Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Total Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP: PMHNP Option | $27,285 | 3 years (4 years part-time) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate: PMHNP | $11,989 | 1.5-2 years |
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): PMHNP
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP PMHNP program is approximately $27,285 (resident) and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis or 4 years part-time.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN to DNP program requires 82 credits for graduation and prepares advanced practice nurses to demonstrate clinical expertise, judgment, scholarship, and leadership.
The program focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health needs for patients across the lifespan. Doctorally prepared PMHNPs can provide treatment through medication, crisis intervention, individual, group, and family psychotherapy.
Courses include the following:
NRSG 601 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)
Builds comprehensive interview, exam, and documentation skills across the lifespan, integrating physiological and psychosocial findings to support sound clinical decisions.
NRSG 602 – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (4 cr.)
Explores mechanisms of disease—from etiology and pathogenesis to clinical manifestations—highlighting developmental and environmental influences on human systems.
NRSG 603 – Advanced Pharmacology I (2 cr.)
Covers core pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to inform safe, therapeutic medication selection and monitoring.
NRSG 604 – Evidence-Based Practice I (3 cr.)
Strengthens critical appraisal of interprofessional literature and translates best evidence into strategies that improve clinical outcomes.
NRSG 605 – Evidence-Based Practice II (3 cr.)
Applies research, biostatistics, and epidemiology tools to turn appraised evidence into actionable, measurable practice changes.
NRSG 606 – Statistical Applications (3 cr.)
Advances proficiency with correlation, regression, ANOVA, chi-square, and related methods to evaluate and critique health sciences research.
NRSG 608 – Design of Health Care Delivery Systems (3 cr.)
Examines workflow, process improvement, and team coordination to elevate quality and reduce risk across complex care systems.
NRSG 609 – Advanced Nursing Leadership & Roles (3 cr.)
Develops organizational leadership, communication, negotiation, and teamwork competencies for direct and indirect advanced practice roles.
NRSG 610 – Health Care Informatics (3 cr.)
Surveys health IT and data standards to optimize information flow, clinical communication, and privacy/security in care environments.
NRSG 611 – Program Planning & Evaluation for QI (3 cr.)
Integrates improvement science and outcomes management to design, implement, and evaluate programs across systems of care.
NRSG 612 – Ethics, Law, and Policy for Advocacy (3 cr.)
Applies bioethics, legal principles, and policy analysis to clinical decisions, emphasizing accountability, autonomy, and interprofessional collaboration.
NRSG 613 – Finance & Budget in Health Care Systems (2 cr.)
Introduces health economics, budgeting, and fiscal stewardship to support value, quality, and sustainability in care delivery.
NRSG 614 – Vulnerability & Health in Diverse Communities (3 cr.)
Analyzes disparities, access, and outcomes in rural and diverse populations and formulates strategies to reduce inequities.
NRSG 616 – Psychiatric Case Formulation (3 cr.)
Builds advanced psychiatric assessment and diagnostic reasoning, synthesizing psychosocial data into coherent DSM-based case formulations.
NRSG 625 – Advanced Diagnostics in Primary Care (Elective, 2 cr.)
Guides appropriate ordering, interpretation, and communication of diagnostics for complex rheumatologic, dermatologic, autoimmune, and chronic conditions.
NRSG 629 – Intro to Advanced Practice PMH Nursing (2 cr.)
Introduces therapeutic interviewing, mental status and safety assessment, DSM-5-TR use, and best-practice documentation for psychiatric care.
NRSG 630 – Advanced Psychopharmacology II (3 cr.)
Examines psychotropic mechanisms, indications, dosing, interactions, and patient education for lifespan psychiatric management.
NRSG 661 – PMHNP Diagnosis & Management I (3 cr.)
Launches advanced psychiatric practice with focused interviewing, diagnostic synthesis, and initial treatment planning aligned to patient needs.
NRSG 662 – PMHNP Diagnosis & Management II (3 cr.)
Expands management using individual, group, and brief psychotherapies plus medication strategies, with special attention to pediatric and geriatric care.
NRSG 663 – PMHNP Diagnosis & Management III (3 cr.)
Manages acute and chronic conditions with integrated psychotherapy, prescriptive and complementary approaches, emphasizing perinatal mental health and substance use disorders.
NRSG 664 – PMHNP Diagnosis & Management IV (2 cr.)
Culminates PMHNP preparation with systems leadership, consultation, and evaluation skills, focusing on complex and vulnerable populations.
NRSG 665 – PMHNP Advanced Clinical I (4 cr.)
First immersive practicum emphasizing comprehensive assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and targeted care planning in psychiatric settings.
NRSG 666 – PMHNP Advanced Clinical II (4 cr.)
Applies psychotherapy modalities and medication management across the lifespan, with dedicated experiences in pediatric and geriatric care.
NRSG 667 – PMHNP Advanced Clinical III (4 cr.)
Advances family- and couple-focused therapies, evidence-based prescribing, and CAM integration for complex and co-occurring conditions.
NRSG 668 – PMHNP Advanced Clinical IV (5 cr.)
Capstone practicum developing leadership, collaboration, and outcomes evaluation while managing high-complexity, vulnerable populations.
NRSG 673 – Writing for Scholarly Projects (2 cr.)
Refines graduate-level scholarly writing through clear argumentation, rigorous editing, and APA mastery for proposals and manuscripts.
NRSG 675 – DNP Scholarly Project (3 cr.)
Designs, implements, evaluates, and disseminates a practice-focused project that applies advanced nursing science to improve health outcomes.
More curriculum details are available here
DNP Clinicals
Clinical education experiences must be completed in Montana, requiring Montana RN licensure. DNP students should prepare for possible travel to distant clinical sites within Montana to obtain necessary clinical experiences.
The program includes supervised clinical practice across various nursing settings including nursing leadership/management components.
DNP Admissions Requirements
- Must be physically located in MT, UT, WY, ID, CO, or AK
- Undergraduate and graduate minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from nationally accredited upper division program with supervised clinical practice in variety of nursing settings including nursing leadership/management
- Successful completion of undergraduate courses in research and statistics
- Current unencumbered licensure as registered nurse
- Montana RN licensure required if clinical experiences completed in Montana
- English proficiency scores as outlined by Graduate School (if applicable)
- Maximum 9 transferable credits from non-conferred degree or 30 credits from conferred degree
- 3 personal essays (prompts found on application first page)
- 3 recent professional references speaking to nursing knowledge, motivation, work ethic, and writing ability
- Official transcripts from all institutions (unofficial accepted for MSU-Bozeman coursework)
- Completed and clear background check and urine drug screen via Complio
- Application portal opens September 15th and closes December 15th for following fall admission
- Computer proficiency and reliable internet access required
Scholarly Project
Each student completes a DNP Scholarly Project developed in collaboration with faculty chairperson and committee. Project examples include mental health outreach programs to rural elderly, examination of alternative health practices for healing, establishment of pediatric cancer support groups for rural clients, and development of school-based clinics. An oral defense of scholarly project and final professional paper required for DNP degree.
Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate program is approximately $11,989 (resident) and would take approximately 1.5 to 2 years to complete.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate Certificate requires 36 credits designed for graduate-prepared (MN or DNP) advanced practice registered nurses already nationally certified in another nursing specialty area. The program allows APRNs to add an additional stackable population practice focus credential and become nationally certified as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Required Courses:
- NRSG 616: Psychiatric Case Formulation (3 credits)
- NRSG 629: Introduction to Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (2 credits)
- NRSG 630: Advanced Psychopharmacology II (3 credits)
- NRSG 661: PMHNP Diagnosis & Management I (3 credits)
- NRSG 662: PMHNP Diagnosis & Management II (3 credits)
- NRSG 663: PMHNP Diagnosis & Management III (3 credits)
- NRSG 664: PMHNP Diagnosis & Management IV (2 credits)
- NRSG 665: PMHNP Advanced Clinical I (4 credits)
- NRSG 666: PMHNP Advanced Clinical II (4 credits)
- NRSG 667: PMHNP Advanced Clinical III (4 credits)
- NRSG 668: PMHNP Advanced Clinical IV (5 credits)
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate includes four advanced clinical courses totaling significant practicum hours. Students conduct comprehensive systematic psychiatric assessments in complex situations and apply therapeutic modalities for individuals, groups psychotherapy, and integration of multicultural skills for health promotion and management of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Must be physically located in MT, UT, WY, ID, CO, or AK
- Undergraduate and graduate minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from nationally accredited upper division program with supervised clinical practice in variety of nursing settings including nursing leadership/management
- Graduate APRN Nursing Degree
- Graduate-prepared (MN or DNP) advanced practice registered nurse already nationally certified in another advanced practice nursing specialty area
- Successful completion of undergraduate courses in research and statistics
- Current unencumbered licensure as registered nurse and advanced practice registered nurse
- English proficiency scores as outlined by Graduate School (if applicable)
- Maximum 9 transferable credits from non-conferred degree or 30 credits from conferred degree
- 3 personal essays (prompts found on application first page)
- 3 professional references speaking to nursing knowledge, motivation, work ethic, and writing ability
- Official transcripts from all institutions (unofficial accepted for MSU-Bozeman coursework)
- Completed and clear background check and urine drug screen via Complio
- Upload and attach APRN licensure documentation
- Application portal opens September 15th and closes December 15th for following fall admission
Tuition
Resident tuition: $332.96 per credit hour
Non-resident tuition: $1,358.13 per credit hour (includes base tuition, non-resident additional tuition, and non-resident building fee)
Fees: Vary by credit load from $162.41 (1 credit) to $1,108.45 (12+ credits) per semester for residents
Health insurance: Required for students registered for six or more credits (Fall 2025: $2,202; Spring 2026: $2,202-$2,567 depending on coverage period)
Teaching or research assistantships may be available to selected graduate students. Internal and external fellowship and funding opportunities also available.
See the official tuition page for more details
Accreditation
Montana State University is accredited and offers nationally recognized nursing programs. The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing provides graduate education preparing nurses for advanced practice roles with full prescriptive authority depending on individual state regulations.