Program Tracks Overview
Students complete their clinical requirements near their home communities with dedicated clinical placement support. CSU maintains CCNE accreditation and ranks as the #1 public university in Ohio for social mobility according to U.S. News & World Report.
Post-Baccalaureate to DNP: Psychiatric Mental Health
The estimated cost for the DNP program is approximately $58,616 and would take 4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This 92-credit hour program prepares graduates for advanced practice nursing across the lifespan in community mental health agencies and interdisciplinary practice settings. The program can be completed in 11 consecutive semesters and includes affordable tuition with all courses taught by doctorally prepared faculty.
Curriculum
The DNP curriculum integrates foundational courses in advanced practice nursing roles, evidence-based practice, population health, and ethical leadership.
Courses include:
- NUR 701: Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice: 3 cr
- NUR 702: Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice: 3 cr
- NUR 703: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: 3 cr: 60 clinical hours
- NUR 704: Roles and Responsibilities of the Advanced Practice Nurse: 2 cr
- NUR 706: Methods of Evidence-Based Practice: 3 cr
- NUR 707: Improving Population Health: 3 cr: 30 clinical hours
- NUR 708: Connecting Theory and Research Knowledge for Advanced Nursing Practice: 3 cr
- NUR 709: Health Policy for Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals: 3 cr
- NUR 711: Ethical Leadership in Professional Nursing Practice: 3 cr
- NUR 712: Applying Information Technology to Support EBP: 3 cr
- NUR 713: Health Systems Leadership: 3 cr
- NUR 715: Clinical Genetics/Genomics for Advanced Practice Nurses: 3 cr
- NUR 716: Applied Statistics and Epidemiology: 3 cr
- NUR 820: Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment: 2 cr: 30 clinical hours
- NUR 821: Neuropsychopharmacology: 2 cr
- NUR 822: Theoretical Foundations for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan: 2 cr
- NUR 823: PMNNP Focus I: Care of the Adult Individual Client: 3 cr
- NUR 824: PMNNP Focus I Clinical: Care of the Adult Individual Client: 5 cr: 180 clinical hours
- NUR 825: PMNNP Focus II: Care of the Family as Client: 3 cr
- NUR 826: PMNNP Focus II Clinical: Care of the Family as Client: 5 cr: 180 clinical hours
- NUR 827: PMNNP Focus III: Care of Children and Adolescents: 3 cr
- NUR 828: PMNNP Focus III Clinical: Care of Children and Adolescents: 5 cr: 180 clinical hours
- NUR 829: PMNNP Focus IV: Group Therapy: 3 cr
- NUR 830: PMNNP Focus IV Clinical: Group Therapy: 5 cr: 180 clinical hours
- NUR 883: PMHNP Specialty Capstone I: 3 cr: 120 clinical hours
- NUR 884: PMHNP Specialty Capstone II: 3 cr: 120 clinical hours
- NUR 899: DNP Scholarly Project: 1–3 cr
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN program is approximately $30,562 and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This 48-credit hour program can be completed in six semesters with full-time enrollment. The curriculum combines advanced nursing knowledge courses, APRN core competencies, and population-focused psychiatric mental health training. All coursework is delivered 100% online with clinical placement services provided.
Curriculum
The MSN curriculum begins with foundational courses in evidence-based practice, population health, information systems, and healthcare policy.
Courses include:
- NUR 503 – Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 506 – Theoretical Foundations of Population Health
- NUR 600 – Information Systems in Healthcare
- NUR 602 – Health Care Policy
- NUR 521 – Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NUR 522 – Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NUR 523 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- NUR 612 – PMHNP Focus III: Care of Children and Adolescents
- NUR 613 – PMHNP Focus III Clinical: Care of Children and Adolescents
- NUR 635 – Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment
- NUR 636 – Neuropsychopharmacology
- NUR 637 – Theoretical Foundations for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan
- NUR 638 – PMHNP Focus I: Care of the Adult Individual Client
- NUR 639 – PMHNP Focus I Clinical: Care of the Adult Individual Client
- NUR 640 – PMHNP Focus II: Care of the Family as Client
- NUR 641 – PMHNP Focus II Clinical: Care of the Family as Client
Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the certificate program is approximately $22,921 and would take 1.25 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This 36-credit hour certificate program serves nurses who already hold master’s or doctoral degrees in nursing.
Students who previously completed advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology courses with grades of ‘B’ or better may receive transfer credit, potentially reducing the program length to four semesters.
Curriculum
The certificate curriculum includes core APRN courses (if not previously completed) and specialized PMHNP coursework.
Core classes are as follows:
NUR 521 – Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
This course delivers a systems-focused exploration of normal and altered physiology across the lifespan. Students compare healthy function with pathologic changes, emphasizing the most prevalent acute and chronic disorders affecting morbidity and mortality in the U.S. population.
NUR 522 – Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Building on foundational pharmacology, this course develops advanced clinical knowledge for primary care APNs. Topics include drug classifications, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, therapeutics, and emerging pharmacogenomics.
NUR 523 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
Students refine physical and diagnostic assessment skills for advanced practice, integrating theoretical frameworks and clinical reasoning. Emphasis is on advanced communication, interpretation of findings across the lifespan, and presentation of assessment data in varied clinical settings.
NUR 635 – Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment
Focusing on clients with co-occurring physical and psychiatric conditions, this course sharpens psychiatric assessment techniques. Students learn organized interviewing and health assessment strategies to identify comorbidity and the interplay between mental and physical health.
NUR 636 – Neuropsychopharmacology
This course extends advanced pharmacology into psychiatric care, covering evidence-based prescribing for diverse populations. Students study psychotropic drug classes, lifespan considerations, clinical decision-making, and integration of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.
NUR 637 – Theoretical Foundations for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan
Students examine psychotherapy models and personality theories to understand psychopathology development. The course guides selection and application of therapeutic strategies and evaluation of theory-based research in client care.
NUR 638 – PMHNP Focus I: Care of the Adult Individual Client
This course addresses assessment and treatment of adult and older adult mental health across diverse populations. Students explore psychological, sociocultural, ethical, legal, and policy factors influencing care and learn theory-driven approaches to acute and chronic psychiatric conditions.
NUR 639 – PMHNP Focus I Clinical: Care of the Adult Individual Client
In this 300-hour practicum, students work toward autonomous PMHNP practice by applying psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and advanced nursing interventions for adult clients with mental health needs.
NUR 640 – PMHNP Focus II: Care of the Family as Client
Using family therapy theories, students learn to diagnose and treat dysfunctional family dynamics and promote mental wellness across generations. The course examines stress, intergenerational patterns, and cultural influences on family mental health.
NUR 641 – PMHNP Focus II Clinical: Care of the Family as Client
This 240-hour practicum immerses students in autonomous delivery of psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions to families, reinforcing advanced clinical and decision-making skills in family mental health care.
NUR 613 – PMHNP Focus III Clinical: Care of Children and Adolescents
Over 240 hours, students apply psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and advanced nursing strategies to support children and adolescents with psychiatric needs, functioning with minimal supervision toward NP autonomy.
NUR 612 – PMHNP Focus III: Care of Children and Adolescents
This course explores developmental psychopathology, epidemiology, and therapeutic modalities for pediatric and adolescent mental health. Students learn to assess risk factors, diagnose disorders, and plan age-appropriate interventions.
Find curriculum details here:
Prerequisites & Admissions
General Requirements:
- BSN degree (for MSN track) or Master’s/DNP in nursing (for certificate)
- Minimum 3.0-3.25 GPA
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- Statistics course with grade of C or better
- One year RN experience
- Professional references (2-3 letters)
- Resume/CV
- Personal essay (250-500 words)
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Interview with School of Nursing faculty
Application Deadlines:
- Priority deadline: April 15 for Fall enrollment
- Rolling admissions after April 15 on space-available basis
- Three annual intakes: Fall, Spring, Summer
Tuition
Graduate tuition costs $636.70 per credit hour for in-state students and $637.70 per credit hour for out-of-state students, plus applicable fees. Financial aid may be available for online students.
Accreditation
Cleveland State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Other Nursing Programs
Available Programs:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care NP
- Pediatric/Neonatal NP
- Pediatric Acute Care NP
- Health Systems Nursing Leadership (DNP track)
- Clinical Nurse Leader Advanced Certificate
- Nursing Education Advanced Certificates
Other Programs in Ohio
View All PMHNP Programs in Ohio
- Kent State - Kent
- Mount Carmel - Columbus
- Ohio State - Columbus
- Ohio University - Athens
- Ursuline College - Pepper Pike
- University of Toledo - Toledo
- Wright State University - Dayton