Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PMHNP | ~$41,580–$47,520 | 2.5 years (full-time) |
| DNP PMHNP – BS to DNP | ~$69,840 | 4.5–5.5 years |
| DNP PMHNP – MS-Prepared NP to DNP | ~$23,280 | ~2 years (part-time) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | ~$24,960 | Varies (gap analysis) |
The MS and DNP programs enroll students in the fall, while the MS-Prepared NP-to-DNP and post-master’s certificate options start in spring or summer. Russell Sage’s partnership with Albany Med Health System reflects a direct regional workforce focus that is uncommon among comparable programs.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP Across the Lifespan
The estimated cost for the Russell Sage MSN PMHNP program is approximately $41,580–$47,520 (42–48 credits × $990/credit) and would take approximately 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis, or longer part-time.
MSN Curriculum
The 42–48 credit MSN PMHNP curriculum is organized across six course categories: core nursing theory, research, cognate sciences, supporting pharmacology, clinical specialty, and functional/assessment courses. NSG 619 (Diagnostic Health Assessment) is a required prerequisite before any subsequent clinical courses may be taken. Graduates are eligible for ANCC certification as either an adult psychiatric or family psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Core coursework includes:
NSG 558: Paradigms & Perspectives in Advanced Practice Nursing
Introduces the advanced practice nursing role through the discipline’s core knowledge, language, and practice theories. Students examine their own professional paradigm and the foundations of graduate nursing study.
NSG 559: Nursing in Sociopolitical Environment
Examines how nursing practice is shaped by social, political, and global forces. Students analyze health policy, macro-level trends, and the historical roots of the profession.
NSG 649: Healthcare Leadership, Finance and Economics
Explores leadership, management, finance, and economics in today’s healthcare environment. Students apply administrative and economic concepts to support change and collaborative practice across nursing specialties.
NSG 508: Research Methods
Covers the foundations of nursing research, including literature critique, research design, measurement, sampling, and ethics. Students develop skills needed to use and apply evidence in advanced practice.
NSG 611: Introduction to Data Analysis: Statistics/SPSS
Builds basic computing and statistical skills for nursing and health research using SPSS. Students apply data analysis concepts to their research proposals and final poster presentations.
BIO 560: Advanced Human Pathophysiology
Examines abnormal physiology with emphasis on body system function, homeostasis, and common disease processes. Topics include cellular function, immune response, and major organ systems across the lifespan.
BIO 584: Neurobiology
Focuses on the structure and function of the central nervous system, including sensation, memory, learning, sleep, and pain. The course also addresses neural mechanisms linked to mental disorders and inherited CNS conditions.
NSG 622: Advanced Pharmacology
Provides an advanced study of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics across major drug classes. Emphasis is placed on safe, evidence-based prescribing for common acute and chronic conditions.
NSG 624: Advanced Psychopharmacology
Examines the use of psychotropic medications across the lifespan. Students study drug action, pharmacokinetics, and evidence-based treatment of mental illness through applied case review.
NSG 606: Advanced Clinical Prac Behavior Therapy
Analyzes psychotherapeutic theories and evidence-based behavioral treatment models for diverse clients. The course highlights applications in mental health promotion, prevention, intervention, and coping with medical or life stressors.
NSG 610: Family Processes
Explores major concepts in family dynamics, assessment, and intervention. Students learn to apply family-based tools and strategies with selected populations.
NSG 615: Diagnostic Mental Health Assessment & Intervention
Focuses on mental health assessment, short-term intervention, and differential diagnosis. Students develop critical thinking skills through experiential learning and clinically based evaluation.
NSG 557: Group Processes Across the Lifespan in Health Care
Studies group dynamics, therapeutic group methods, and leadership styles in healthcare settings. Students engage in experiential learning to strengthen self-awareness, group membership, and facilitation skills.
NSG 619: Diagnostic Health Assessment
Develops advanced health assessment skills, including history taking, physical examination, and interpretation of diagnostic data. Students use clinical reasoning to formulate differential diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.
NSG 656: Child/Adol Mental Health Theory
Combines classroom learning and clinical practicum focused on mental health care for children and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on psychotherapy, prescribing, family-centered care, and ethical practice.
NSG 657: Adult/Geriatric Mental Health Theory
Combines classroom learning and clinical practicum focused on mental health care for adults and older adults. The course emphasizes psychotherapy, prescribing, ethics, and quality improvement in advanced practice.
See the official curriculum page for more details.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN PMHNP track requires between 500 and 700 supervised clinical hours with a preceptor in approved settings throughout the Capital Region and beyond. With the exception of 4–6 on-campus health assessment lab sessions, all other program delivery is online. Clinical sites include tertiary hospitals, primary care clinics, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings.
- NSG 619 – Diagnostic Health Assessment (mandatory clinical lab; in-person)
- NSG 606 – Advanced Clinical Practice Behavior Therapy (includes clinical hours)
- NSG 615 – Diagnostic Mental Health Assessment & Intervention (includes clinical hours)
- Practicum sites span community hospitals, comprehensive health systems, primary care clinics, and inpatient/outpatient psychiatric settings in the student’s region
MSN Admissions
- RN with an unencumbered New York State license
- Minimum 1 year of nursing experience (employment)
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- One- to two-page career goals essay
- Two letters of recommendation (from a nurse manager, another NP, or a former professor)
- Current resume
- Bridge program available for RNs with an associate degree in nursing and a bachelor’s in another field
- Application deadlines: November 1 (spring start) or March 1 (fall start)
- Individual program planning required with an advisor before each semester of registration
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP Across the Lifespan
The estimated cost for the Russell Sage DNP PMHNP program is approximately $69,840 for the BS-to-DNP pathway (72 credits × $970/credit), taking 4.5–5.5 years to complete; the MS-Prepared NP-to-DNP pathway costs approximately $23,280 (24 credits × $970/credit) and can be completed in approximately 2 years part-time.
DNP Curriculum
The BS-to-DNP pathway is a 72-credit program that incorporates all MS-level PMHNP specialty content plus doctoral-level leadership, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice coursework. The MS-Prepared NP-to-DNP is a 24-credit advanced standing pathway; a gap analysis with the DNP program director determines whether additional credits are required beyond the standard 24. Both pathways include a DNP Scholarly Project with a clinical mentor from the practice setting.
PMHNP Specialty Core Courses (DNP):
- BIO 584 – Neurobiology
- NSG 606 – Advanced Clinical Practice Behavior Therapy
- NSG 656 – Child/Adolescent Mental Health Theory (3 cr)
- NSG 657 – Adult/Geriatric Mental Health Theory (3 cr)
- NSG 672 – Advanced Skills Group and Family Therapy
- NSG 673 – Advanced Psychopharmacology
Note: The BS-to-DNP pathway also includes all MS-level core, research, cognate, supporting, and clinical courses. Doctoral core courses covering leadership, systems improvement, health policy, and the DNP Scholarly Project are included in both pathways. Contact the program office for the complete DNP doctoral core course list.
See the official curriculum page for more details.
DNP Clinicals
PMHNP DNP students complete a combined 1,250 total supervised clinical hours — 750 hours at the master’s level and 500 hours for DNP requirements — across the lifespan in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, community, and tertiary settings. MS-Prepared NP-to-DNP students complete 500 clinical hours for DNP requirements. The curriculum requires exposure to at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities, with clinical experiences reflecting these modalities when available.
- 750 hours – Master’s-level clinical practicum requirements (BS-to-DNP pathway)
- 500 hours – DNP-level clinical requirements (both pathways)
- Field experiences span 1,150–1,200 preceptor-supervised hours for the BS-to-DNP track
- Clinical sites include tertiary, comprehensive, and community hospitals; primary care clinics; and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, ideally in the student’s home region
DNP Admissions
- RN with a current unencumbered NYS license (NP license also required for MS-to-DNP pathway)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in all previous academic programs
- At least 1 year or 2,000 hours of experience as a Registered Nurse
- Successful completion of a descriptive statistics course within the past 5 years
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- 2–3 page personal statement (must address reason for pursuing DNP, career goals, scholarly project idea, and plan for balancing doctoral study with other responsibilities)
- Current resume
- Three letters of recommendation: one from a doctorally prepared nurse, one from academia, one from a supervisor, and one from an advanced practice RN (note: letters may overlap these categories)
- Interview with the DNP Admissions Committee required for qualified applicants
- MS-Prepared NP applicants must meet with the DNP program director for gap analysis; must hold current national NP certification
- BS-to-DNP starts fall semester only; MS-Prepared NP-to-DNP starts spring semester only
- Only the BS-to-DNP pathway may be pursued full-time
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP Across the Lifespan
The estimated cost for the Russell Sage Post-Master’s Certificate PMHNP program is approximately $24,960 (32 credits × $780/credit); duration varies based on a gap analysis of prior graduate coursework and can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The 32-credit post-master’s certificate is designed for NPs who wish to add a PMHNP specialization to their existing certification (for example, an FNP returning for a Psych NP credential). NSG 619 is a required prerequisite for all subsequent clinical courses, and a mandatory clinical lab fee applies. Prior graduate coursework is reviewed to determine any potential course waivers.
- BIO 560 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology (3 cr)
- BIO 584 – Neurobiology
- NSG 557 – Group Processes Across the Lifespan in Health Care
- NSG 606 – Advanced Clinical Practice Behavior Therapy
- NSG 610 – Family Processes
- NSG 615 – Diagnostic Mental Health Assessment & Intervention
- NSG 619 – Diagnostic Health Assessment (prerequisite for all clinical courses; mandatory clinical lab fee)
- NSG 622 – Advanced Pharmacology
- NSG 624 – Advanced Psychopharmacology
- NSG 656 – Child/Adolescent Mental Health Theory (3 cr)
- NSG 657 – Adult/Geriatric Mental Health Theory (3 cr)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical hours are embedded within the PMHNP specialty and behavior therapy courses; total hours vary based on gap analysis of each student’s prior graduate clinical experience. In-person health assessment lab sessions are required for NSG 619, with remaining coursework delivered online.
- NSG 619 – Diagnostic Health Assessment (mandatory in-person clinical lab)
- NSG 606 – Advanced Clinical Practice Behavior Therapy (includes clinical hours)
- NSG 615 – Diagnostic Mental Health Assessment & Intervention (includes clinical hours)
- Total clinical hours determined individually based on prior coursework; contact the program office to confirm
Certificate Admissions
- MS in Nursing from an accredited program required
- Current unencumbered NYS RN and NP license
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate nursing program
- Meet Russell Sage graduate admission requirements
- Credit requirements determined by gap analysis of prior graduate coursework
- Full- or part-time enrollment available
- Contact Admissions for application deadlines specific to this track
Tuition
Russell Sage College graduate nursing tuition is $990 per credit for the MS program, $970 per credit for the DNP, and $780 per credit for Post-Master’s Certificates. A mandatory Typhon clinical tracking fee of $100 applies per semester for select nursing courses. Graduate Assistantships are available providing up to $3,910 per semester (for students enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits). Healthcare Workforce Development partners receive a 10% tuition discount; Albany Medical Center employees receive a 30% discount on MS programs.
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
The BSN and MSN programs at Russell Sage College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and all nursing programs are registered with the New York State Education Department. The DNP program is currently pursuing initial CCNE accreditation — prospective students should confirm accreditation status directly with the program office before enrolling, as pursuing accreditation does not guarantee it will be granted.
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