Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS PMHNP | ~$58,566 | ~4 Years |
| Advanced Certificate PMHNP | ~$32,688 | ~2 Years |
Program Highlights:
- Hybrid online delivery — didactic courses combine synchronous and asynchronous online formats; clinical courses and practicum hours are held in person
- 12,000 square feet of state-of-the-art clinical simulation and learning labs on campus
- Graduates are eligible to sit for national PMHNP certification exams through the ANCC (PMHNP-BC) and AANP (PMHNP-C)
Master of Science – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Mercy University MS PMHNP program is approximately $58,566 (43 credits × $1,362/credit) and would take approximately 4 years to complete.
The program admits students every spring, with classes meeting one day per week.
MSN Curriculum
The 43-credit curriculum is organized into four blocks: core nursing graduate courses, the three foundational APRN prerequisite courses (“3 Ps”), mental health specialization courses, and paired clinical practicum courses. Didactic courses are delivered in hybrid online format (synchronous and asynchronous); Advanced Health Assessment (NURS 750) and all clinical practicum courses are held in person.
NURS 503 – Health Policy (3 credits)
Explores how technology, economics, politics, and sociocultural factors shape healthcare locally and globally. Covers system organization, financing, and barriers to care, emphasizing the master’s-prepared nurse’s role in policy advocacy and social justice.
NURS 504 – Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3 credits)
Introduces biostatistics principles, probability, data analysis, and statistical inference for nursing and public health. Students learn to select appropriate tests, interpret results, and use software for database management and research questions.
NURS 515 – Theoretical Research Foundations in Nursing (3 credits)
Examines nursing as a scholarly discipline through theories and models. Students evaluate their application to practice, education, and administration while critiquing quantitative and qualitative research for advanced practice.
NURS 709 – Therapeutic Counseling Modalities (3 credits)
Introduces family and group theories for PMHNPs across the lifespan. Develops assessment skills and evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including ethical, legal, and political considerations (includes 30 clinical hours).
NURS 710 – Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
Covers psychopharmacology fundamentals, drug effects on mind and behavior, and application to mental health disorders. Addresses ethical prescribing concerns alongside pharmacodynamics and treatment principles.
NURS 711 – Mental Health I – Adults (4 credits)
Provides advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management of complex adult mental health disorders. Covers etiology, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based interventions using a health promotion lens.
NURS 711S – Mental Health I – Clinical (2 credits)
Applies comprehensive mental health evaluation in clinical settings, focusing on evidence-based management of acute/chronic adult disorders. Builds PMHNP skills in pathophysiology, therapeutics, and patient-centered, culturally competent care.
NURS 712 – Mental Health II – Children & Adolescents (4 credits)
Delivers advanced knowledge for assessing, diagnosing, and treating complex mental health in children and adolescents. Emphasizes etiology, evidence-based care, differential diagnosis, and social determinants of health.
NURS 712S – Mental Health II – Clinical (2 credits)
Strengthens clinical proficiency in pediatric/adolescent mental health evaluation and management. Integrates health promotion, pathophysiology, psychosocial techniques, and pharmacologic care in diverse community contexts.
NURS 713 – Mental Health III – Behavioral Health (4 credits)
Focuses on substance use and addiction disorders across adults and adolescents. Explores etiology, neurobiology, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment through a health equity lens.
NURS 713S – Mental Health III – Clinical (2 credits)
Advances clinical skills in behavioral health assessment and management for addiction and substance use. Applies evidence-based interventions, pathophysiology, and culturally competent care in mental health settings.
NURS 748 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Analyzes physiological alterations across the lifespan and special populations. Uses case studies, risk factors, and evidence-based research to inform advanced practice nursing decisions.
NURS 749 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
Examines therapeutics for common advanced practice conditions, focusing on safe prescribing, monitoring, and decision-making tailored to patient needs.
NURS 750 – Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning (4 credits)
Enhances assessment and diagnostic skills for primary/acute care across the lifespan. Includes 30 clinical hours for history-taking, exams, differential diagnoses, and clinical decision-making.
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
MSN Clinicals
The MS PMHNP program requires 750 total clinical hours, distributed across three paired practicum courses (250 hours each) plus 30 additional hours embedded in NURS 709. All clinical practicum hours are conducted in person. Students work with a support team to identify clinical placements but are responsible for securing their own sites.
- NURS 709 – Therapeutic Modalities: 30 embedded clinical hours
- NURS 711S – Mental Health I Clinical: 250 hours (2 cr.)
- NURS 712S – Mental Health II Clinical: 250 hours (2 cr.)
- NURS 713S – Mental Health III Clinical: 250 hours (2 cr.)
- Total: 750 clinical hours
- Clinical placements typically scheduled Monday–Friday during daytime hours
- Students are responsible for securing placements but receive support from Mercy’s placement team
- BLS/CPR certification required; malpractice insurance required from admission through graduation
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN or MSN from an accredited college or university; minimum GPA of 3.0
- Current, unencumbered RN license (and NP license if applicable)
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- One professional or academic letter of recommendation
- Personal statement — 500-word essay responding to the program’s specific prompt (rubric-evaluated; must follow provided guidelines)
- Current resume
- Interview with program faculty may be required
- International applicants: course-by-course evaluation required from a NACES-accredited agency
- Non-matriculant prerequisite courses available for students needing the 3 Ps before starting the program
- Application Deadlines:
- Fall Semester: May 15
- Spring Semester: November 1
- No rolling admissions — deadlines are firm, though the program may extend the spring deadline if the cohort is not full
- The program may review and admit exceptional applications ahead of the deadline
Advanced Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Mercy University PMHNP Advanced Certificate program is approximately $32,688 (24 credits × $1,362/credit) and would take approximately 2 years to complete.
The program admits students for fall entry only, with classes held one day per week during daytime hours.
Certificate Curriculum
The 24-credit post-master’s curriculum is exclusively focused on psychiatric mental health specialization — students admitted to this track have already completed the 3 Ps. The program consists of five didactic specialization courses paired with three in-person clinical courses. All didactic courses are hybrid online (synchronous and asynchronous); all clinical courses are in person.
- Didactic Specialization Courses (18 credits)
- NURS 709 – Therapeutic Counseling Modalities (3 cr., includes 30 clinical hours)
- NURS 710 – Psychopharmacology (3 cr.)
- NURS 711 – Mental Health I: Adults (4 cr.)
- NURS 712 – Mental Health II: Children & Adolescents (4 cr.)
- NURS 713 – Mental Health III: Behavioral Health (4 cr.)
- Clinical Practicum Courses (6 credits)
- NURS 711S – Mental Health I Clinical (2 cr.) — in person
- NURS 712S – Mental Health II Clinical (2 cr.) — in person
- NURS 713S – Mental Health III Clinical (2 cr.) — in person
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
Certificate Clinicals
The Advanced Certificate requires the same 750 total clinical hours as the MS program, distributed identically across the three paired practicum courses plus 30 hours embedded in NURS 709. All clinical hours are conducted in person, typically scheduled Monday–Friday during daytime hours.
- NURS 709 – Therapeutic Modalities: 30 embedded clinical hours
- NURS 711S – Mental Health I Clinical: 250 hours (2 cr.)
- NURS 712S – Mental Health II Clinical: 250 hours (2 cr.)
- NURS 713S – Mental Health III Clinical: 250 hours (2 cr.)
- Total: 750 clinical hours
- Clinical placements are in person; students work with Mercy’s placement support team
- Placements typically scheduled Monday–Friday during daytime hours
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- MS degree in Family Health, Adult-Geriatric, Adult, Pediatrics Nursing, or another NP specialty from an accredited program; minimum GPA of 3.0
- MS in Nursing (non-NP) is also accepted with proof of 3 Ps completion (advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment — each as a separate course, grade of B or better)
- Current, unencumbered RN license and NP license
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- One professional or academic letter of recommendation
- Personal statement — 500-word essay responding to the specific program prompt (rubric-evaluated)
- Current resume
- Interview with program faculty may be required
- International applicants: course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-accredited agency required
- Application Deadline: Fall Semester only — May 15
⚠️ 3 Ps Requirement: Students applying to the Advanced Certificate without an NP degree must provide proof that advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment were each completed as separate courses with a grade of B or better. Non-matriculant students can complete these at Mercy University before applying.
Tuition
| Program | Per Credit | Credits | Est. Tuition Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS PMHNP | $1,362 | 43 | ~$58,566 |
| Advanced Certificate PMHNP | $1,362 | 24 | ~$32,688 |
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing per-credit rate ($1,362) is specific to this program and differs from other Mercy nursing tracks. This rate applies to students entering the program at its current pricing. Additional fees — including technology fees, student services fees, and any clinical-related costs — may apply and are not reflected in the tuition estimate above.
More tuition details are available here.
Application Deadlines
| Program | Term | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| MS PMHNP | Fall | May 15 |
| MS PMHNP | Spring | November 1 |
| Advanced Certificate PMHNP | Fall only | May 15 |
Mercy does not use rolling admissions — applications are not reviewed after the deadline. However, the spring MS deadline may be extended if the cohort minimum has not been reached. Exceptional applications may be reviewed and admitted ahead of the deadline at the program director’s discretion. Contact: admissions@mercy.edu | 1-877-637-2946.
Accreditation
The master’s degree programs in nursing at Mercy University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The PMHNP program has additionally been approved by the New York State Department of Education. Graduates of both the MS and Advanced Certificate tracks are eligible to sit for the national PMHNP certification examination through the ANCC (PMHNP-BC) or the AANP (PMHNP-C).
More PMHNP Programs in New York
- Adelphi University - Adelphi
- Binghamton University - Binghamton
- D'Youville University - Buffalo
- Hunter College - NY
- Pace University - New York
- St. John Fisher University - Rochester
- Stony Brook University - Stony Brook
- SUNY Upstate Medical University - Syracuse
- University of Rochester - Rochester