Program Tracks Overview
Kent State offers both fall and spring semester start dates with customizable academic scheduling to support career advancement while maintaining current employment.
Master of Science in Nursing PMHNP Concentration
The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP concentration is $20,756 for Ohio residents and $38,733 for non-Ohio residents and would take 2-3 years to complete on a full-time basis. This comprehensive track serves registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees seeking advanced practice specialization in psychiatric-mental health care across the lifespan.
Curriculum Structure
The curriculum includes specialized coursework in advanced mental health assessment, psychopathology, neurobiology, psychopharmacology, individual psychotherapy, and family/group therapy modalities.
Coursework includes:
NURS 60012 – Advanced Mental Health Assessment and Psychopathology
Covers the skills needed to perform comprehensive psychiatric and mental health assessments. Students study psychopathology and practice making differential diagnoses through both theory and applied learning.
NURS 60015 – Advanced Health Assessment
Develops skills in comprehensive history-taking and physical and psychological assessments for diverse populations. Emphasizes diagnostic reasoning to initiate patient care plans across various settings.
NURS 60045 – Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Provides a foundation in human physiology and the changes leading to disease. Focuses on understanding pathologic processes across the lifespan to guide clinical decision-making.
NURS 60051 – Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology of Major Psychiatric Disorders
Explores the neurobiological basis of major psychiatric conditions. Prepares students to select and prescribe psychotropic medications based on evidence and patient needs.
NURS 60151 – Individual Psychotherapy
Teaches how to apply biological, psychosocial, and developmental theories to individual therapy. Students learn to select evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to patient conditions.
NURS 60251 – Family and Group Psychotherapy
Examines theories and techniques for family and group therapy. Students practice strategies to reduce distress, promote cognitive and behavioral change, and support resilience.
NURS 60353 – Individual, Organization and Community Consultation
Covers skills for community needs assessments and organizational analysis. Focuses on interprofessional collaboration and culturally competent strategies to improve population health outcomes.
NURS 60441 – Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Introduces principles of safe and effective medication prescribing and administration. Addresses drug actions, interactions, patient safety, and legal considerations for diverse populations.
NURS 61592 – Practicum I: Individual Therapy
Provides supervised experience in conducting assessments, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacologic treatments for individuals with mental illness. Requires 150 practicum hours.
NURS 62592 – Practicum II: Medication Management and Individual Therapy
Focuses on pharmacological and therapeutic interventions to restore health and prevent disability. Students practice prescriptive authority within legal and clinical guidelines. Requires 150 practicum hours.
NURS 63592 – Practicum III: Family and Group Therapy
Offers supervised practice in family assessments, group psychotherapy, and related pharmacologic treatments. Emphasizes care for patients with acute or chronic mental illness. Requires 150 practicum hours.
NURS 64592 – Practicum IV: Nurse Practitioner Role
Immerses students in the full psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role. Integrates all program competencies in a 225-hour final practicum experience.
More curriculum information available here:
Clinical Requirements
Students complete four sequential practicum experiences totaling clinical hours in individual therapy, medication management, family/group therapy, and comprehensive nurse practitioner role development, all supervised by faculty mentors and clinical preceptors.
Clinical experiences span diverse settings including community mental health centers, private practice, primary care, emergency departments, correctional facilities, and hospital consultation teams.
Master’s Concentration Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from accredited registered nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA (2.75 starting spring 2026)
- Active unrestricted RN license in clinical state
- Undergraduate statistics course with minimum C grade (eliminated spring 2026)
- Current curriculum vitae with certifications and professional activities
- Two-page essay describing professional preparation and goals (requirements change spring 2026)
- Three professional reference letters from healthcare professionals
- English proficiency scores for international students
Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Track
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP program is $20,756 for Ohio residents and $38,733 for non-Ohio residents and would take 1.5-2 years to complete on a full-time basis. This specialized pathway targets master’s-prepared nurses seeking psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification as an additional specialty area.
Curriculum
The 34-credit certificate curriculum mirrors the master’s concentration coursework with course in:
- advanced mental health assessment
- psychopathology
- neurobiology
- psychopharmacology
- comprehensive therapeutic modalities
Students complete identical specialized courses including individual psychotherapy, family and group psychotherapy, and consultation techniques.
The program maintains the same rigorous clinical practicum sequence with four progressive experiences building competency in therapeutic interventions and medication management.
Clinicals
Clinical requirements include the same four practicum courses as the master’s track, ensuring equivalent preparation for national certification eligibility.
Students may receive transfer credit for previously completed advanced practice core courses if completed within five years with B or better grades.
Post-Graduate Certificate Requirements
- Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 graduate GPA
- Active unrestricted RN license in practicum state
- Official transcripts of all graduate coursework
- Current curriculum vitae
- Goal statement (eliminated spring 2026) or new admission essay format
- Course syllabi for transfer credit consideration
- Three professional reference letters
- Five-year limit on core advanced practice courses if not practicing as APRN
Tuition
Graduate tuition is $612.62 per credit hour for Ohio residents and $1,149.79 per credit hour for non-Ohio residents, based on 11-18 credit hours annually with additional fees for credits above 18 hours.
More tuition info available here: https://onlinedegrees.kent.edu/degrees/master-of-science-in-nursing#tuition-and-fee
Accreditation
Kent State University’s College of Nursing maintains appropriate accreditation standards. Graduates from both tracks meet educational eligibility requirements to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) examination for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification.
Other Nursing Programs
Kent State University’s College of Nursing offers additional graduate programs including:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (applications not currently accepted)
More PMNHP Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Ohio
- Cleveland State University - Cleveland
- Mount Carmel - Columbus
- Ohio State - Columbus
- Ohio University - Athens
- Ursuline College - Pepper Pike
- University of Toledo - Toledo
- Wright State University - Dayton