Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Duration | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | ~3.5 years (7 part-time semesters) | $52,217 |
| Certificate for RNs with M.S. in Nursing | ~2.5–3 years | $35,552 |
| Certificate for Current Psychiatric CNS | ~1–2 years | $13,332 |
| Certificate for Current NPs in Other Specialties | ~1.5–2 years | $22,220 |
| DNP PMHNP | ~1.5 years (3 semesters) | $19,998 |
The programs utilize state-of-the-art technology in a fully operational Nursing Education and Simulation Center and maintain partnerships with leading healthcare agencies including Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford Hospital, and Yale-New Haven Hospital.
USJ’s nursing department boasts a 100% NCLEX pass rate for 2023 cohorts and offers a unique 20% alumni discount for graduates enrolling in additional programs starting Summer 2025.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the M.S. PMHNP program is approximately $52,217 and takes 3.5 years to complete on a part-time basis across 7 semesters.
Curriculum
The 47-credit hour program combines 24 credits of core nursing courses with 23 credits of PMHNP concentration courses. Core coursework includes:
NURS 507 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 Credits)
Builds advanced history-taking, therapeutic communication, and comprehensive/focused exam skills across the lifespan for diverse populations. Aligns with a concurrent skills course to prepare for clinical practice, integrating recognition of normal/abnormal findings and culturally informed care.
NURS 519 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 Credits)
Frames disease as disordered physiology across integrated systems to support diagnostic reasoning and treatment decisions. Covers acute, chronic, episodic, and genetic conditions with an emphasis on health equity and culturally responsive advanced practice.
NURS 535 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 Credits)
Establishes prescriptive foundations—pharmacokinetics/dynamics, pharmacogenetics, legal scope—and safe medication selection across the lifespan. Prepares clinicians to manage therapies for acute/chronic conditions and health promotion with attention to social and cultural factors.
NURS 702 – Management and Leadership in Healthcare (3 Credits)
Applies leadership and management theories to real clinical problems, addressing teamwork, high-reliability principles, quality/safety, policy, and just culture. Students design a practical leadership plan using effective communication and change strategies.
URS 703 – Statistical Analysis for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Credits)
Introduces descriptive/inferential statistics, measurement, and data analysis for scholarly projects. Students apply quantitative methods to clinical questions, selecting appropriate tests and interpreting findings for practice.
NURS 706 – Population and Global Health I: Health Policy (3 Credits)
Examines major public health challenges and policies in the U.S. and globally, integrating multidisciplinary perspectives. Prepares DNP students to analyze policy processes and lead advocacy to improve population outcomes.
NURS 709 – Role Development and Scholarly Writing (3 Credits)
Explores the APRN role as clinician-scholar, scholarly writing using bias-free language, and application of nursing and borrowed theories. Students identify a clinical problem, analyze its scope and determinants, and ground a future project in evidence-based theory.
NURS 725 – Research Translation for Evidence-Based Practice (3 Credits)
Advances skills in evaluating methodologies, synthesizing literature, and translating research into clinical recommendations. Culminates in a focused literature review that supports a scholarly project proposal.
NURS 502 – Advanced Practice in Psychotherapy I (4 Credits)
Introduces psychodynamic, interpersonal, and group therapies while strengthening assessment/diagnosis across the lifespan. Students craft comprehensive, culturally responsive plans of care integrating psychotherapy and pharmacology; includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 504 – Advanced Practice in Psychotherapy II (4 Credits)
Builds on NURS 502 with CBT, DBT, EMDR/ART, family systems, and complementary therapies. Emphasizes documentation standards and culturally informed practice; includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 521 – Advanced Practice in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing III: Capstone (4 Credits)
Synthesizes prior learning to deliver evidence-based, culturally appropriate management of complex psychiatric conditions for individuals, groups, and populations. Addresses professional/managerial PMHNP functions and ANCC exam readiness; 150 clinical hours required.
NURS 530 – Advanced Practice in Applied Psychopharmacology (4 Credits)
Applies advanced pharmacology to psychiatric medication management based on diagnosis and pathophysiology. Centers equity-minded, culturally sensitive prescribing and requires 150 clinical hours.
NURS 544 – Assessment, Diagnosis, and Management of Mental Health Conditions (4 Credits)
Advances screening, differential diagnosis, and management across the lifespan, including interplay with medical comorbidities and impacts on function and quality of life. Integrates culturally responsive care; includes 150 clinical hours. Prerequisite: NURS 507.
NURS 731 – PMHNP Skills/Differential Diagnosis (3 Credits)
Builds core PMHNP competencies in therapeutic interviewing, evidence-based assessment tools, and focused psychiatric exams across the lifespan. Includes strategies for forming therapeutic alliances and adapting assessments for telehealth settings.
More curriculum information available here: https://catalog.usj.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=19&poid=3648&returnto=1034
Students complete coursework in weekly evening sessions scheduled on either Tuesdays or Thursdays depending on their start semester.
Clinicals
Students complete 750 direct patient care hours across various healthcare agencies and mental health settings during their clinical practicum experiences. Clinical rotations occur at multiple healthcare facilities including inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities, community health clinics, and specialized mental health agencies.
The program maintains strong partnerships with leading healthcare institutions to provide diverse clinical learning opportunities that prepare students for comprehensive psychiatric mental health care across all age groups.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from regionally and nationally accredited institution with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current unencumbered RN license from state where clinical work will be completed
- Current resume demonstrating nursing experience
- Essay discussing practice problems with broad patient care impact and 5-10 year professional goals
- Two professional letters of recommendation from clinical supervisors/managers and academic faculty
- Interview with graduate faculty prior to acceptance
- All required immunization records
- Certified background check upon formal admission
- Student APRN-level malpractice insurance prior to clinical coursework
- Application deadlines: November 1 for spring admission, July 1 for fall admission
Post-Master’s Certificate Programs
RNs with M.S. Nursing Degree
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate for RNs with M.S. Nursing degrees is approximately $35,552 and takes approximately 2.5-3 years to complete.
Curriculum
The 32-credit hour program requires completion of the following courses:
NURS 502 – Advanced Practice in Psychotherapy I
Introduces psychodynamic, interpersonal, and group therapies while strengthening assessment and diagnostic skills across the lifespan. Students craft comprehensive plans of care integrating psychotherapy and pharmacology, with attention to social determinants and culture. Includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 504 – Advanced Practice in Psychotherapy II
Builds on NURS 502 with cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, EMDR/ART, family systems, and complementary therapies. Emphasizes documentation standards and culturally responsive care. Includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 507 – Advanced Health Assessment
Develops advanced history-taking, therapeutic communication, and head-to-toe plus focused exams for diverse age groups. Aligns with a concurrent skills course to prepare for clinical practice, integrating cultural and social context.
NURS 519 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Frames disease as disordered physiology across integrated systems to support diagnostic reasoning and treatment decisions. Focuses on acute, chronic, genetic, and episodic conditions with a health-equity lens.
NURS 521 – Advanced Practice in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing III: Capstone
Synthesizes prior learning to manage complex psychiatric conditions across the lifespan through culturally appropriate, evidence-based care plans. Explores professional/managerial PMHNP functions and ANCC exam readiness. Includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 530 – Advanced Practice in Applied Psychopharmacology
Applies advanced pharmacologic strategies to psychiatric medication management grounded in diagnosis and pathophysiology. Centers equity-minded, culturally sensitive prescribing. Includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 535 – Advanced Pharmacology
Covers pharmacokinetics/dynamics, pharmacogenetics, prescriptive authority, and safe medication selection across the lifespan. Prepares learners to choose and monitor therapies for acute/chronic conditions and health promotion.
NURS 544 – Assessment, Diagnosis, and Management of Mental Health Conditions
Advances psychiatric screening, differential diagnosis, and management across diverse populations, including interplay with medical comorbidities and impacts on function and end-of-life care. Integrates cultural and social determinants of health. Prerequisite: NURS 507. Includes 150 clinical hours.
NURS 731 – PMHNP Skills/Differential Diagnosis
Establishes core PMHNP competencies in therapeutic interviewing, use of evidence-based assessment tools, and focused exams across the lifespan. Addresses building therapeutic alliance and adapting assessment skills for telehealth.
Clinicals
Students who are not practicing nurse practitioners, did not complete NP programs, or completed non-clinical MS nursing degrees must complete 750 clinical hours. Transfer credits are not accepted for the 3Ps courses (pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment) and must be completed at USJ.
Current Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialists
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate for Current Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialists is approximately $13,332 and takes 1-2 years to complete.
Curriculum
The 12-credit hour program requires the following:
- advanced practice in psychiatric-mental health nursing capstone (4 credits)
- advanced practice in applied psychopharmacology (4 credits)
- assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health conditions (4 credits)
Clinicals
Students must complete 250 clinical hours in the population for which they are not currently certified (child/adolescent specialists complete adult/geriatric hours and vice versa).
Current Nurse Practitioners in Other Specialties
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate for Current Nurse Practitioners is approximately $22,220 and takes approximately 1.5-2 years to complete.
Curriculum
The 20-credit hour program includes:
- advanced practice in psychotherapy I and II (8 credits)
- psychiatric-mental health nursing capstone (4 credits)
- applied psychopharmacology (4 credits)
- assessment/diagnosis/management of mental health conditions (4 credits)
Clinicals
Currently practicing nurse practitioners (minimum 1,000 hours in past 2 years) must complete 500 clinical hours. Students must maintain current APRN certification from nationally recognized bodies such as ANCC or ANP.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Post-Master’s
The estimated cost for the DNP Post-Master’s program is approximately $19,998 and takes 1.5 years to complete across 3 semesters when enrolled within 3 years of M.S. completion.
Curriculum
This 18-credit hour program allows M.S. PMHNP graduates to advance to doctoral-level preparation, focusing on advanced practice leadership, healthcare systems improvement, and evidence-based practice implementation.
Clinicals
The program builds upon master’s-level clinical expertise to develop doctoral-level competencies in organizational leadership and healthcare innovation.
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,111 per credit hour.
Graduate nursing fees total $557 for specific clinical courses (NURS-502, 504, 507, 508, 509, 511, 521, 530, 544, 591).
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certification at the University of Saint Joseph are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. The programs prepare graduates for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination upon graduation.
Other Nursing Programs
The University of Saint Joseph’s Department of Nursing offers multiple degree and certificate options:
Undergraduate Programs:
- Accelerated Second Degree (ASD) Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Doctor of Nursing Practice, FNP or PMHNP (Post-Bachelor’s)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Master’s)
Other PMHNP Programs in CT
View All PMHNP Programs in Connecticut
- Fairfield University - Fairfield
- Goodwin University - East Hartford
- Quinnipiac University - Hamden
- Sacred Heart - Fairfield
- Western Connecticut State - Danbury
- Yale - New Haven