Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Format | Duration | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP – PMHNP | Hybrid (online coursework + on-campus | Average completion: 10 semesters | ≈ $29,862† |
| Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP | Hybrid (online + clinicals); | Completion time limit: up to 3 years | ≈ $10,962–$11,340† |
† Estimates use the 2025–2026 published Texas resident graduate rate of ~$378 per credit hour (Total Tuition line) and exclude any additional program/University fees. Actual costs vary by term load and residency status.
Located within the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, the program provides access to over 2,000 clinical sites statewide including the nation’s largest academic psychiatric hospital. The school awards 25 HRSA-funded traineeships annually to nurse practitioner students committed to serving rural or underserved populations.
All PMHNP tracks feature hybrid delivery combining online coursework with hands-on simulations, labs, and clinical rotations. Students benefit from small class sizes and dedicated faculty mentorship in one of Texas’s most affordable advanced practice nursing programs.
BSN to DNP Track
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track is approximately $29,862 and would take 5 years to complete on a full-time basis across ten semesters.
Curriculum
The 79-credit hour doctoral program combines comprehensive psychiatric nursing practice with advanced doctoral competencies.
Coursework includes the following:
NURS 7305 Professional APRN Practice
Prepares APRN students to lead interprofessional teams across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Emphasizes leadership theory, team building, and the evolving impact of advanced practice nursing on care delivery and health systems.
NURS 6804W Advanced Pathophysiology for DNP
Examines normal and abnormal physiology and the mechanisms underlying common diseases across the lifespan. Students apply principles of homeostasis, physics, and chemistry to analyze symptoms and guide clinical problem-solving.
NURS 6901W Advanced Pharmacology for DNP
Covers advanced pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics with a focus on drugs commonly used in primary care across OB/GYN, pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics. Students integrate evidence to develop safe, effective pharmacologic plans for prevalent conditions.
NURS 7306 Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
Builds clinical reasoning for differential diagnosis, diagnostic testing, and basic procedures in preparation for NP practice. Introduces concepts of diagnostic error and provides case-based practice in systematic clinical problem-solving.
NURS 7307 Advanced Health Assessment & Differential Diagnosis
Develops advanced interviewing, history-taking, and physical exam skills across the lifespan. Learners synthesize objective and subjective data to distinguish normal from abnormal findings and generate prioritized differentials through lab and simulation.
NURS 7533 Vulnerable Populations
Explores social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental determinants of health and global disease burden. Students plan person-centered, evidence-based interventions that improve access and quality across settings and time.
NURS 7450 Role Transition
Guides students in transitioning to the nurse practitioner role, integrating professional standards, scope, and competencies. Emphasizes accountability, interprofessional collaboration, and strategies for successful entry to advanced practice.
NURS 6912W Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I for DNP
Introduces assessment, DSM-5–based diagnosis, and initial treatment planning for psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Uses simulation to practice psychiatric interviewing, differential formulation, and evidence-based initial interventions.
NURS 6912B Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I for DNP
Provides supervised clinical experience emphasizing assessment, diagnosis, and both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management. Students develop decision-making, continuity-of-care, and communication skills across varied psychiatric settings.
NURS 6913W Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II for DNP
Examines theories and models for individual and family psychotherapy and communication in complex psychiatric care. Stresses appraisal and application of current evidence to guide therapeutic strategies.
NURS 6913B Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II for DNP
Advances clinical competencies in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, caseload management, and outcome evaluation. Students refine diagnostics and implement evidence-based interventions with individuals, families, and groups.
NURS 6914W Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Care III for DNP
Seminar focused on managing patients with comorbidities and clinical deterioration across care settings. Addresses NP competencies, interprofessional care, and the business aspects of advanced practice.
NURS 6914B Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Care III for DNP
Capstone clinical rotation deepening diagnostic, psychopharmacologic, and psychotherapeutic skills across the lifespan. Emphasizes quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and role development in diverse service models.
NURS 6915B Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship for DNP
Final clinical practicum integrating holistic, evidence-based care for individuals and families across settings. Highlights systems thinking, policy awareness, and advanced clinical reasoning for independent NP practice.
NURS 7301 Translational Science I: Evidence-Based Practice Foundations
Introduces philosophical underpinnings of nursing knowledge and core EBP concepts. Students apply evidence principles to frame practice questions and inform care decisions.
NURS 7302 Translational Science II: Methodology
Critically examines translation and implementation models to move evidence into practice. Students design a quality improvement plan addressing problem significance, setting, methods, and expected outcomes.
NURS 7303 Translational Science III: Implementation
Focuses on leading practice change through implementation science, communication strategies, and innovation models. Students operationalize projects that improve quality and safety in real-world settings.
NURS 7304 Translational Science IV: Knowledge Translation
Addresses effective dissemination and sustainability of evidence in complex health systems. Students develop pragmatic strategies to translate findings into routine practice.
NURS 7537 Nursing Informatics: Translation into Advanced Practice
Builds informatics competencies to convert data into actionable information that enhances safety, quality, and efficiency. Covers evaluation and application of health IT and EHRs to support evidence-based care.
NURS 6806W Research for Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice
Surveys quantitative, qualitative, epidemiologic, and statistical methods from problem formation to analysis. Emphasizes appraisal of clinical and population studies to inform evidence-based nursing.
NURS 7538 Transforming Health & Health Care Delivery
Analyzes how social, political, and economic forces shape policy and care delivery. Students develop advocacy, leadership, and financial acumen to advance equitable, high-quality systems of care.
Clinicals
Clinical training occurs in diverse settings from the UTHealth John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center to community mental health facilities across Texas. The hybrid format includes online courses complemented by in-person simulations and clinical rotations designed for working nurses.
BSN to DNP Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 BSN GPA on 4.0 scale
- Completed basic statistics course with minimum 2.0 grade
- Current unencumbered Texas RN licensure
- One year of psychiatric RN experience required for PMHNP track
- Professional CV or resume
- 300-word essay on practice interests and career goals
- One academic/professional reference
- TOEFL scores for international applicants (minimum 87 internet-based)
- Applications processed through Nursing Centralized Application System (NCAS)
- Interview required for selected candidates
Post-Graduate Certificate Track
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is approximately $11,340 for 30 credits and would take 1.5-2 years to complete.
Curriculum
The post-graduate certificate requires 29-30 credit hours of specialized psychiatric nursing coursework for nurses with existing graduate degrees.
The curriculum includes three sequential clinical courses (NURS 6912B, 6913B, 6914B) totaling 660 clinical hours plus a 360-hour preceptorship. Coursework covers psychiatric assessment, specialty care, and advanced practice management across individual, group, and family contexts.
Students complete didactic courses in psychiatric mental health theory alongside corresponding clinical practicum experiences. The program prepares graduates for PMHNP certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Post-Graduate Certificate Requirements
- Graduate degree in nursing from accredited program
- Current unencumbered RN licensure
- Individualized course planning based on previous graduate coursework
- Academic advisor consultation for customized curriculum
Tuition
Graduate tuition totals $378 per credit hour for Texas residents, including legislated tuition ($50), differential fees ($50), designated tuition ($46), and designated supplemental fees ($232).
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing’s baccalaureate, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The baccalaureate program holds additional approval from the Texas Board of Nursing.
Other Nursing Programs
Cizik School of Nursing offers multiple advanced practice and specialty programs:
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP)
- Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (admissions on hold)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP)
- BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia
- Post-Graduate Emergency/Trauma Care
- Post-Graduate Nursing Education
- Post-Graduate Nursing Leadership
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- DNP (Post-master’s Entry)
- Various post-graduate completion programs for specialty certification
Other Programs in Texas
- Baylor University - Waco
- Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
- Texas A&M - Texarkana
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas State University - Round Rock
- Texas Tech University - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- UT Health San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington
- University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso
- UTTyler - Tyler