Program Tracks Overview
| Pathway | Est. Cost* | Length |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP PMHNP | $41,756 | ~3 years (full-time) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate in PMHNP | $16,016 | ~5 semesters (~1.5–2 years) |
*Program estimates provided. Standard grad tuition listed as $572/credit (1–8 credits) with flat rates for 9–13 credits/term; totals exclude university fees and supplies.
*Costs reflect psychiatric-mental health specialty coursework at $850/credit; total program cost varies with required core/DNP credits, fees, and any online per-credit charges.
The PMHNP programs operate with strict progression requirements allowing only two grades of C maximum before dismissal and requiring one year of mental health experience prior to clinical courses. The BSN to DNP program spans 3 years with 73 credit hours while the certificate option completes in 5 semesters. Both programs align with National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Competencies and the APRN Consensus Model. Southern Miss
BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP PMHNP program is approximately $41,756 and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The DNP PMHNP program includes advanced training in psychopharmacology, psychiatric assessment, and mental health diagnosis across the lifespan.
Coursework includes the following:
NUR 608 – Advanced Practice Nurse Role I – This course emphasizes the role of the advanced practice registered nurse in screening, risk assessment, counseling, and education.
NUR 615 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention for APRN – Students develop advanced knowledge and skills for health promotion and prevention across the lifespan, with emphasis on screening, risk assessment, counseling, and education.
NUR 630 – Psychobiological Theories and Assessment in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing – This course covers psychobiological theory in the assessment and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and major psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
NUR 631 – Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management with Individuals – Students analyze theories relevant to psychotherapeutic interventions with individuals.
NUR 631L – Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I – This practicum provides hands-on experience in the management of psychiatric disorders with individuals.
NUR 634L – Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum III – Students gain synthesis experience in the management of psychiatric disorders with individuals.
NUR 635 – FPMHNP Diagnosis and Management Groups/Families – This course focuses on theoretical design and evaluation of interventions with groups and families.
NUR 635L – Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP Practicum II – Students gain practical experience in the management of psychiatric disorders with groups, families, and couples.
NUR 636 – Psychopharmacology – This course synthesizes knowledge relevant to the care of individuals with psychiatric disorders from a neurobiological and psychopharmacologic perspective.
NUR 671 – Transition To Practice Seminar – Students build on the foundation of advanced practice registered nurse role including professionalism, legal and ethical aspects, quality improvement, organizational and systems leadership, scholarship of practice, and implementation.
NUR 800 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice – This course provides comprehensive evaluation of altered health states of diverse patient populations across the lifespan.
NUR 801 – Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Practice – Students develop thorough understanding of the basic science of pharmacology across the lifespan.
NUR 803 – Advanced Health Assessment Advance Practice Nurses – This course emphasizes the role of advanced practice registered nurses in advanced assessment skills, diagnostic laboratory values, and diagnostic studies.
NUR 805 – Role Development in Advanced Practice Nursing – Students focus on the role of the advanced practice professional and foundational competencies that are core to leading and improving outcomes for individuals, populations, and systems.
NUR 809 – Methods for Evaluating Evidence Based Practice – This course examines searching for and analyzing research and other evidence for use in evidence-based practice.
NUR 810 – Practice Inquiry I: Information Systems & Technology – This first of two Practice Inquiry courses prepares Advanced Practice Nurses for the DNP project with focus on using information systems and technology in advanced practice nursing.
NUR 811 – Population Health and Epidemiology – Students develop competencies to use evidence-based strategies and epidemiological science to improve population-level health outcomes.
NUR 812 – Practice Inquiry II: Translating Research into Practice – This second Practice Inquiry course prepares Advanced Practice Nurses for the DNP project with focus on translating research and evidence into practice.
NUR 813 – Policy and Politics in Healthcare – Students explore the history of nurses’ role in healthcare policy development and implementation, examining the impact of recent economic and organizational changes on healthcare delivery.
NUR 816 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project – The DNP project focuses on accountability for advancing the nursing profession and translating the developing body of nursing knowledge to practice.
NUR 817 – Quality and Leadership in Healthcare Systems – This course provides advanced analysis of change management, leadership theories and strategies, and organizational systems theory for quality improvement in healthcare systems.
NUR 819 – Economics and Finance in Healthcare Systems – Students employ principles of business, finance, and economics to analyze the cost-effectiveness of practice initiatives accounting for risk and improvement of healthcare outcomes.
More curriculum info available here: https://catalog.usm.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=36&poid=17986&returnto=2319
Clinical Requirements
Students complete clinical rotations in their communities and are prepared to treat children, adults, and geriatric patients. The program emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, systems thinking, and leadership development.
The program ensures access to clinical placements through faculty support and partnerships, eliminating the need for students to find their own preceptors. Students must pass all clinical and theory courses with a minimum of a “C” and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
BSN to DNP Program Requirements:
- BSN from NLNAC or CCNE accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate nursing courses
- Current unrestricted RN license in Mississippi
- One year recent clinical RN experience plus one year mental health experience
- Completed introductory statistics course
- Current CPR/BLS certification
- Three doctoral-level nursing references preferred
- Cover letter, personal statement, and CV
- Interview (in-person or virtual)
- Health examinations, immunizations, background check, and drug screening
Post-Graduate Certificate in PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate program is approximately $16,016 and would take 1.5-2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
NUR 615 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention for APRN
Prepares APRNs to lead health promotion and disease prevention across the lifespan through advanced screening, risk appraisal, counseling, and patient education strategies.
NUR 630 – Psychobiological Theories and Assessment in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing
Integrates psychobiological theory with advanced assessment to inform diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders across the lifespan; taken alongside NUR 631.
NUR 631 – Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management with Individuals
Analyzes theories that guide psychotherapeutic interventions for individual patients, building the clinical reasoning needed to plan and deliver evidence-based care.
NUR 631L – Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I
Applies classroom concepts in a supervised setting focused on individual care, emphasizing assessment, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric disorders (coreq: NUR 631; pre/coreq: NUR 630).
NUR 634L – Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum III
A culminating practicum that synthesizes prior coursework to deliver comprehensive, individualized psychiatric care with increasing autonomy.
NUR 635 – FPMHNP Diagnosis and Management Groups/Families
Designs and evaluates evidence-based interventions for groups and families, translating theory into practical strategies for relational mental health care (coreq: NUR 635L; prereq: NUR 631).
NUR 635L – Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP Practicum II
Provides supervised experience managing psychiatric conditions in groups, families, and couples, refining therapy delivery and outcome evaluation (coreq: NUR 635; includes NUR 630).
NUR 636 – Psychopharmacology
Synthesizes neurobiological and psychopharmacologic principles to guide safe, effective medication selection and monitoring for individuals with psychiatric disorders (coreq: NUR 630).
Clinicals
Clinical requirements include supervised practicum experiences across three sequential courses focusing on individual, group, and family psychiatric mental health care delivery.
Post-Graduate Certificate Requirements:
- Graduate nursing degree from NLNAC or CCNE accredited program
- Current unrestricted RN license in Mississippi
- Current CPR/BLS certification
- Three letters of reference from qualified assessors
- Cover letter, personal statement, and CV
- Interview requirement
- Same health and background check requirements
Tuition
Graduate tuition costs $572 per credit hour for 1-8 hours, with flat rates applying for 9-13 hours at $5,142 per term plus student activities and capital improvement fees.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of Southern Mississippi’s baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program maintain accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Additional Programs
In addition to the PMHNP program, the University of Southern Mississippi offers several other graduate-level nursing pathways through the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
These include:
Graduate Certificates in Nursing: Targeted certificate programs are available for licensed APRNs seeking additional specialization, such as in psychiatric mental health or family practice. These certificate options allow nurses with a prior MSN to expand their scope of practice and certification eligibility.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Doctorate: Prepares advanced practice nurses to deliver primary care across the lifespan, particularly in family and community health settings.
Nurse Anesthesia – Doctorate: Equips students with advanced knowledge and clinical expertise in anesthesia care, leading to eligibility for certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Nursing Leadership – Doctorate: Designed for nurses seeking to lead in health systems through policy, education, and executive roles. This program focuses on systems-based thinking, finance, and quality improvement.
Clinical Nursing – Doctorate: Offers training for advanced clinical roles emphasizing practice-based research and healthcare innovation.
More Programs in Mississippi
View All PMHNP Programs in Mississippi
- University of Mississippi - Jackson