Program Tracks Overview
Program | Cost | Length |
---|---|---|
MSN: PMHNP | $22,150 | 18 months |
Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate | $10,980 | 12–15 months |
With small class sizes, 100% certification exam pass rates among recent graduates, and innovative Virtual Class Simulation Intensives (CSIs), these programs emphasize evidence-based practice and patient-centered care.
MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN: PMHNP program is $22,150 and would take 18 months to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP program requires a total of 40 credit hours. The coursework is includes the following:
NURS 5190: Transition to Practice: The Advanced Practice Nurse as Healthcare Provider
This eight‑week course guides aspiring nurse practitioners through the essentials of professional role transition, covering licensure requirements, malpractice considerations, national certification processes, prescriptive authority (including controlled substances and DEA regulations), and the socialization into advanced practice nursing.
NURS 5208: Health Policy, Ethics, and Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice
Over eight weeks, students learn to shape and influence health policy as ethical advocates and change agents, examining current legal and professional issues in advanced nursing, and emphasizing collaborative engagement in healthcare policy and economics at local, national, and global levels.
NURS 5351: Theoretical Foundations and Role Development of Advanced Integrative Nursing
In this three‑credit course, students explore the historical evolution of advanced nursing roles and critically examine theories and interdisciplinary frameworks that underpin integrative, evidence‑based practice and professional scholarship.
NURS 5371: Clinical Prevention and Population Health
Students review global and national population health concepts—social determinants, disparities, cultural diversity—and apply evidence‑based clinical prevention strategies, investigating community resources, barriers to care, and access issues in urban and rural settings.
NURS 5391: Translational Science for Evidence Based Practice and Innovation Capstone
Spanning 16 weeks, this capstone equips students to critique, champion, and lead evidence‑based practice projects, guiding them through the design and completion of a quality‑improvement or scholarly initiative under faculty mentorship.
NURS 5209: Advanced Health Assessment
This foundational course teaches advanced interviewing and systematic physical examination techniques across the lifespan, integrating psychosocial, cultural, developmental, and informatics considerations to support differential diagnosis and documentation in electronic medical records.
NURS 5102: Advanced Health Assessment Practicum
Partnered with NURS 5209, this practicum provides hands‑on clinical experience in advanced assessment, reinforcing physical exam skills and symptom recognition through supervised practicum hours aligned with nurse practitioner education standards.
NURS 5301: Advanced Pathophysiology
Students deepen their understanding of normal physiology and disease processes, exploring pathophysiological mechanisms across the lifespan to prepare for advanced clinical decision‑making and therapeutic interventions.
NURS 5303: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Focusing on pharmacologic principles, this course develops competency in selecting and monitoring medications for acute and chronic conditions, covering drug mechanisms, dosing strategies for special populations, adverse effects, and alternative therapies.
NURS 5112: Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Interview
This introductory PMHNP course builds core skills in psychiatric interviewing and assessment across age groups, emphasizing differential diagnosis, use of standardized screening tools, and accurate documentation of mental health status.
NURS 5312: Neuroscience, Epigenetics, and Psychopharmacology
Students integrate advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology knowledge to examine the neurobiological and epigenetic underpinnings of mental illness, and to master safe, evidence‑based psychotropic medication management and related diagnostics.
NURS 5230: Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnostics and Clinical Management for Pediatric Clients
This course covers evidence‑based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders, exploring developmental theories, psychotherapies, health promotion, and culturally sensitive interventions.
NURS 5233: Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnostics and Clinical Management for Pediatric Clients Practicum
In this practicum, students apply pediatric psychiatric theories and interventions in real‑world settings under preceptor guidance, developing and evaluating treatment plans and collaborating with interprofessional teams to deliver holistic care.
NURS 5340: Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnostics and Clinical Management for Adult and Geriatric Clients
Focusing on adults and older adults, this course examines evidence‑based approaches to assess, diagnose, and manage psychiatric disorders, reinforcing therapeutic partnerships and culturally attuned care strategies.
NURS 5243: Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnostics and Clinical Management for Adult and Geriatric Clients Practicum
Complementing NURS 5340, this practicum immerses students in adult and geriatric psychiatric care under preceptor supervision, emphasizing application of psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions within interprofessional teams.
NURS 5370: Psychiatric Mental Health Integrative Clinical Management Across the Lifespan
Students enhance their PMHNP capabilities by managing complex psychiatric cases across all ages, incorporating crisis intervention, self‑directed care, interprofessional collaboration, and innovative modalities like telehealth for underserved populations.
NURS 5373: Psychiatric Mental Health Integrative Clinical Management Across the Lifespan Practicum
This culminating practicum provides immersive, lifespan‑wide experience in comprehensive psychiatric care, emphasizing crisis stabilization, advanced therapeutic interventions, and use of telehealth under expert preceptor mentorship.
Clinicals
Students complete supervised clinical practicum hours with Texas-based preceptors and participate in Virtual Class Simulation Intensives featuring immersive online clinical simulations. The program maintains over 1,000 clinical agreements across Texas and provides Clinical Education Placement Coordinator support for student placements.
Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate would be approximately $10,980 and would take 12-15 months to complete.
Curriculum
The 20-credit certificate program combines flexible online coursework with hands-on clinical practicum experiences. Core courses include
- neuroscience
- epigenetics, and psychopharmacology
- diagnostics and clinical management for adult-geriatric clients
- diagnostics and clinical management for pediatric clients
- integrative clinical management across the lifespan
Students participate in Virtual Class Simulation Intensives and complete supervised practicum hours one-on-one with qualified preceptors within Texas. The program emphasizes simulation-based learning, faculty collaboration, and peer connection to strengthen diagnostic and clinical skills.
Prerequisites & Admissions
MSN Program Requirements:
- BSN from CCNE or ACEN accredited institution
- Current unencumbered Texas RN license (multistate accepted)
- Minimum 3.25 overall GPA in nursing courses
- Grade of “C” or better in upper-division statistics course
- No GRE required
- Current BLS certification, health insurance, immunizations
- Clear criminal background check and drug test
Post-Master’s Certificate Requirements:
- BSN and MSN from accredited institutions
- Current unencumbered Texas RN license
- Minimum 3.25 overall GPA
- One-year full-time experience in master’s-prepared nursing role
- Three years full-time RN experience
- College statistics course with grade “C” or higher
- Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacotherapeutics, and Health Assessment (if not current APRN)
Tuition
Graduate programs cost $499 per credit hour. Total program costs are $22,150 for MSN and approximately $10,980 for the certificate program.
Accreditation
Texas State University’s baccalaureate, master’s, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring graduates meet national standards for PMHNP certification through ANCC.
Other Nursing Programs
- MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Coming Fall 2026
Other Programs in Texas
- Baylor University - Waco
- Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
- Texas A&M - Texarkana
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas Tech University - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- UT Health Houston - Houston
- UT Health San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington
- University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso
- UTTyler - Tyler