Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PMHNP | $55,212* | ~2.5 years (full-time); part-time available |
| Post-Graduate Certificate in PMHNP | $32,100* | ~1.5–2 years (varies by gap analysis) |
*Estimated at $1,284 per credit; university/program fees not included. Total includes 750 required clinical hours completed across courses.
Fairleigh Dickinson University operates PMHNP programs with flexible fall and spring start options and 2.8 GPA minimum admission requirement, lower than most competing institutions. The program requires 750 clinical hours across all nurse practitioner concentrations with synchronous weekly sessions for optimal success.
Students must complete advanced health assessment within 3.5 years of enrollment or take a basic refresher course. The university offers gap analysis for post-graduate applicants to determine credit requirements based on prior education.
MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP program is approximately $55,212 and would take 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 43-credit program includes comprehensive advanced practice preparation across both fall and spring start cohorts.
Courses includes:
The 43-credit curriculum combines foundational advanced practice nursing courses with specialized psychiatric-mental health content delivered over approximately 2.5 years.
- NURS6600 Advanced Nursing Theories & Roles
Analyzes philosophies of science and major nursing theories as guides for education, administration, research, and clinical practice. Connects conceptual models to day-to-day advanced nursing roles. - NURS7701 Advanced Research and Evidence Based Practice
Builds skills to appraise research, address ethics, and translate evidence into practice. Designs EBP projects that improve safety and outcomes in advanced practice, education, and administration. - NURS7702 Advanced Pathophysiology
Examines cellular mechanisms and disease processes that drive clinical signs and symptoms. Lays the foundation to diagnose common, episodic, and recurring conditions and plan treatment. - NURS6615 Advanced Pharmacology
Covers principles for rational prescribing, including legal issues, drug actions, and therapy monitoring. Addresses dose adjustments across age groups and disease states to support sound decisions. - NURS7008 Information Systems for Healthcare
Applies health IT concepts and frameworks to plan, implement, and evaluate clinical systems. Teaches how to use information tools to support decisions and improve outcomes. - NURS6620 Advanced Health Assessment
Develops comprehensive history, exam, and analysis skills across the lifespan with cultural focus. Addresses legal and ethical considerations and includes practicum for hands-on application. - NURS6701 Psychopharmacology
Prepares clinicians to prescribe for psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Links drug mechanisms to the pathophysiology of mental illness to guide safe, effective treatment. - NURS6501 Psych Mental Health Theory & Practice I
Introduces theoretical foundations for PMHNP practice. Emphasizes assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation for diverse populations. - NURS6503 Psych Mental Health Theory & Practice II
Builds on PMHNP theory with deeper focus on assessment and diagnosis. Centers care on clients and families across the lifespan. - NURS6505 Psych Mental Health Theory & Practice III
Strengthens holistic PMHNP practice with integrated assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome evaluation. Applies concepts to complex, diverse populations. - NURS7755/NURS7756 Advanced Practice Nursing Synthesis
Prepares students for entry into practice with focus on licensing, contracts, reimbursement, credentialing, collaboration, prescriptive authority, and malpractice. Concludes with certification exam readiness in the chosen specialty.
Clinicals
Clinical requirements include 200 hours each in Theory & Practice I and III, 150 hours in Theory & Practice II, and 200 hours in the synthesis capstone course, totaling 750 supervised clinical hours in psychiatric mental health settings.
MSN Program Requirements:
- Minimum 2.8 GPA from all college transcripts
- BSN from ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program
- Current RN licensure in state where clinical hours will be completed
- Health assessment course within 3.5 years or completion of basic refresher
- Short resume (1-2 pages) with education and healthcare experience
- English proficiency demonstration for international students
- Virtual interview may be requested during application process
Post-Graduate Certificate in PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate program is approximately $32,100 and would take 1.5-2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 25-credit certificate program targets nurses with existing MSN/DNP degrees in advanced practice:. Courses include:
- NURS6701 Psychopharmacology
This course is designed to equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to confidently prescribe medications for the treatment of psychiatric disorders in clients across the lifespan. The latter part of the course focuses on delving into the precise actions of various medications, and how these actions are intricately connected to the underlying pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. - NURS6501 Psych Mental Health Theory & Practice I
The nurse practitioner student will acquire theoretical and conceptual foundations in advanced practice in psychiatric mental health with an emphasis on theory and its role on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of diverse populations throughout the lifespan. - NURS6503 Psych Mental Health Theory & Practice II
The nurse practitioner student will build upon theoretical and conceptual foundations of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitoner, emphasizing the assessment, diagnosis, and client and family focused care throughout the lifespan. - NURS6505 Psych Mental Health Theory & Practice III
The nurse practitioner student will strengthen their understanding of the role of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with an emphasis on providing holistic care through assessment diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of diverse populations throughout the lifespan. - NURS7755/NURS7756 Advanced Practice Nursing Synthesis
This course prepares the advanced practice nurse student for entry into practice. The course will address practice issues including state licensing, marketing and contract negotiation, payment for APRN services, credentialing and collaborative practice agreements, prescriptive authority, and malpractice, At the conclusion of the required review course, students are expected to apply for the certification exam appropriate for their specialty.
Clinicals
Clinical requirements mirror the MSN program with 750 total clinical hours, though some prior MSN clinical hours may count toward this requirement based on individual gap analysis.
Post-Graduate Certificate Requirements:
- MSN/DNP from accredited advanced practice nursing program
- Same GPA and licensure requirements as MSN program
- Gap analysis determines additional coursework requirements
- Advanced pharmacology within 5 years or 30 CE hours documentation
- New York applicants need New Jersey RN license for clinical placements
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition costs $1,284 per credit hour for both MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate programs. DNP programs cost $1,640 per credit hour with additional $261 program fee.
All programs require completion of 750 clinical hours across specialty coursework.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Fairleigh Dickinson University maintains appropriate regional and nursing program accreditation through ACEN and CCNE for its nursing degree and certificate programs.
Other Nursing Programs
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN and Certificate)
- Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN and Certificate)
- Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN and Certificate)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs
- Various nursing specialization certificates and advanced practice options
More PMNHP Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in New Jersey
- Felician University - Rutherford
- Rowan University - Glassboro
- Rutgers University - Trenton
- Seton Hall University - South Orange
- Thomas Edison - Trenton