Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $33,250 (partners) | 32–36 months |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | $17,955 | 12 months |
The program features 784 clinical hours and prepares graduates to sit for the national PMHNP certification exam.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is $33,250 for partners ($34,750 for non-partners) and takes 32-36 months to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP track requires 50 total credits consisting of 23 core credits and 27 PMHNP concentration credits. Students complete foundational coursework before progressing to specialized psychiatric courses in a required sequence.
Core Courses:
NUR 503 Health Promotion and Clinical Prevention for Individual and Population Health
Introduces the social, economic, cultural, and lifestyle factors that shape health outcomes and disparities in vulnerable groups. Students use epidemiology, environmental health, genetics/genomics, and behavior-change models to design prevention and health promotion strategies. Emphasis is on applying these strategies to individuals and populations across the lifespan.
NUR 505 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Examines advanced physiology and pathophysiology at the cellular and system level to explain how diseases develop and present. The course integrates genetics, immunology, and risk factors, highlighting differences by age and gender. Students connect altered physiology to disease prevention, health promotion, and clinical assessment.
NUR 506 Research Methods for Nursing Practice
Prepares graduate nursing students to understand and critique research that informs clinical, management, and education practice. Covers the full research process, including theoretical frameworks, study designs, statistics, ethics, and structured article critiques. Focus is on building skills to appraise scientific evidence for use in evidence-based nursing care.
NUR 507 Applied Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing
Focuses on translating the best available evidence into nursing practice and system-level decisions. Students learn to search, review, appraise, and synthesize research on a selected topic using an evidence-based practice model and hierarchy of evidence. Emphasizes measuring outcomes, judging strength and quality of evidence, and planning practice changes based on NUR 506 foundations.
NUR 509 Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis
Expands undergraduate assessment skills into a comprehensive, graduate-level approach to evaluating patients across the lifespan. Students refine health history taking, physical examination, and psychosocial assessment while applying physiologic and pathophysiologic principles. The course stresses diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis for complex, multisystem problems, supported by weekly simulation and clinical experiences (corequisite: NUR 510).
NUR 510 Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis Laboratory
Laboratory companion to NUR 509 that provides hands-on practice with advanced assessment skills. Students complete structured lab sessions to perform focused and comprehensive exams and apply diagnostic reasoning in simulated encounters. Taken concurrently with NUR 509 and recorded as a zero-credit lab course.
NUR 512 Theoretical Basis for Role Development for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Introduces nursing and related theoretical and conceptual models that support advanced practice roles. Students use theory to frame assessment, diagnosis, and intervention while examining the transition into APRN practice. Topics include role development, quality and safety, leadership, and how historical, social, and political forces shape scope of practice and role boundaries.
NUR 514 Health Policy for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Explores how health policy is created, financed, and implemented and how it affects patients, providers, and organizations. Students analyze policy trends, ethical and legal concepts, and issues related to aging and culturally diverse populations across the lifespan. The course also reviews legislative processes, advocacy roles, and invites students to examine their own values in policy and practice decisions.
NUR 520 Advanced Pharmacology
Covers pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics for major drug classes used in advanced nursing practice. Students learn to identify contraindications, interactions, and adverse effects while tailoring drug therapy to specific patient groups. Emphasis is on assessing patient variables and selecting nursing actions that maximize benefit and minimize harm.
PMHNP Concentration Courses:
NUR 560 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
Introduces advanced psychopharmacology principles and pharmacokinetics for treating psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. Links neuroscience and symptom presentations to drug selection and dosing for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Emphasizes safe prescribing, medication management, and monitoring grounded in prior advanced pharmacology (NUR 520).
NUR 562 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I
First didactic course in the PMHNP sequence focusing on major psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Students apply advanced assessment skills and psychological, biological, and sociocultural theories to develop holistic care plans. Emphasizes genetic, ecological, and social determinants of health, evidence-based guidelines, and diagnostic reasoning supported by 168 supervised clinical hours (paired with NUR 563).
NUR 563 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I Clinical
Clinical companion to NUR 562 focused on applying diagnostic and assessment skills with real patients. Students complete 168 supervised clinical hours to practice interview techniques, diagnostic formulation, and initial treatment planning. Corequisite with NUR 562; graded as a clinical experience with no additional credit hours.
NUR 564 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II
Second didactic course in the psychiatric sequence that deepens knowledge of psychopathology, health promotion, and prevention. Students refine diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnosis, and clinical decision-making across diverse age groups. Highlights interdisciplinary collaboration and the psychosocial, ethical, cultural, economic, legal, and policy issues that shape psychiatric care, supported by 168 supervised clinical hours (with NUR 565).
NUR 565 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II Clinical
Clinical component for NUR 564 that extends diagnostic and management skills in psychiatric settings. Students complete 168 supervised clinical hours focused on applying evidence-based interventions and refining clinical judgment. Corequisite with NUR 564; carries clinical experience hours but no separate course credits.
NUR 566 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan
Third course in the sequence emphasizing psychotherapy and treatment modalities such as individual, family, and group therapy. Prepares students to select, deliver, and evaluate psychotherapeutic approaches within the PMHNP role. Stresses ethical practice, professional boundaries, and therapeutic use of self, supported by 168 supervised clinical hours (with NUR 567).
NUR 567 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan Clinical
Clinical partner to NUR 566 that focuses on delivering psychotherapy under supervision. Students complete 168 clinical hours practicing evidence-based modalities with individuals and groups across the lifespan. Corequisite with NUR 566 and recorded as a zero-credit clinical course.
NUR 568 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations
Capstone didactic course centered on diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in special and diverse populations. Uses a seminar format to explore the PMHNP role in varied mental health settings and to integrate prior coursework. Emphasizes synthesis of clinical data, use of current guidelines, and comprehensive, holistic treatment planning, supported by 280 supervised clinical hours (with NUR 569).
NUR 569 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations Clinical
Clinical companion to NUR 568 focusing on advanced PMHNP practice with special and diverse populations. Students complete 280 supervised clinical hours assuming near-entry-level responsibilities in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Corequisite with NUR 568; documents extensive clinical immersion without additional credit hours.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-PMHNP track requires 784 total direct care clinical hours distributed across four clinical courses.
Clinical hours break down as follows:
- 168 hours in NUR 562/563
- 168 hours in NUR 564/565
- 168 hours in NUR 566/567
- 280 hours in NUR 568/569.
Clinical experiences occur in various inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings with supervised practice in assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Valid PA or MD Multistate RN license in good standing
- BSN degree with minimum 3.0 GPA from accredited institution
- One year of applicable professional RN experience required
- Acceptance to York College with personalized program of study
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate program is approximately $17,955 and takes 12 months to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 27 credits of PMHNP-specific coursework with 784 clinical hours. A gap analysis determines if additional core coursework is needed based on prior graduate nursing education.
Required Courses:
- NUR 560: Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NUR 562/563: Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I (6 credits with clinical)
- NUR 564/565: Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II (6 credits with clinical)
- NUR 566/567: Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan (5 credits with clinical)
- NUR 568/569: Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations (7 credits with clinical)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate program requires 784 total direct care clinical hours distributed identically to the MSN track.
Post-master’s students not currently practicing as NPs must complete 56 hours of clinical experience with a nurse practitioner prior to enrolling in NUR 562.
Students currently practicing as NPs may need to demonstrate physical exam competency before beginning clinical coursework.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from CNEA or CCNE-accredited program
- Advanced practice master’s degree in nursing from regionally accredited institution
- Gap analysis conducted during admission process to determine additional coursework needs
- Advanced pharmacology course completed within 5 years for PA prescriptive privileges
- Pharmacology refresher required if seeking privileges in states without 5-year requirement
Tuition
Graduate nursing courses cost $665 per credit hour for partners and $695 per credit hour for non-partners. A $75 session fee applies to all graduate nursing students.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at York College of Pennsylvania are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The institution is governed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Related PMHNP Programs
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- Drexel University - Philadelphia
- Jefferson University - Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania State University - University Park
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- University of Scranton - Scranton