Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Duration | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MS in PMNP | ~2 years | $20K to $27K |
| DNP with PMHNP Concentration | ~3–4 years | $32K to $42K |
| Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate | ~8–12 months | $7K to $10K |
Students gain multidisciplinary study experience through interdisciplinary collaboration with Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Gerontology, and the Krannert School of Management.
The curriculums emphasize healthcare systems engineering and evidence-based treatment using psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic techniques.
Applications receive priority consideration by April 1st with rolling admissions until clinical spots are filled.
MS in PHMNP
The estimated cost for the MS in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is $19,851-$26,460 based on current tuition rates and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 49-credit curriculum includes the following courses:
NUR 50000 – Theoretical Constructs In Nursing
This course explores how theoretical frameworks shape nursing knowledge and practice. Students analyze mid-range and practice theories for their clinical relevance and examine how theory connects to research and evidence-based practice. Activities include concept analysis, theory evaluation, and applying theory to advanced nursing roles.
NUR 50200 – Pharmacotherapeutics For Advanced Practice Nursing
Students study pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics across drug categories. The course emphasizes evidence-based prescribing, patient preferences, and regulatory guidelines for advanced practice nurses. Learners gain skills in managing pharmacologic regimens safely and effectively.
NUR 50500 – Sociocultural Influences On Health
This course examines how cultural and social factors affect health and care delivery. Students apply theoretical perspectives and research to develop evidence-based strategies for culturally competent practice. Coursework incorporates CLAS standards, culturally sensitive communication, and awareness of vulnerable populations.
NUR 50700 – Physiologic Concepts For Advanced Practice Nursing
Students learn principles of physiology from cellular to systemic levels, using homeostasis as the central model. The course provides a foundation for diagnosing and managing human responses to illness and non-disease conditions. Emphasis is placed on regulatory and compensatory mechanisms in health.
NUR 51000 – Research And Evidence Based Nursing Practice
This course covers the research process and its application in evidence-based nursing. Students learn to search, appraise, and interpret primary evidence to guide advanced practice. The focus is on translating research into clinical decision-making for improved outcomes.
NUR 52200 – Psychopharmacology Across The Lifespan
Students study psychiatric disorders and the medications used to treat them across age groups. The course reviews drug classes, mechanisms of action, indications, therapeutic uses, and side effects. Emphasis is placed on clinical decision-making in psychiatric medication management.
NUR 52500 – Informatics In Nursing
This course integrates nursing, computer, and information sciences to improve care through technology. Students learn to gather, manage, and apply health data to support clinical, administrative, research, and educational decision-making. Focus is placed on enhancing nursing practice with technology-based tools.
NUR 53800 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Roles And Psychotherapeutic Framework And Modalities
Students review the scope and standards of PMHNP practice, including therapy, case management, consultation, and policy roles. The course emphasizes evidence-based psychotherapy, including individual, group, family, and play therapy. Learners demonstrate competency in two psychotherapeutic modalities.
NUR 54400 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across The Lifespan
This course emphasizes evidence-based psychiatric care across the lifespan, integrating psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Students learn to apply assessment tools such as the DSM-V, PHQ-9, and C-SSRS. The course addresses culture, development, gender, and substance use in diagnosis and treatment.
NUR 57600 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across The Lifespan II
Students expand PMHNP skills by managing complex patients with psychiatric and co-morbid conditions. The course addresses diagnostic differentiation, social and cultural influences, and treatment planning. Learners apply interprofessional resources and advanced pharmacologic interventions while considering ethical and legal issues.
NUR 63200 – Health Policy: Local To Global
This course examines how health policies at all levels impact nursing and health outcomes. Students analyze social, cultural, political, and economic influences on policy and delivery. Emphasis is placed on advocacy, equity, and the roles of providers, government, and consumers.
NUR 67400 – Quality Initiatives, Leadership And Advanced Practice Nursing
Students learn leadership and quality improvement principles for nurse practitioner practice. The course covers teamwork, delegation, health coaching, and system-based initiatives. Learners design improvement plans to enhance patient safety, quality, and outcomes in healthcare settings.
NUR 67500 – Role Transition And Synthesis
This capstone course integrates core and specialty knowledge with a focus on transitioning into advanced roles. Students examine organizational, legal, financial, and cultural issues affecting practice. Seminars address licensure, credentialing, evidence-based care, and professional trends in nursing.
More curriculum information for the MS available here:
Clinicals
- 45 hours in advanced health assessment
- 45 hours in health promotion
- 140 hours in therapeutic modalities preceptorship
- 420 hours across two advanced practice psychiatric nursing preceptorships
The program emphasizes evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies for individuals and families across the lifespan.
MS Program Requirements:
- BSN from CCNE or NLN accredited nursing program
- BSN cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or equivalent “B” average
- Active Indiana Registered Nurse license (conditional enrollment possible)
- Upper-division statistics course completion (3.0 GPA) within five years
- Basic computer competency including word processing and internet use
- International students: minimum TOEFL score of 213 (computer-based)
- Personal interview may be requested
- Three letters of recommendation (one from nursing professor)
- 300-500 word essay addressing career goals and practice interests
- Current curriculum vita or resume
- Official transcripts from all schools attended
DNP with PMHNP Concentration
The estimated cost for the DNP with Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration is $31,590-$42,120 based on current tuition rates and would take approximately 3-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 49-credit program includes 14 hours of graduate nursing core courses, 17 hours of advanced practice nursing core, and 18 hours of specialty curriculum.
Core courses include:
NUR 50000 – Theoretical Constructs In Nursing
Explores how nursing and mid-range theories build knowledge and guide advanced practice. You analyze concepts, evaluate theory, and link theoretical constructs to research and evidence-based care.
NUR 50200 – Pharmacotherapeutics For Advanced Practice Nursing
Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic use of major drug classes. You apply evidence and patient preferences to safe prescribing and review rules for prescriptive authority.
NUR 50500 – Sociocultural Influences On Health
Examines how culture, subculture, and social factors shape health and care delivery. You use CLAS standards and current research to design culturally competent, stereotype-resistant strategies.
NUR 50700 – Physiologic Concepts For Advanced Practice Nursing
Builds a systems view of normal function and homeostasis from cell to organ level. You form the base needed to understand and manage human responses to disease and non-disease causes.
NUR 51000 – Research And Evidence Based Nursing Practice
Covers how to generate, search, appraise, and interpret research for practice. You translate the best available evidence into advanced nursing decisions.
NUR 52200 – Psychopharmacology Across The Lifespan
Surveys major psychiatric disorders and the drug classes used to treat them. You learn indications, mechanisms, side effects, and therapeutic use across ages.
NUR 52500 – Informatics In Nursing
Introduces health informatics, data capture, and information management in care. You study tech-enabled applications for clinical, administrative, research, and education decisions.
NUR 53800 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Roles And Psychotherapeutic Framework And Modalities
Defines PMHNP scope, standards, and functions, including therapy, consultation, and policy work. You examine evidence-based individual, group, family, and play therapies and demonstrate competence in two.
NUR 54400 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across The Lifespan
Applies psychopharmacology and psychotherapy with attention to culture, neurobiology, and development. You practice standardized assessments, substance use screening, and consider legal and ethical issues.
NUR 57600 – Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across The Lifespan II
Expands management for complex patients with co-morbid conditions and varied influences. You differentiate diagnoses and use interprofessional and pharmacologic approaches with attention to ethics.
NUR 64000 – Human Factors In Healthcare Engineering
Introduces cognitive, physical, and social human factors and ergonomics for healthcare. You design or evaluate studies that apply these principles to improve systems and safety.
NUR 64100 – Principles Of Epidemiology
Covers measures, study designs, surveillance, and causation in population health. You apply descriptive and analytic methods to real cases in infectious and applied epidemiology.
NUR 64200 – Systems Approaches In Healthcare
Applies systems engineering tools—process mapping, bottleneck analysis, lean, queuing, simulation, and quality control—to a clinical problem. You complete a hands-on analysis to propose improvements.
NUR 62400 – Evidence-Based Practice
Guides you through problem framing, literature search, critical appraisal, and recommendations. You plan practical EBP implementation and analyze key components that drive outcomes.
NUR 62600 – Applied Biostatistics For Outcome Evaluation
Teaches statistical software use for descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses on large datasets. You turn statistical results into conclusions that inform healthcare delivery.
NUR 63200 – Health Policy: Local To Global
Reviews policies that affect health within and beyond care delivery. You analyze social, ethical, economic, and political forces and practice advocacy to advance equity and nursing roles.
NUR 67400 – Quality Initiatives, Leadership And Advanced Practice Nursing
Builds skills in health coaching, teamwork, delegation, and prioritization to improve outcomes. You design a quality initiative using established improvement methods.
NUR 67500 – Role Transition And Synthesis
Integrates core and specialty knowledge to support entry into advanced practice. You examine licensure, credentialing, finance, policy, ethics, diversity, and independent and collaborative roles.
NUR 67800 – Healthcare Economics And Finance
Introduces demand, access, parity, reimbursement, economic evaluation, and delivery models. You apply economic thinking to resource allocation and policy issues in U.S. healthcare.
NUR 68000 – DNP Cognate Residency: Direct Practice/Systems Management I
Applies human factors, systems analysis, IT, and simulation to improve outcomes. You engage in residency activities and lead an evidence-based change effort within a healthcare system.
More curriculum details available here:
DNP Clinicals
- 630 hours of PMHNP-specific training
- 532 additional residency hours in health policy, evidence-based practice implementation, and systems management
The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and prepares graduates for leadership roles in psychiatric care delivery and healthcare system improvement.
DNP Program Requirements:
- All MS requirements plus:
- Minimum TOEFL score of 550 (written) or 100 (online) for international students
- Evidence of successful statistics course completion within five years
- Grades of “B” or better in all previous master’s coursework
- Post-master’s applicants evaluated case-by-case
Post-Master’s PHMNP Certificate
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate program is $6,885-$9,180 based on current tuition rates and would take 8 months to 1 year to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 17-credit certificate program is designed for nurses holding master’s degrees in nursing from accredited institutions, particularly those with adult gerontology, family, or pediatric nurse practitioner backgrounds.
Students complete three semesters of coursework focusing on psychiatric mental health specialty content:
- psychopharmacology across the lifespan
- psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner roles
- psychotherapeutic frameworks
- advanced practice psychiatric nursing across the lifespan
Clinicals
The program includes 630 clinical hours through preceptorships in psychiatric mental health settings.
Course delivery utilizes hybrid format combining online and classroom instruction to accommodate working professionals seeking specialty certification in psychiatric mental health.
Certificate Program Requirements:
- Master’s degree in nursing from accredited institution
- Current RN licensure
- Prerequisite coursework may be required based on previous education
Post-master’s certificate students can complete requirements in as little as eight months depending on previous specialty training.
Tuition
Tuition and fees are determined by the Purdue Board of Trustees with current information available on the University Bursar’s website. Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available through the School of Nursing and Purdue’s Division of Financial Aid.
Accreditation
The Purdue School of Nursing, including all MSN, DNP, and certificate programs, is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification examinations through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Other Nursing Programs
- Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Primary Care Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master’s)
- Post-Master’s certificates in all nurse practitioner specialties
Other Indiana Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Indiana
- Indiana State - Terre Haute
- Indiana University - Bloomington
- Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion
- University of Southern Indiana - Evansville