Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Typical Duration (FT) |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PMHNP Track | $55,104 | ~2–2.5 years |
| BSN to DNP PMHNP | $70,950 | ~3–4 years |
| Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP | $15,136 | ~1–1.5 years |
Notes: Costs are estimates based on published per-credit tuition; additional university fees may apply. Timelines assume full-time enrollment.
The National League for Nursing has designated the Breen School as a Center of Excellence, reflecting the program’s commitment to advanced psychiatric nursing education. Students complete 500 minimum clinical hours distributed across specialized adult and pediatric psychiatric practicum experiences, with emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment across the lifespan.
Classes begin in fall and spring semesters, with some courses available in face-to-face or online formats, providing flexibility for working professionals while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
Master of Science in Nursing PMHNP Track
The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP track is $55,104 and would take 2-2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This comprehensive track serves registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees seeking advanced practice specialization in psychiatric-mental health care across child, adolescent, and adult populations.
Curriculum
The 42-credit hour program includes core courses in evidence-based practice, advanced physiology/pathology, health assessment, pharmacology, and specialized psychiatric courses covering neurobiology, psychopharmacology, and diagnostic management.
Coursework includes the following:
NR 532 – Intro to Evidence Based Practice
Introduces the research process and its role in advancing nursing theory and practice. Students build skills as both participants in research and informed consumers of nursing evidence.
NR 533 – Application of Evidence Based Prac
Focuses on generating, synthesizing, and translating nursing research for clinical application. Students strengthen skills in applying evidence-based findings to improve practice outcomes.
NR 535 – Health Care Inform
Covers advanced health informatics concepts, including computer skills, decision-support systems, and clinical data analysis. Examines the impact of health information technology on communication and decision-making in healthcare.
NR 540 – Adv Physio & Pathology
Explores cellular and molecular mechanisms of human disease, linking pathogenesis to altered physiological processes.
NR 541 – Adv Health Assmnt
Develops advanced assessment skills for patients across the lifespan, integrating physical, psychosocial, and health data. Emphasizes diagnostic decision-making and appropriate use of testing.
NR 542 – Adv Pharmacology
Covers advanced pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics, with a focus on selecting appropriate agents for common disorders. Considers patient variations in drug response.
NR 620 – Hlth Prm Main Rest
Examines frameworks for health promotion, maintenance, and restoration. Applies research, ethics, and cultural considerations to therapeutic management and community health improvement.
NR 650A – Health Care Policy
Analyzes health policy development and its effects on clinical practice. Reviews current trends and the roles of policymakers, advanced practice nurses, and the public.
NR 650B – Health Care Organizations & Finance
Introduces healthcare economics and organizational concepts to support cost-effective, quality care. Encourages leadership skills in healthcare delivery.
NR 650C – Advanced Practice Ethical & Legal
Covers ethical principles and legal considerations in advanced practice nursing, with emphasis on professional values and frameworks for decision-making.
NR 650D – Adv Practice Roles & Respon
Explores evolving roles of advanced practice nurses, clinical issues, and ethical considerations. Includes a culminating graduate project.
NR 670 – Neurobiolgy & Psychopharmacology
Examines neurobiological foundations of psychiatric disorders and advanced psychopharmacology. Emphasizes evidence-based prescribing for mental illness across the lifespan.
NR 671 – Sys Interventions Indiv & Groups
Applies theories and integrated clinical knowledge to manage mental health disorders in individual, family, and group settings. Highlights therapeutic communication and treatment evaluation.
NR 672 – Psychiatric Diagnostics & Mgmt Adult
Develops skills in assessing, diagnosing, and managing psychiatric conditions in adults, with focus on differential diagnosis and complex comorbidities. Includes required clinical hours.
NR 673 – Psychiatric Diagnostics & Mgmt Chld
Prepares students to assess and manage psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Focuses on differential diagnosis, complex care, and pediatric/adolescent clinical hours.
Curriculum details available here:
Clinical Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours through three practicum experiences, culminating in a capstone project demonstrating advanced practice competencies.
- Psychiatric Diagnostics and Management of Adults (175 hours)
- Children (175 hours)
- Systems Interventions for Individuals and Groups (150 hours)
MSN Track Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA recommended
- Current unencumbered Ohio RN license
- Minimum one year RN experience within past two years
- Application essay (500-1,000 words)
- Three professional recommendations (instructor, APRN, supervisor preferred)
- $25 non-refundable application fee
BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice PMHNP Track
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP PMHNP program is $70,950 and would take 3-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This terminal degree pathway serves registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees seeking doctoral-level preparation in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice.
Curriculum
The 75-credit curriculum encompasses the complete MSN PMHNP coursework plus doctoral-level competencies in biostatistics, epidemiology, organizational leadership, scientific writing, and evidence-based project methodology.
Students complete advanced healthcare management, policy analysis, and informatics while developing capstone project expertise through four progressive DNP residency experiences. The program emphasizes systems transformation and evidence-based practice optimization for healthcare delivery improvement.
Clinicals
Clinical requirements include the same 500 minimum psychiatric practicum hours as the MSN track plus additional doctoral-level residency experiences focused on capstone project implementation and dissemination.
Students develop expertise in quality improvement evaluation, interdisciplinary leadership, and scientific foundations for advanced practice nursing while maintaining specialized psychiatric clinical competencies.
BSN to DNP Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from accredited program
- Must fulfill both MSN and DNP program requirements
- Same prerequisite and experience requirements as MSN track
Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Track
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP program is $15,136 and would take 1-1.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This accelerated pathway targets master’s-prepared nurses with existing board certification as Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists, Adult-Gerontology Primary or Acute Care Nurse Practitioners, or Family Nurse Practitioners seeking psychiatric-mental health specialization.
Curriculum
The streamlined 16-credit curriculum focuses exclusively on psychiatric-mental health specialty coursework including:
- neurobiology and psychopharmacology
- systems interventions
- adult psychiatric diagnostics and management
- pediatric psychiatric diagnostics and management
Students bypass foundational advanced practice courses due to previous certification requirements, proceeding directly to specialized psychiatric content and clinical experiences.
Clinicals
Clinical requirements include the same 500 minimum hours as other tracks distributed across three courses:
- systems interventions (150 hours)
- adult psychiatric management (175 hours)
- pediatric psychiatric management (175 hours)
The accelerated format allows completion in 12-18 months depending on full-time or part-time enrollment choices.
Post-Graduate Certificate Requirements
- Nationally recognized board certification as Adult-Gerontology CNS, AGPCNP, AGACNP, or FNP
- Master’s degree in nursing from accredited program
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Same application requirements as MSN track
Tuition
Graduate tuition is $1,312 per credit hour for MSN programs and $946 per credit hour for DNP and certificate programs.
Additional fees include $220 technology fee and $50 facilities fee per semester, plus one-time $100 matriculation fee for new students.
You can review the graduate tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Ursuline College’s master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates from all tracks meet educational requirements for national psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification.
Other Nursing Programs
Ursuline College’s Breen School of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Leadership programs
- DNP specializations in palliative care and nursing education
- Various post-graduate certificate tracks
More PMHNP Programs in Ohio
View All PMHNP Programs in Ohio
- Cleveland State University - Cleveland
- Kent State - Kent
- Mount Carmel - Columbus
- Ohio State - Columbus
- Ohio University - Athens
- University of Toledo - Toledo
- Wright State University - Dayton