Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Estimated Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $31,542 | 2.3 years |
| PMHNP – Certificate | $21,779 | 1.67 years |
| DNP – PMHNP | ~$31,680* | 2-3 years |
*Cost subject to change based on transfer credits, electives, and prior education
Wilkes provides complimentary clinical placement support built into tuition costs, achieving clinical placement rates above the national average, and boasts exceptional 2023 PMHNP certification exam pass rates of 95.4% compared to the 90% national average.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The estimated cost for the DNP program is approximately $31,680 (subject to change based on transfer credits, electives, and prior education) and takes approximately 2-3 years depending on entry point and enrollment status.
DNP Curriculum
The DNP curriculum is individualized based on entry point (BSN to DNP or MSN/DNP to DNP) and previous coursework.
Students entering with less than 400 practicum hours from master’s degree may need elective practicum course NSG 609 (250 clinical hours, 3 credits) to meet 1,000-hour requirement before starting DNP project.
DNP Core Components:
- Evidence-based practice courses
- Leadership and policy coursework
- Population health and quality improvement
- Healthcare informatics
- DNP project development and implementation
PMHNP Specialization (if applicable): Students complete same PMHNP concentration courses as MSN track if entering BSN to DNP pathway.
DNP Clinicals
DNP students complete minimum 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours. Students entering MSN to DNP with fewer than 400 prior practicum hours complete additional clinical hours through NSG 609 elective practicum course. DNP project implementation includes practice hours demonstrating synthesis of advanced knowledge and competencies.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN or MSN/DNP from accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Current resume
- Official transcripts
- Completed online application
- Individualized plan of study developed upon enrollment based on gap analysis
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is $31,542 and takes approximately 2.3 years to complete full-time across 15 courses.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP program totals 42 credits including 24 graduate nursing core credits and 18 PMHNP concentration credits. All courses are 12 weeks in length delivered online.
Graduate Nursing Core (24 credits)
NSG 500 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
Covers comprehensive physical, functional, and mental health assessment across the lifespan using virtual patient simulations and a final competency evaluation.
NSG 501 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science (3 credits)
Introduces nursing theory development and evaluates existing theories while connecting theory to research and practice.
NSG 502 – Advanced Nursing Research (3 credits)
Strengthens skills in research evaluation, study design, and evidence synthesis for application to clinical practice problems.
NSG 504 – Advanced Role Development in Nursing (3 credits)
Explores the evolution, scope, and responsibilities of advanced nursing roles, including ethical, legal, political, and societal influences.
NSG 505 – Health Policy and Politics for Advancing Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Examines policy development, advocacy strategies, and healthcare economics to support improved population health outcomes.
NSG 530 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Focuses on disease mechanisms and physiologic changes affecting patients across the lifespan to support advanced clinical decision-making.
NSG 533 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
Covers major drug classes, pharmacokinetics, safety considerations, and prescribing applications through case-based learning.
NSG 590 – Scholarly Review (3 credits)
Provides an integrated review of core graduate nursing concepts and specialty content to support advanced practice readiness.
Psychiatric/Mental Health Specialty Courses
NSG 526 – Clinical Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
Introduces therapeutic modalities including brief therapy, group work, crisis intervention, and milieu therapy for psychiatric settings.
NSG 527 – Psychopathology, Theories, and Advanced Clinical Modalities (3 credits)
Examines major psychiatric disorders, related theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based interventions for mental health care.
NSG 535 – Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I (3 credits)
Provides supervised clinical experience focused on assessment, psychotherapy techniques, cultural considerations, and treatment planning (250 hours).
NSG 536 – Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II (3 credits)
Builds advanced competencies in diagnosis, therapy, and psychopharmacology while emphasizing leadership, prevention, and care of underserved populations (250 hours).
NSG 550 – Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners (2 credits)
Uses case-based learning to develop differential diagnosis and clinical reasoning skills for acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan.
NSG 552 – Psychopharmacology (2 credits)
Covers prescribing practices, medication monitoring, side effects, and management of psychiatric medications, including drugs of misuse.
NSG 556 – Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations (2 credits)
Explores health disparities and cultural factors affecting care delivery to diverse and underserved groups to support equitable clinical practice.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
MSN-PMHNP students complete 500 clinical hours distributed across practicum courses NSG 535 (250 hours) and NSG 536 (250 hours).
Wilkes’ dedicated clinical placement team provides complimentary support built into program costs to research and find nearby sites aligned with psychiatric-mental health interests, secure qualified preceptors, organize necessary documents and clearance requirements, and monitor schedules for compliance.
Clinical placement sites may be located up to 125 miles from student location.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
For BSN to MSN Track:
- BSN from ACEN, NLNAC, or CCNE accredited institution with regional accreditation
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale
- Current unencumbered RN license
- One year RN clinical experience (by start of NP clinical courses)
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts from all institutions
For RN to MSN Track:
- Associate degree in nursing from accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Current unencumbered RN license
- One year RN clinical experience (by start of NP clinical courses)
- Current resume
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts
Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate is $21,779 and takes approximately 1.67 years to complete across 10 courses.
Estimate based on 29 credits × $751/credit.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate requires 29 credits or fewer pending transcript review and gap analysis. All courses are 12 weeks delivered online.
Required Courses (up to 29 credits):
- NSG 500 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NSG 530 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NSG 533 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
- NSG 526 Clinical Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Practice (3)
- NSG 527 Psychopathology, Theories, and Advanced Clinical Modalities (3)
- NSG 535 Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I (3)
- NSG 536 Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II (3)
- NSG 550 Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners (2)
- NSG 552 Psychopharmacology (2)
- NSG 556 Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations (2)
- NSG 591 Scholarly Preparation for NP Boards (2)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Post-graduate certificate students complete 500 clinical hours distributed across NSG 535 (250 hours) and NSG 536 (250 hours).
Wilkes provides complimentary clinical placement services to help secure quality sites and preceptors aligned with psychiatric-mental health practice.
Students receive support from the dedicated placement team to organize documents, clearances, and compliance monitoring throughout clinical rotations.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- MSN, DNP, or BSN-DNP degree with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum grade of 3.0 in Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology from previous graduate work
- Current unencumbered RN license and APRN license for nurse practitioners
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts showing degree completion from ACEN, NLNAC, or CCNE accredited institution with regional accreditation
- Applications with disciplinary action history subject to Special Licensure Discrepancy Committee review
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $751 per credit hour for all MSN and Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate programs.
The DNP program tuition is approximately $31,680 total (subject to change based on transfer credits and prior education).
Program costs listed represent maximum amounts not including fees, with actual costs potentially lower based on transcript review and gap analysis. No additional fees apply to DNP programs.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Wilkes University’s baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate/APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Other Nursing Programs
Wilkes University Passan School of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- RN to BSN
- Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing pathways
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Graduate/APRN Certificates: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- PhD in Nursing