| Program | Est. Cost* | Length |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $87,000 | 1.5-2 years (full-time) |
| Advanced Certificate in PMHNP | $59,160 | 1 to 1.3 years |
* Estimated at $1,740 per credit hour; additional standardized patient, lab, and placement fees apply. Actual totals vary by transfer credits and plan.
Program Tracks Overview
The redesigned curriculum launched January 2025 features 660 clinical hours across three sequential practica and partnerships with over 600 preceptors across New York State. Students complete flexible hybrid-online coursework with mandatory on-campus intensives and state-of-the-art simulation experiences at Helen Wood Hall.
MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP program is approximately $87,000 and would take 1.5 to 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Format
The program is delivered online, with two required on-campus intensives and two additional full-day skills workshops to build hands-on competencies. Clinical placements are arranged to ensure exposure to children, adults, and older adults.
Curriculum
Courses include core subjects such as advanced health assessment, pharmacology, and evidence-based practice, along with specialized psychiatric training like group therapy and psychopharmacology.
NRSG 5800 Applied Pharmacology This foundational course equips advanced practice healthcare professionals with comprehensive knowledge in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics for treating patients across all age groups, including adults, adolescents, and children.
NRSG 5500 Perspectives of Advanced Nursing Practice Students examine the evolving landscape of healthcare and society, focusing on critical issues affecting advanced nursing roles including role development, ethical and legal considerations, political influences, and contemporary practice and educational challenges in advanced practice nursing.
NRSG 6300 Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology This course explores the intricate relationship between normal human physiological processes and their pathological alterations during disease states, examining both cellular mechanisms and organ system dysfunction.
NRSG 5810 Advanced Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology Building on applied pharmacology knowledge, this specialized course delves into advanced psychopharmacological interventions for psychiatric conditions, emphasizing neurobiological foundations, medication selection strategies, response monitoring, side effect management, and considerations for comorbidities, cultural factors, age-related issues, and previous treatment responses.
NRSG 5480 Advanced Nursing Assessment/Lab Students develop advanced clinical assessment skills and expertise in evaluating health and illness states through comprehensive examination techniques and diagnostic approaches.
NRSG 7100 & NRSG 7100L Foundations for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing This course introduces fundamental biopsychosocial theories and evidence-based frameworks for assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health conditions across the lifespan, utilizing case studies, role-playing exercises, and diagnostic interview simulations to develop differential diagnosis skills and treatment planning capabilities.
NRSG 5600 Healthcare Research & Statistical Analysis Students explore research methodologies, develop critical analysis skills for evaluating studies, and examine the interconnections between nursing theory, research evidence, and clinical practice.
NRSG 6110 Ensuring Healthcare Safety and Quality This course examines healthcare economics, managed care environments, systems thinking, and the essential intellectual and technical competencies required for effective clinical outcome management.
NRSG 7110 & NRSG 7110L Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I/Lab Students engage in comprehensive exploration and practical application of theoretical and evidence-based approaches for managing short-term mental health issues and common psychiatric disorders, focusing on psychotherapeutic interventions, health promotion strategies, and risk prevention across diverse clinical settings with direct patient care experiences.
NRSG 6410 Nursing Theory: Principles & Applications This course provides critical examination and practical application of nursing theoretical frameworks to enhance professional nursing practice and clinical decision-making.
NRSG 7120 & NRSG 7120L Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II/Lab Building on foundational skills, students explore advanced theoretical and research-based approaches for managing chronic and complex psychiatric disorders, developing sophisticated differential diagnostic abilities and intervention strategies while emphasizing rehabilitation, recovery, and psychoeducational approaches through direct clinical practice experiences.
NRSG 7200 & NRSG 7200L Practicum in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing/Lab This capstone clinical experience provides intensive hands-on practice in psychiatric mental health nursing, allowing students to integrate and apply all previously learned skills in real-world clinical settings under supervised practice conditions.
More course details are available here:
- https://son.rochester.edu/current-students/courses/course-list.html
- https://son.rochester.edu/assets/pdf/2024-2025_final-edit_12.7.24.pdf
Clinicals
Clinical requirements emphasize comprehensive psychiatric care across all age groups with supervised practice in diverse mental health settings including inpatient, outpatient, and community-based programs.
MSN Program Requirements
- BSN from accredited nursing program
- Current New York State RN licensure
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Completion of advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and physical assessment
- English language proficiency for international students
- Holistic application review process with potential interviews
Advanced Certificate in PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Advanced Certificate program is $59,160 ($1,740 per credit hour x 34 credit hours ) varies based on gap analysis and would take 1 to 1.3 years to complete..
Curriculum
The certificate program targets master’s-prepared advanced practice nurses:
- Prerequisites Assessment:
- Gap analysis determines additional coursework requirements
- Advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and physical assessment required
- Advanced health assessment credits may be needed based on population focus
- Clinical Specialty Courses:
- Psychopathology and psychiatric assessment across the lifespan
- Individual and group psychotherapy modalities
- Pathophysiology and psychopharmacology specialization
- Three practicum courses with 616 total clinical hours
- Theoretical frameworks for advanced psychiatric practice
Clinicals
Clinical requirements include supervised practicum experiences across diverse psychiatric settings with progressive responsibility and comprehensive lifespan care delivery.
Advanced Certificate Requirements
- Master’s degree as advanced practice nurse (NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM)
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from master’s degree
- New York State RN licensure
- Completion of prerequisite graduate courses with grade C or above
- Two letters of recommendation and current resume/CV
- 500-word essay and short answer responses
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition costs $1,740 per credit hour with additional fees including site placement ($20 per course), standardized patient fees ($45 per course), and lab fees ($50-$585 per course).
Certification exam costs range from $315-$425 depending on organization.
See the official tuition page for more details.
The university offers scholarship opportunities including Finger Lakes Regional and Patrick P. Lee Foundation scholarships to address critical mental health provider shortages.
Accreditation
University of Rochester School of Nursing maintains appropriate regional and nursing program accreditation ensuring quality standards and eligibility for national certification examinations through ANCC and AANP.
Other Nursing Programs
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric/Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Nurse Leader Advanced Certificate
- Nursing Education Advanced Certificates