Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $10,007–$11,029 | 3 years |
| DNP – PMHNP (BSN-DNP) | $15,301–$15,481 | 4 years |
| Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate | $2,847 minimum | Varies (individualized) |
The PMHNP programs at CSU Pueblo prepare students to provide advanced evidence-based, patient-centered care to psychiatric and mental health patients across the lifespan.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP Concentration
The estimated cost for the MS PMHNP program is approximately $10,007-11,029 for Colorado residents or $15,029-16,460 for non-residents and the program takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 56-62 credits × $177.92/credit plus graduate differential tuition.
MSN Curriculum
The MS PMHNP curriculum spans 3 years and includes core nursing courses plus PMHNP specialty courses:
NSG 651 – Psych Mental Health I
Students apply core theories and current evidence to care for patients with psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. The course builds a clear foundation for safe, person-centered practice.
NSG 651L – PMH Practicum I
Students begin supervised clinical work with psychiatric patients across age groups. Learners practice assessment, communication, and basic treatment planning.
NSG 652 – Psych Mental Health II
Students examine management of common psychiatric disorders using guideline-based care. The course strengthens clinical reasoning and treatment selection.
NSG 652L – PMH Practicum II
Students expand direct patient care under preceptor guidance. Learners refine interviewing, diagnosis, and medication or therapy follow-up.
NSG 653 – Psych Mental Health III
Students analyze care for complex or co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The course emphasizes risk management, care coordination, and outcome tracking.
NSG 653L – PMH Practicum III
Students deliver advanced clinical care with increased independence. Learners manage complex cases, document progress, and adjust plans.
NSG 654 – Psych Mental Health IV
Students integrate advanced concepts to lead comprehensive treatment plans. The course focuses on synthesis, quality improvement, and preparation for role entry.
NSG 654L – PMH Practicum IV
Students assume near-independent practice under supervision. Learners lead visits, manage panels, and demonstrate readiness for the PMHNP role.
NSG 655L – PMHNP Practicum MS
Students complete additional supervised practice to strengthen PMHNP competencies. The practicum allows flexible credit to match individual clinical needs.
NSG 676 – Theoretical Mental Health Models
Students study major theories that guide psychiatric assessment and intervention. The course links models to practical decision-making.
NSG 677 – Psychopharmacology
Students apply pharmacologic principles to select and monitor psychiatric medications across the lifespan. The course stresses safety, interactions, and patient education.
NSG 678 – Psychiatric Assessment & Evaluation
Students learn structured approaches to psychiatric interviews and mental status exams. The course covers use of diagnostic tools and standardized criteria.
NSG 679 – Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis
Students develop differential diagnoses for mental health presentations using clear, stepwise logic. The course focuses on ruling in and ruling out conditions with evidence.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Students admitted prior to Fall 2024 complete 585 hours in PMHNP practicum, while students admitted starting Fall 2024 complete 780 hours in PMHNP practicum.
Total practicum requirements include 30 lab hours and 780 clinical practice hours (for students admitted Fall 2024 and later), totaling 810-831 hours. Clinical hours are completed through NSG 651L, 652L, 653L, 654L practicum courses and NSG 655L variable credit practicum (3 credits total) distributed over the final 3 semesters.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university with 3.0 GPA or higher
- Active, unrestricted Colorado or Colorado Nursing Compact State RN license (by end of first semester)
- All prerequisites passed with C or better (C- not acceptable), including statistics, microbiology, and chemistry
- Three letters of recommendation (professional/academic, clinical, and other)
- Letter of intent including brief professional history, reason for pursuing degree, and plan to manage work/home/study
- Curriculum Vitae
- Drug screen and physical exam within last 12 months
- Current CPR certification (Health Care Provider)
- Current immunizations
- Background check per Colorado Law
- Preference given to applicants with 2000 hours (1 year full-time) RN experience, Southern Colorado residency, or CSU Pueblo graduates
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP Concentration (BSN-DNP)
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP PMHNP program is approximately $15,301-15,481 for Colorado residents or $23,000-23,246 for non-residents and the program takes 4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 86-87 credits × $177.92/credit plus graduate and doctoral differential tuition for nursing courses.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP PMHNP curriculum integrates master’s-level PMHNP preparation with doctoral-level advanced practice leadership:
Year 1 – Fall (9 credits):
- NSG 504: NSG Writing & Presentation Skills
- NSG 505: Biostatistics & Research
- NSG 507: Advanced Practice Roles
- NSG 508: Advanced Practice Theory
Year 1 – Spring (10 credits):
- NSG 562: Advanced Assessment
- NSG 562L: Advanced Assessment Lab
- NSG 748: Healthcare: Ethics, Law & Policy
- NSG 712: Research & Evidence Based Practice
Year 1 – Summer (7 credits):
- NSG 551: Health Promotion
- NSG 571: Healthcare Informatics
- NSG 714: Epidemiology
Year 2 – Fall (10 credits):
- NSG 552: Advanced Pathophysiology
- NSG 561: Advanced Pharmacology
- NSG 716: Health Care Business & Finance
Year 2 – Spring (8 credits):
- NSG 676: Theoretical Mental Health Models
- NSG 677: Psychopharmacology
- NSG 718: Organizational & Systems Leadership
Year 2 – Summer (5 credits):
- NSG 678: Psychiatric Assessment & Evaluation
- NSG 679: Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis
- NSG 801: Doctor of Nursing Practice Seminar
Year 3 – Fall (7 credits):
- NSG 651: Psych Mental Health I
- NSG 651L: PMH Practicum I
- NSG 802: DNP Project Practicum I
Year 3 – Spring (7 credits):
- NSG 652: Psych Mental Health II
- NSG 652L: PMH Practicum II
- NSG 803: DNP Project Practicum II
Year 3 – Summer (8 credits):
- NSG 653: Psych Mental Health III
- NSG 653L: PMH Practicum III
- NSG 804: DNP Project Practicum III
Year 4 – Fall (9 credits):
- NSG 654: Psych Mental Health IV
- NSG 654L: PMH Practicum IV
- NSG 805: DNP Project Practicum IV
Year 4 – Spring (6 credits):
- NSG 808L: Final DNP Practicum PMHNP
Optional:
- NSG 810L: DNP Project Practicum (if needed)
DNP Clinicals
The BSN-DNP program requires 1,320 total practicum hours, including 30 lab hours,
780 PMHNP practicum hours, and 540 DNP project practicum hours. Students admitted prior to Fall 2024 complete 585 PMHNP practicum hours, while those admitted Fall 2024 and later complete 780 PMHNP practicum hours. All practicum courses must be completed in sequence following the program curriculum plan.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- All MS PMHNP admission requirements listed above
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from regionally accredited institution
- Undergraduate BSN cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Undergraduate statistics course with grade of C or higher
- Application to university Office of Admission
- Preference given to applicants with 2000 hours RN experience (PMHNP emphasis), Southern Colorado residency, one year as clinical adjunct instructor, or CSU Pueblo graduates
Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate is approximately $2,847 minimum for Colorado residents or $4,278 minimum for non-residents (16 credit hours minimum × $177.92/credit plus graduate differential tuition), with actual costs varying based on individual gap analysis evaluation.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate plan of study is individualized based on academic credentials and gap analysis. Minimum required courses include:
- NSG 676: Theoretical Mental Health Models (2 credits)
- NSG 677: Psychopharmacology (2 credits)
- NSG 678: Psychiatric Assessment & Evaluation (2 credits)
- NSG 679: Psychiatric Differential Diagnosis (2 credits)
- NSG 651: Psych Mental Health I (2 credits)
- NSG 651L: PMH Practicum I (2 credits)
- NSG 652: Psych Mental Health II (2 credits)
- NSG 652L: PMH Practicum II (2 credits)
- NSG 653: Psych Mental Health III (3 credits)
- NSG 653L: PMH Practicum III (3 credits)
- NSG 654: Psych Mental Health IV (3 credits)
- NSG 654L: PMH Practicum IV (3 credits)
- NSG 655L: PMH Practicum MS (1-3 credits variable)
The student’s individualized plan is developed based on previously completed coursework to meet Colorado State Board of Nursing mandates for Advanced Nursing Practice.
Certificate Clinicals
Post-Master’s Certificate students complete a total of 585 clinical hours (or 780 hours for students admitted Fall 2024 and later) in PMHNP practicum. Clinical requirements are determined through gap analysis based on prior academic credentials.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in Nursing from NLNAC or AACN-CCNE accredited university with 3.0 GPA or higher
- Active, unrestricted Colorado or Colorado Nursing Compact State RN license
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from accredited university with 3.0 GPA or higher
- All prerequisites passed with C or better (statistics, microbiology, chemistry)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Letter of intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Current CPR certification
- Current immunizations
- Background check
- Drug screen and physical exam within last 12 months
- Minimum 16 postgraduate credit hours completed at CSU Pueblo required for certificate eligibility
- Preference given to applicants with 2000 hours RN experience, Southern Colorado residency, or CSU Pueblo graduates
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $177.92 per credit hour base rate for Colorado residents, with additional graduate differential tuition assessed for all NSG courses within 500-699 level regardless of degree level.
Doctoral differential tuition is assessed for all NSG courses within 700-899 level. Non-Colorado residents pay $239.58 per credit hour base rate plus applicable differential tuition.
WICHE/WRGP rate students (from AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY, and U.S. Pacific Territories) also pay $177.92 per credit hour.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The School of Nursing at Colorado State University Pueblo is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates of all PMHNP tracks are eligible to take the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination.
Other Colorado PMHNP Programs
Compare All PMHNP Programs in Colorado
- Regis University - Denver
- University of Colorado - Aurora