substance use disorders, child/adolescent mental health, and community crisis intervention.
Coursework includes:
NUR 602 Frameworks for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
Introduces major nursing theories, conceptual models, and approaches to theory development. Students analyze theory components and levels and examine how nursing theory informs advanced practice, education, administration, and research.
NUR 704 Nursing Informatics and Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
Covers key nursing informatics concepts, theories, and technologies for use in advanced practice, education, research, and administration. Students develop skills in information seeking, graduate-level scholarly writing with evidence-based literature, and effective use of college and university resources.
NUR 652 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (2 cr.)
Explores major psychotropic medication classes used to treat psychiatric symptoms and disorders across the lifespan. Emphasizes history taking, physical and laboratory evaluation, shared decision-making in medication selection, ongoing medication management, and related legal and ethical considerations.
NUR 756 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
Provides an advanced study of human physiology and pathophysiology for advanced practice nurses. Focuses on cell biology, tumor biology, immunology, genetics, and pathology, emphasizing mechanisms and clinical manifestations of acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan.
NUR 763 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
Focuses on pharmacotherapeutic management of primary health-care conditions by advanced practice nurses. Emphasizes critical thinking in prescribing, with attention to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, drug interactions, adverse effects, and evidence-based, lifespan-appropriate treatment planning.
NUR 764 Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
Builds on basic assessment skills to develop advanced diagnostic reasoning. Emphasizes comprehensive history taking, documentation, focused and complete physical examinations, analysis of findings, and formulation of differential diagnoses.
NUR 755 Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan Lab (2 cr.)
Provides hands-on practice in conducting detailed patient interviews and full physical exams, documenting findings, and developing priority and differential diagnoses. Students refine diagnostic reasoning and oral case presentation skills for patients across the lifespan.
NUR 615 PMH NP: Role I (1 cr.)
Introduces the integrated role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner within evolving health-care systems. Emphasizes combining pharmacotherapy with brief therapies and analyzing core elements of the therapist role.
NUR 680 Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Didactic (2 cr.)
Uses current literature and case studies to examine major psychiatric diagnoses and associated psychopathology. Students formulate differential diagnoses and develop integrated therapy and psychopharmacology treatment plans for clients across the lifespan.
NUR 705 Nursing Research, Statistics & Evidence-Based Practice (4 cr.)
Advances knowledge of quantitative and qualitative nursing research methods, including design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Strengthens skills in critiquing research and applying evidence-based findings to improve clinical practice.
NUR 703 Health Policy for Advanced Practice Nursing (2 cr.)
Examines major dimensions of health policy from economic, social, ethical, political, and global perspectives. Emphasizes the advanced practice nurse’s role in policy analysis and development of evidence-based approaches to influence health policy.
NUR 681 PMH NP: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Clinical (2 cr.)
Provides supervised clinical experience in psychiatric interviewing, history taking, and differential diagnosis for clients across the lifespan. Students develop and implement individualized treatment plans with faculty-facilitated on-campus group supervision.
NUR 694 PMH NP: Individual Clients Mental Health Treatment Didactic (2 cr.)
Analyzes and compares brief therapy models for adult and geriatric psychiatric clients. Through case studies, students plan treatments that integrate psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for specific mental health disorders.
NUR 696 PMH NP: Substance Use Disorders Across the Lifespan Didactic (2 cr.)
Examines theories of substance use disorders and evidence-based interventions for individuals and families across the lifespan. Case-based learning emphasizes assessment, diagnosis, and planning of care that incorporates pharmacotherapy and counseling approaches.
NUR 616 PMH NP: Role II (1 cr.)
Expands understanding of the advanced practice PMH NP role, emphasizing collaborative and interprofessional models of care. Students explore ethical and legal issues associated with advanced psychiatric-mental health practice.
NUR 695 PMH NP: Individual Clients Mental Health Treatment Clinical (1 cr.)
Offers clinical placement to develop prescribing and psychotherapy competencies with adult and geriatric clients. Students apply brief therapy models and pharmacotherapy while participating in structured individual and group faculty supervision.
NUR 697 PMH NP: Substance Use Disorders Across the Lifespan Clinical (1 cr.)
Places students with clinical preceptors in settings specializing in substance use disorders. Students assess, diagnose, and provide therapy, counseling, and pharmacologic treatment for clients across the lifespan under faculty-supervised clinical oversight.
NUR 698 PMH NP: Families, Adolescents, Children Mental Health Treatment Didactic (2 cr.)
Focuses on brief therapy models for work with families, adolescents, and children. Students examine theoretical principles and strategies and use case studies to design treatment plans that include psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for specific disorders.
NUR 727 PMH NP: Community Mental Health Crisis Intervention Didactic (2 cr.)
Explores theoretical frameworks guiding community psychiatric-mental health interventions. Emphasizes mental health promotion, crisis intervention, recovery processes, care transitions, and interprofessional collaboration in community settings.
NUR 699 PMH NP: Families, Adolescents, Children Mental Health Treatment Clinical (1 cr.)
Provides supervised clinical experience assessing, diagnosing, and treating families, adolescents, and children. Students apply models from the didactic course, particularly with families affected by physical or emotional illness, and participate in on-campus supervision.
NUR 728 PMH NP: Community Mental Health Crisis Intervention Clinical (1 cr.)
Places students in community agencies and emergency departments to practice PMH NP skills across the lifespan. Focuses on health promotion, crisis intervention, and development and delivery of psychoeducational programs for targeted populations.
NUR 708 ePortfolio (1 cr.)
Guides students in completing a professional ePortfolio that documents learning and demonstrates achievement of program outcomes, supporting transition into advanced practice roles.
See the official curriculum page for more details.
MSN Clinicals
The MS program requires 500 hands-on clinical hours completed across a variety of practice settings. Students gain supervised experience across the full psychiatric-mental health lifespan spectrum.
- 500 total clinical hours required
- Settings include: community health clinics, HMOs, specialty clinics, and private medical practices
- Clinical rotations cover individual adult clients, substance use disorders, families/adolescents/children, and community mental health crisis intervention
- Additional simulation practice available in Adelphi’s CESiL lab
MSN Admissions
Priority application deadline for Fall admission is March 1. Applications after that date are reviewed on a space-available basis.
- BSN from a CCNE- or CNEA-accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA; B or higher in all nursing and science courses
- Graduate application + $60 fee
- Résumé
- 500-word essay on reasons for applying
- Two letters of recommendation (master’s-prepared nurses or above)
- New York State RN license
- Course-by-course evaluation required for international undergraduate work (NACES member organization)
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP
The DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is an 82-credit program (BS-to-DNP pathway); the estimated tuition is approximately $148,420 based on the DNP per-credit rate of $1,810, designed for part-time completion in approximately 5 years.
The Advanced Standing DNP option is available for applicants who already hold an MS in nursing and PMHNP national board certification — contact Adelphi for the Advanced Standing credit total and cost. Note: The BS-to-DNP pathway is not currently accepting applicants.
DNP Curriculum
The DNP curriculum builds on PMHNP clinical foundations and extends into doctoral-level leadership, health economics, translational science, and evidence-based practice. DNP-specific coursework prepares graduates for system-level leadership, health policy, and practice scholarship.
- Frameworks For Advanced Nursing Practice
- Nursing Informatics and Advanced Nursing Practice
- Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Physical Assessment (+ Lab)
- Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
- PMH NP ROLE I & II; Differential Diagnosis (Didactic + Clinical)
- Nursing Research, Statistics & Evidence Based Practice
- Health Policy for Advanced Practice Nursing
- PMH NP: Individual Clients, Substance Use Disorders, Families/Adolescents, Community Crisis (Didactic + Clinical)
- Leadership and Organizational Management in AP Nursing
- Essentials of Epidemiology in AP Nursing
- Healthcare Economics and Finance for AP Nursing
- Social Determinants of Health for AP Nursing
- Translational Science in Nursing
- Legal and Ethical Considerations in AP Nursing
- Nursing Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing
- Seminar in Clinical Genetics and Genomics
- DNP Project I, II, and III
- DNP Residency I, II, and III
See the official curriculum page for more details.
DNP Clinicals
The BS-to-DNP pathway includes 1,000 total experiential hours, split between hands-on clinical practice and a formal residency component. The Advanced Standing DNP requires 500 residency hours.
- BS-to-DNP: 500 hands-on clinical hours + 500 residency hours = 1,000 total hours
- Advanced Standing DNP: 500 residency hours
- Residency is distributed across three DNP Residency courses (I, II, III)
- Clinical settings include community health clinics, HMOs, specialty clinics, and private practices
DNP Admissions
This program offers spring semester start only. Two entry pathways are available.
Advanced Standing DNP (MS + PMHNP Certification):
- Master’s degree in psychiatric mental health nursing as NP, or post-master’s certificate
- National board certification as a PMHNP
- Minimum one year of clinical experience as a PMHNP
- Minimum 3.0 GPA; B or higher in all nursing and science courses
- Graduate application + $60 fee
- Three letters of reference (at least two from a supervisor or doctoral faculty)
- Faculty interview
- Curriculum vitae
- 500-word essay on future DNP role
- Course-by-course evaluation for international undergraduate work (NACES member org)
BS-to-DNP (Not Currently Accepting Applicants):
- BSN from a CCNE- or CNEA-accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA; B or higher in all nursing and science courses
- Minimum one year post-baccalaureate RN experience
- Three letters of reference (at least two from supervisor or doctoral faculty)
- Faculty interview
- Curriculum vitae
- 500-word essay on future DNP role
- Graduate application + $60 fee
Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate – PMHNP
The Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health is a 19-credit program with an estimated tuition of approximately $32,490 at $1,710 per credit, designed for part-time completion in approximately 2 years.
Certificate Curriculum
Designed for NPs already licensed in another specialty, the certificate curriculum focuses exclusively on PMHNP-specific content. It builds on existing master’s-level coursework and covers psychiatric diagnostics, pharmacology, and lifespan mental health treatment.
- Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
- PMH NP: ROLE I & II
- Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (Didactic + Clinical)
- PMH NP: Individual Clients Mental Health Treatment (Didactic + Clinical)
- PMH NP: Substance Use Disorders Across the Lifespan (Didactic + Clinical)
- PMH NP: Families, Adolescents & Children Mental Health Treatment (Didactic + Clinical)
- PMH NP: Community Mental Health & Crisis Intervention (Didactic + Clinical)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate program requires 500 hands-on clinical hours across a variety of psychiatric-mental health settings, mirroring the clinical depth of the MS program.
- 500 total clinical hours required
- Settings include: community health clinics, HMOs, specialty clinics, and private practices
- Clinical rotations span individual clients, substance use, families/adolescents/children, and crisis intervention
Certificate Admissions
Priority application deadline for Spring admission is July 1. Applications after that date are reviewed on a space-available basis.
- BSN from an accredited four-year institution
- Master’s degree in nursing with completion of an NP program from an accredited institution
- National NP board certification (ANCC or AANP)
- New York State RN license and NP license
- Minimum 3.0 GPA; B or higher in all nursing and science courses
- Graduate application + $60 fee
- Résumé
- 500-word essay on reasons for applying
- Two letters of recommendation (master’s-prepared nurses or above)
- Course-by-course evaluation for international undergraduate work (NACES member org)
Tuition
The MS in PMHNP and Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate are priced at $1,710 per credit hour for in-person programs at the Garden City campus.
The DNP program is estimated at $1,810 per credit hour based on Adelphi’s listed DNP rate.
Per-semester fees range from $480 (1–6 credits) to $800 (12+ credits). Employees of Northwell Health, NYU Langone Health, and Nassau County Government may be eligible for a 15% tuition discount on graduate nursing programs.
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
Adelphi University’s Clinical Education and Simulation Lab (CESiL) holds accreditation in Teaching/Education from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), valid through December 31, 2030. The College of Nursing & Public Health reports a 100% first-time pass rate for graduates who sat for the ANCC Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification exam in 2020.
More PMHNP Programs in New York
- Binghamton University - Binghamton
- D'Youville University - Buffalo
- Hunter College - NY
- 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