Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DNP – PMHNP Specialization | $51,724 | 33 months |
| MSN– PMHNP Specialization | $40,530 | 21 months |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | $31,845 | Apprx 18 months |
The programs reflect AACN Essentials (2021), NP Core Competencies (2022), NONPF Distance Learning 2023 Guidelines, and NCSBN APRN Distance Education Requirements, preparing graduates to diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic psychiatric conditions across the lifespan.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP Specialization
The estimated cost for the DNP-PMHNP program is $51,724 and would take 33 months to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The 67-credit DNP program prepares registered nurses as advanced clinical experts in psychiatric mental health nursing with enhanced organizational and leadership competencies in healthcare delivery, expertise in evidence-based practice application, and the ability to lead interprofessional teams to improve patient and healthcare outcomes at individual and population levels.
First Year Courses:
NURS 710 – Information Systems and Health Care Technology (3 cr.)
Introduces how health information systems support clinical care and organizational performance. Emphasizes the advanced practice nurse’s role in using data for quality improvement, outcome evaluation, and administrative decision-making.
NURS 593 – Research Methodology and Application (3 cr.)
Covers the full research process, from problem identification through design, data collection, and analysis. Focuses on judging the rigor of nursing studies and applying evidence to improve practice.
NURS 510 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
Examines major disease processes across the lifespan using advanced anatomy and physiology concepts. Links abnormal findings and lab data to clinical presentation.
NURS 530 – Advanced Clinical Assessment (2 cr.)
Builds skills in taking comprehensive health histories and performing full physical exams across the lifespan. Prepares students for advanced practice by reinforcing systematic assessment and documentation.
NURS 530L – Advanced Clinical Assessment Lab (1 cr.)
Provides hands-on practice with advanced history-taking and physical exam techniques. Uses lab sessions to refine clinical assessment and critical observation skills.
NURS 513 – Clinical Neuroscience (3 cr.)
Explores brain structure and function as a basis for understanding psychiatric disorders. Connects neural circuitry with common mental health symptoms.
NURS 520 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.)
Reviews principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safe prescribing. Emphasizes drug selection, side effects, interactions, and monitoring across populations.
NURS 516 – Psychiatric Theories (3 cr.)
Surveys biopsychosocial theories that guide psychiatric-mental health care. Applies these frameworks to individuals, families, and communities at risk for mental health conditions.
NURS 527 – Psychotherapeutics (3 cr.)
Focuses on the assessment and treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, dissociative, somatic, and sleep-wake disorders, as well as sexual dysfunction and gender dysphoria. Highlights psychotherapy approaches and clinical decision-making across the lifespan.
NURS 528 – PMHNP Practicum I (2 cr.)
Provides supervised clinical experience in caring for clients with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, dissociative, somatic, sleep-wake, and related disorders. Emphasizes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning under preceptor guidance.
NURS 525 – Psychopharmacology (3 cr.)
Covers prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medications across the lifespan. Connects drug effects on neurobiology with management of target psychiatric symptoms.
NURS 750 – Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations (3 cr.)
Examines public health principles, determinants of health, and evidence-based prevention strategies for at-risk groups. Stresses the advanced practice nurse’s role in health promotion, cultural sensitivity, and emergency or disaster readiness.
Second Year Courses:
NURS 537 – Psychotherapeutics II (3 cr.)
Addresses the psychopathology and treatment of depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, disruptive and conduct disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. Integrates therapeutic approaches across age groups.
NURS 538 – PMHNP Practicum II (2 cr.)
Provides supervised clinical practice with clients experiencing mood, psychotic, neurodevelopmental, disruptive, and cognitive disorders. Focuses on refining diagnostic skills and therapeutic interventions.
NURS 700 – Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3 cr.)
Introduces methods to analyze epidemiologic and biostatistical data for clinical prevention and population health. Emphasizes use of basic statistical inference to interpret health trends and outcomes.
NURS 547 – Psychotherapeutics III (3 cr.)
Covers the psychopathology and treatment of trauma and stressor-related disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders, movement disorders, and abuse-related conditions. Emphasizes selection and integration of therapeutic modalities.
NURS 548 – PMHNP Practicum III (2 cr.)
Offers advanced clinical experience in managing trauma, addiction, personality disorders, and abuse-related conditions. Strengthens comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for complex psychiatric cases.
NURS 730 – Translating Evidence into Practice (3 cr.)
Teaches students to turn research findings into practical clinical changes. Focuses on applying, evaluating, and disseminating evidence to improve outcomes at patient, family, system, and population levels.
NURS 740 – Health Care Management for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr.)
Explores health care finance, budgeting, staffing, and quality management. Prepares students to design and evaluate practice and system-level initiatives for cost-effective, high-quality care.
NURS 781 – PMHNP Scholarly Project I (3 cr.)
Guides students in developing a scholarly project proposal on a psychiatric-mental health issue, system change, or policy topic. Includes problem selection, theoretical framework, methodology design, and stakeholder engagement.
Third Year Courses:
NURS 760 – Advanced Health Care Policy (3 cr.)
Analyzes health policy and its drivers at institutional, local, state, national, and global levels. Highlights financing, advocacy skills, and the advanced practice nurse’s influence on policy and outcomes.
NURS 791 – PMHNP Scholarly Project II (3 cr.)
Focuses on implementing, analyzing, and disseminating the PMHNP scholarly project. Students interpret results, propose practice improvements, and present findings in written and oral formats.
NURS 770 – Professional Leadership and Organizational Change (3 cr.)
Examines leadership theories and change processes in health care organizations. Emphasizes collaboration with interprofessional teams to improve safety and quality outcomes.
NURS 792 – PMHNP Role Immersion (3 cr.)
Prepares students for entry into independent PMHNP practice. Integrates prior didactic and clinical learning to manage complex psychiatric needs using advanced clinical judgment.
NURS 793 – Role Immersion Practicum (1 cr.)
Provides intensive supervised clinical hours to support the transition to the PMHNP role. Focuses on advanced assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and real-world practice management.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
The DNP program includes the same 750 clinical practicum hours as the MSN program, distributed across three practicum courses (NURS 528, NURS 538, and NURS 548) with each credit equaling 125 hours per semester.
Clinical work occurs under preceptor supervision with PMHNPs or psychiatrists, and the program includes two clinical intensives on-campus for simulation and skills feedback.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA accredited program
- Minimum GPA of 3.2 or higher
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Registered Nurse license
- Two professional references
- Essay describing career goals
- No application fee
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP Specialization
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is $40,530 and would take 21 months to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The 42-credit MSN curriculum combines advanced nursing education with specialized training in mental health care, emphasizing excellent communication skills, in-depth knowledge of therapeutic interventions, medication management, clinical decision-making, and diagnostic reasoning.
Year One Courses:
- NURS 510 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS 530 – Advanced Clinical Assessment (2 credits)
- NURS 530L – Advanced Clinical Assessment Lab (1 credit)
- NURS 513 – Clinical Neuroscience (3 credits, Intersession)
- NURS 520 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 516 – Psychiatric Theories (3 credits)
- NURS 527 – Psychotherapeutics I (3 credits)
- NURS 528 – PMHNP Practicum I (2 credits)
- NURS 525 – Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 591 – Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
Year Two Courses:
- NURS 593 – Research Methodology and Application (3 credits)
- NURS 537 – Psychotherapeutics II (3 credits)
- NURS 538 – PMHNP Practicum II (2 credits)
- NURS 597 – Systems Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
- NURS 547 – Psychotherapeutics III (3 credits)
- NURS 548 – PMHNP Practicum III (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Students complete three clinical practicum courses (NURS 528, NURS 538, and NURS 548) taken over three semesters, with each credit of clinical practicum equaling 125 hours per semester for a total of 750 clinical practicum hours.
The preceptor must be a PMHNP or psychiatrist, and the third practicum course includes an intensive campus-based evaluation of psychiatric mental health nursing competencies at the beginning of the term.
Practicum courses generally include two days of clinical work each week along with a weekly small group seminar to discuss pertinent clinical processes and role development.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA accredited program
- 3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Résumé
- Personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- No application fee
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate program is $31,845 and would take approximately 18 months to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The 33-credit post-master’s certificate focuses on advanced competencies such as in-depth knowledge of therapeutic interventions and medication management for nurses already holding a master’s degree in nursing.
First Year Courses:
- NURS 510 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS 530 – Advanced Clinical Assessment (2 credits)
- NURS 530L – Advanced Clinical Assessment Lab (1 credit)
- NURS 513 – Clinical Neuroscience (3 credits, Intersession)
- NURS 520 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 516 – Psychiatric Theories (3 credits)
- NURS 527 – Psychotherapeutics (3 credits)
- NURS 528 – PMHNP Practicum I (2 credits)
- NURS 525 – Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
Second Year Courses:
- NURS 537 – Psychotherapeutics II (3 credits)
- NURS 538 – PMHNP Practicum II (2 credits)
- NURS 547 – Psychotherapeutics III (3 credits)
- NURS 548 – PMHNP Practicum III (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate program requires the same 750 clinical practicum hours distributed across three practicum courses (NURS 528, NURS 538, and NURS 548), with faculty assistance available to identify qualified preceptors who must be PMHNPs or psychiatrists.
The third practicum course includes an intensive campus-based evaluation of psychiatric mental health nursing competencies at the beginning of the term.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA accredited program
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- Official transcripts from all schools attended
- Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references
- Personal Statement
- Résumé
- No application fee
Tuition
The graduate tuition rate is $965 per credit hour for the MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs, and $772 per credit hour for the DNP program.
Students may incur additional costs beyond tuition such as textbooks, supplies, clinical placement costs, and required nurse practitioner student tracking software to document clinical experiences.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at University of Scranton are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Other Nursing Programs
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN
- Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Master’s Certificate
- Nursing Practice, DNP (Executive Leadership format for master’s-prepared nurses)
- Nurse Anesthesia, DNP
Related Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Pennsylvania
- Drexel University - Philadelphia
- Jefferson University - Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania State University - University Park
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- York College - York