Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP | $79,300 | ~2 years (full-time) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | $39,746 | ~2 years (part-time) |
The programs feature synchronous online lectures in a highly interactive e-learning format taught by clinically active, nationally board-certified faculty, with students achieving 100% board pass rates and gaining access to state-of-the-art simulation labs.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is $79,300 and takes approximately 2 years to complete on a full-time basis across 52 quarter credits.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP program totals 52 quarter credits (equivalent to approximately 35 semester credits) delivered over four 10-week quarters per year. The curriculum includes core courses, support courses, clinical courses, and one elective.
Core Courses
NURS 500 [WI] – Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments
Analyzes contemporary health policy, politics, access, quality, and cost, with focus on the impact on advanced practice nursing roles in a global context.
NURS 502 – Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care
Develops skills to recognize ethical dilemmas, apply moral reasoning, and choose appropriate actions using major ethics theories and perspectives.
NURS 544 – Quality and Safety in Healthcare
Introduces quality and safety competencies based on QSEN to prepare nurses to lead system-level improvement and patient safety initiatives.
RSCH 503 – Research Methods and Biostatistics
Covers research design, data collection, basic biostatistics, and critical appraisal so students can evaluate the link between research and clinical practice.
RSCH 504 – Evaluation and Translation of Health Research
Teaches strategies to appraise research quality, synthesize evidence, and design plans to translate findings into practice settings.
Support Courses
NUPR 520 – Nurse Practitioner Clinical Orientation Seminar
Orients NP students to clinical expectations, placement processes, compliance requirements, and resources that support a smooth start to clinical practicums.
NURS 548 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Builds on normal physiology to explain common disease mechanisms and organ system dysfunction in human health.
NURS 549 – Advanced Pharmacology
Reviews major drug classes, mechanisms, dosing, pharmacokinetics, and safety issues across the lifespan, including interactions and contraindications.
NURS 550 – Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning
Emphasizes advanced history taking, physical and psychosocial assessment, and clinical reasoning to distinguish normal from pathologic findings across the lifespan.
NURS 555 – Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
Examines neurobiology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic medications used to manage psychiatric symptoms in children, adults, and older adults.
NURS 664 – Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners
Explores NP roles and competencies along with legal, legislative, reimbursement, professional, and ethical issues in advanced nursing practice and team-based care.
Clinical Courses
NURS 592 – PMHNP I: Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology I
Introduces core PMHNP theories and models while applying assessment, diagnosis, and treatment principles for adults and older adults in supervised clinical practice.
NURS 593 – PMHNP II: Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology II
Expands PMHNP concepts to special populations, emphasizing integrated medical and psychiatric care, comorbidities, and differential diagnosis in clinical settings.
NURS 594 – PMHNP III: Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology III
Focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children, adolescents, and their families, reinforced through supervised practicum.
NURS 595 – PMHNP IV: Management and Care of Clients in Diverse Populations Across the Lifespan
Applies individual, family, and group psychotherapy theories and techniques to diverse psychiatric populations in both classroom and clinical environments.
Elective
Elective (3.0 credits)
Students select one 500–699 level course from CIT (Complementary and Integrative Health), IPS (Interprofessional Studies), NUPR (Advanced Professional Nursing), or NURS (Nursing) to support individual professional goals.
Total Credits: 52.0
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
MSN-PMHNP students complete 640 clinical hours distributed across four practicum courses (NURS 592, 593, 594, and 595). Students are responsible for finding and coordinating their own clinical sites and preceptors, though the Division of Graduate Nursing provides resources to assist in this process.
Pennsylvania RN licensure is required prior to starting any course with a clinical component.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN degree from CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA accredited institution with regional accreditation
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale
- Current, unrestricted United States RN license
- Minimum one year of psychiatric nursing experience
- Two professional references from supervisors, managers, nursing faculty members, or program directors (not colleagues, family, or friends)
- Personal statement under 1,000 words explaining program choice, completion plans, and how work experience will enhance MSN studies
- Detailed resume showing specific job experiences, responsibilities, and departments
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Admissions interview may be required
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate is $39,746 and takes approximately 2 years to complete on a part-time basis across 34 quarter credits.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 34 quarter credits delivered over four 10-week quarters per year. The curriculum focuses on support courses and PMHNP concentration courses.
Support Courses:
- NUPR 520 – Nurse Practitioner Clinical Orientation Seminar (0 credits)
- NURS 548 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS 549 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 550 – Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning (4 credits)
- NURS 664 – Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners (1 credit)
Concentration Courses:
- NURS 555 – Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NURS 592 – PMHNP I: Advanced Mental Health NP Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology I (5 credits)
- NURS 593 – PMHNP II: Advanced Mental Health NP Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology II (5 credits)
- NURS 594 – PMHNP III: Advanced Mental Health NP Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology III (5 credits)
- NURS 595 – PMHNP IV: Advanced Mental Health NP Management and Care of Clients in Diverse Pop Across the Lifespan (5 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Post-Master’s Certificate students complete 640 clinical hours distributed across four practicum courses. Students attend an in-person on-campus intensive in NURS 592 for 4 days during week one of the summer quarter, with dates subject to change.
Students are responsible for coordinating their own clinical sites and preceptors with departmental resource support, and may need to travel to access clinical sites and achieve necessary clinical hours.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing or Doctorate of Nursing Practice from ACEN or CCNE accredited institution
- BSN from CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA accredited institution
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 or above
- Current, unrestricted United States RN license
- Minimum 1 year of psychiatric nursing experience
- Two professional letters of recommendation from supervisors or former nursing faculty (not from colleagues or family)
- Personal statement (800-1,600 words) explaining program choice, how work experience enhances studies, and post-completion plans
- Resume with specific details of responsibilities and job experiences
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Copy of United States RN license or license verification from registry website
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,525 per credit hour for MSN programs and $1,169 per credit hour for Post-Master’s Certificate programs (representing a 10% tuition savings off Drexel’s regular rate of $1,298 per credit).
General full-time students pay a $280 per term fee while part-time students pay a $140 per term fee.
Students enrolled in online graduate academic programs are charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year for the 2025-2026 academic year.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Drexel University’s baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
These programs and the Post-Graduate APRN certificates are also approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Other Nursing Programs
Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions offers additional programs including:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- PhD in Nursing
- MSN – Advanced Role (Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Management, Public Health Nursing, Quality/Safety/Risk Management)
- MSN – Nurse Practitioner concentrations (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family/Individual Across the Lifespan, Family/Individual with Emergency Specialization, Pediatric Acute Care, Pediatric Primary Care, Pediatric Primary Care and Acute Care Dual Option, Women’s Health/Gender Related)
- Post-Master’s Certificates for all NP specialties
- MSN-Bridge Program
- MSN/PhD Joint Degree
- DNP – Nurse Anesthesia
Related Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Pennsylvania
- Jefferson University - Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania State University - University Park
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- University of Scranton - Scranton
- York College - York