Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Est. Cost | Full-Time Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN-PMHNP | $44,040 | 2 years (6 semesters) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | $22,980 (minimum) | 1.5 years (4 semesters) |
The programs provide competitive tuition with full clinical placement services included at no additional charge, offering flexibility to choose full-time or part-time study with three intakes per year (Fall, Spring, Summer).
Students complete online coursework through:
- semester-based courses with one campus immersion (three days at Rockhurst campus in Kansas City, Missouri)
- one virtual immersion for hands-on skills training, high- and low-fidelity simulation, and competency demonstration through objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
Guided by Jesuit values, Rockhurst prepares advanced practice nurses to care for needs of the whole person through rigorous academics, rich and varied clinical experiences, and spirit of inquiry and reflection.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is approximately $44,040 and takes approximately 2 years to complete full-time (6 semesters) or 2 years and 7 months part-time (8 semesters).
Estimate based on 49 credit hours x $780 per credit hour for non-practicum courses plus $1,750 per credit hour for practicum courses, plus fees)
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP requires 49 total credit hours (note: catalog lists 51 credits but program materials indicate 49) distributed across six semesters for full-time study.
Students serve as effective and collaborative nurse leaders from organizational, systems, and policy perspectives.
NUA 5020 – Professional Roles, Quality and Safety for Advanced Nursing Practice
Introduces the advanced practice nurse’s role within social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. Emphasizes ethical/legal parameters and quality and patient-safety initiatives that drive outcome improvement.
NUA 5650 – Advanced Pathophysiology and Disease States
Explores how deviations from normal physiology produce disease across the lifespan. Students analyze evidence on pathophysiologic mechanisms, interpret changes in homeostasis, and connect findings to clinical decision-making.
NUA 6960 – Applied Statistics for Advance Nursing Practice
Builds graduate-level fluency in study design and statistical analysis to evaluate research outcomes. Students critique published studies for appropriate methods and significance to inform evidence-based practice.
NUA 5750 – Advanced Pharmacology
Covers advanced pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and complementary therapies to guide safe, evidence-based prescribing. Learners apply pharmaceutical principles to select, monitor, and adjust medications across conditions.
NUA 5150 – Policy, Organization and Leadership
Examines how health policy, financing, and leadership shape care delivery. Students analyze organizational structures, legal implications, and the APN’s role in leading change.
NUA 5050 – Theoretical Foundations in Nursing Practice
Surveys philosophical and theoretical bases of advanced nursing, integrating bio-psycho-social-spiritual frameworks across individuals, families, communities, and systems. Students select a guiding theory to inform scholarly work.
NUA 5250 – Health Promotion, Health Protection, and Disease Prevention
Strengthens advanced assessment, therapeutic communication, and psychomotor skills to plan culturally responsive prevention and health-promotion interventions for adults across the lifespan.
NUA 5950 – Advanced Health Assessment and Physical Diagnosis
Trains students to perform comprehensive, systematic assessments and develop differentials using evidence and clinical reasoning. Emphasizes documentation, cultural and ethical considerations, and professional reflection.
NUA 5700 – Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Nursing Practice
Defines PMHNP scope, standards, and prescriptive authority while introducing DSM-5 classification and common psychiatric disorders. Establishes the professional and regulatory framework for practice.
NUA 5270 – Psychiatric Mental Health and Interviewing Skills Immersion I
A three-day, simulation-rich intensive that develops specialized interviewing and assessment skills for diverse psychiatric settings. Students practice hands-on procedures to prepare for clinical care.
NUA 5450 – Advanced Health Care Research
Links research methods to theory and advanced practice, emphasizing critical appraisal and translation of findings. Focus areas include risk, guidelines, therapeutic management, cost, and outcomes.
NUA 5550 – Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Nursing
Covers assessment, diagnosis, and medication management of psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. Focuses on pharmacokinetics/dynamics, safe prescribing, monitoring, and treatment planning.
NUA 5920 – Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Practicum I
First clinical immersion (250 hours) developing competency with adult/geriatric clients in outpatient and specialty settings. Integrates assessment, diagnostics, and evidence-based management for acute and chronic conditions.
NUA 5300 – Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice
Overviews health IT systems, decision support, telemedicine, and AI with attention to cost-benefit and organizational issues. Students appraise technologies that enable evidence-based, outcome-driven care.
NUA 6220 – Psychiatric Assessment and Psychopathology Across Life Span
Provides frameworks and guidelines for assessing, diagnosing, and intervening in psychiatric disorders from childhood through older adulthood. Emphasizes family engagement, ethics, legal issues, and interprofessional collaboration.
NUA 6920 – Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Practicum II
Builds on Practicum I with an additional 250 clinical hours to deepen synthesis of advanced practice knowledge. Focuses on applying interventions for psychiatric illness across the lifespan.
NUA 7220 – Advanced Interventions, Psychotherapy, and Management for PMHNP
Centers on evidence-based, non-pharmacologic therapies and advanced management of mental health disorders. Students refine diagnostic reasoning and psychotherapeutic skills across age groups.
NUA 7920 – Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Practicum III
Culminating 250-hour clinical that solidifies the PMHNP role through comprehensive assessment, intervention, and primary prevention. Emphasizes care for individuals at risk and those with complex mental illnesses.
NUA 6270 – Psychiatric Mental Health Immersion II
Capstone readiness course with a two-day virtual experience focused on board exam preparation and transition to practice. Consolidates competencies and career planning for entry into the PMHNP role.
More curriculum details available in the course catalog here.
All Rockhurst graduate MSN classes offered through year-round accelerated plan of study consisting of 13-week semesters.
Students must complete prescribed credit hours for chosen MSN track, earn minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and may repeat course only one time with maximum of ONE course allowed to be repeated.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-PMHNP program requires a total of 750 clinical hours, distributed across three practicum courses and two immersion experiences. These hours combine both on-campus and community-based training.
Immersion Experiences
Students participate in two distinct immersion experiences designed to hone essential skills:
- Campus Immersion (3 Days): Students travel to the Rockhurst campus in Kansas City, Missouri, for three days of intensive clinical instruction. Activities include:
- Hands-on skills training in state-of-the-art simulation labs.
- Completing high- and low-fidelity simulations.
- Demonstrating competencies through objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).
- Virtual Immersion: Students engage in an additional virtual session to further develop and refine their clinical skills.
Practicum and Clinical Placement
Following the campus immersion, students complete their remaining clinical hours in their local communities:
- Clinical Supervision: Students complete rotations at a predetermined site under the direct supervision of a licensed preceptor and the indirect supervision of a Rockhurst clinical faculty supervisor.
- Seamless Placement Support: The program provides comprehensive clinical placement services at no additional charge to the student.
- Dedicated Support: Students work closely with a Student Success Advisor who serves as the primary point of contact, ensuring rotations meet both University and national guidelines by identifying appropriate sites and preceptors based on student goals and location.
MSN-PMHNP Requirements
- BSN from CHEA recognized institution with nursing accreditation from CCNE or ACEN
- Active RN license
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- No GRE/GMAT required
- Must reside in one of 20 authorized states: Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, or West Virginia
- Students must provide proof of immigration status for clinical placement
- Application deadlines: Three intakes per year (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Next start for Spring 2026: January 12, 2026
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate PMHNP program is approximately $22,980 and takes approximately 1.5 years to complete (4 semesters or more depending on MSN course evaluation).
Cost estimate based on 22 minimum credit hours x $780 per credit hour for non-practicum courses plus, $1,750 per credit hour for practicum courses, plus fees; may vary depending on evaluation of MSN courses.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 22 credit hours minimum, though actual required credit hours depend upon student’s previous coursework. Students should contact program director for more information about individualized plans of study.
Required Courses:
- NUA 5546 Foundations of Family Psychiatric Nursing Advanced Practice (3)
- NUA 5564M Family Psychiatric Nursing Advanced Practice I (5)
- NUA 5566M Family Psychiatric Nursing Advanced Practice II (5)
- NUA 5572 Advanced Nursing Practice: Synthesis Practicum (5)
Additional Courses That May Be Required:
- NUA 5526 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan (3)
- NUA 5544 Advanced Health Assessment Skills (2)
- NUA 5547 Diagnostic Reasoning/Advanced Assessment (3)
- NUA 5548 Advanced Lifespan Pathophysiology (3)
If applicant has not practiced as Nurse Practitioner within last seven years, additional classes may be needed. Program curriculum may vary depending on evaluation of MSN courses.
Certificate Clinicals
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 750 total clinical hours. Students attend one clinical immersion on Rockhurst campus for three days and participate in one virtual immersion.
Clinical instruction includes hands-on skills training in state-of-the-art simulation lab with high- and low-fidelity simulations and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).
Students complete remaining clinical hours at predetermined site under direct supervision of licensed preceptor and indirect supervision of Rockhurst clinical faculty supervisor.
Full clinical placement services included at no additional charge with dedicated Student Success Advisor providing individualized placement assistance to help find local clinical site while students focus on education.
Certificate Requirements
- MSN or higher degree with Nurse Practitioner focus from accredited institution
- If applicant has not practiced as Nurse Practitioner within last seven years, additional classes may be needed
- Active RN license
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- No GRE/GMAT required
- Must reside in one of 20 authorized states listed above
- Students must provide proof of immigration status for clinical placement
- Application deadlines: Three intakes per year (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Tuition
MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs cost $780 per credit hour for non-practicum courses and $1,750 per credit hour for practicum courses.
State Authorization
The program is available for residents in 20 states: Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Accreditation
Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Rockhurst University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is approved by State of Missouri to participate in National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
Other Nursing Programs
Rockhurst University Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers comprehensive nursing education:
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- RN-BSN
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN) – 16-month full-time program
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs:
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (49 credits, 750 clinical hours)
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (49 credits, 750 clinical hours)
- MSN – Leadership (36 credits, 200 practicum hours)
MSN Dual Track Options:
- MSN Dual Track FNP-AGACNP (62 credits, 1,250 clinical hours, 8 semesters full-time or 10 semesters part-time)
- MSN Dual Track FNP-PMHNP (63 credits, 1,250 clinical hours, 8 semesters full-time or 11 semesters part-time)
Post-Master’s Certificates:
- FNP Post-Master’s Certificate (20 credits, 750 clinical hours, 4 semesters)
- AGACNP Post-Master’s Certificate (20 credits, 750 clinical hours, 4 semesters)
Doctoral Programs:
- Ed.D. in Education and Leadership with four concentrations: Higher Education, Health Care Education, K-12 Leadership, and Organizational Leadership (45 credits, 2 years)
Other PMHNP Programs in Kansas
View All PMHNP Programs in Kansas
- KU Medical Center - Kansas City
- University of Saint Mary - Leavonworth
- Washburn University - Topeka
- Wichita State - Wichita