More about the Psychiatric Mental Health Program

Learn more about the courses you will take in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP program.

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  3. Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health, DNP
  4. Program of Study

Program of Study

Our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) DNP program is a 3-year full-time program for students entering the program with a bachelor's degree and an RN or Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) to DNP students who have successfully completed the pre-licensure program of study.

During the first year of advanced practice coursework, APNI students and RN to DNP students have different programs of study. In year two and three all courses are taken together.

Program of study shown is based on 2024-2025 AY. Programs of study and course sequencing may change periodically due to state and national certification changes. All courses begin with prefix NURS.

Program of study is listed as proposed to WABON, under current review and consideration as of Sept. 2024.

PMHNP Program of Study

APNI to DNP Students

Students in the APNI to DNP program complete a 4-year program of study (171 total credits). Your first five quarters of graduate study are focused on pre-licensure coursework. Your first year of PMHNP advanced practice study begins after completion of pre-licensure coursework.

RN to DNP Students

Students entering the PMHNP program with an RN have a 3-year program of study (108 total credits) that includes advanced practice and doctoral coursework.

The courses below include the first year of PMHNP advanced practice study for APNI students, which begins after completion of pre-licensure coursework.

Fall Quarter Year 1 (14 credits)

6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice

6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems

Winter Quarter Year 1 (12 credits)

6004 Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

6075 Clinical Reasoning

6111 Health Informatics

6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies

Spring Quarter Year 1 (9 credits)

6010 Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World

6017 Health Care Economics and Finance

6502 Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders and Addictions

Summer Quarter Year 1 (11 credits)

6004 Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

6110 Ethical Care for Social Justice

Fall Quarter Year 1 (13 credits)

6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk

6075 Clinical Reasoning

6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice

6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies

Winter Quarter Year 1 (12 credits)

6017 Health Care Economics and Finance

6111 Health Informatics

6120 Population-Based Health Care

6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems

Spring Quarter Year 1 (9 credits)

6010 Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World

6014 Theory Informed Critical Inquiry I

6502 Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders and Addictions

PMHNP Program of Study Year 2 and 3

During the second and third year of advanced practice and doctoral coursework APNI and RN to DNP students follow the same program of study.

Summer Quarter Year 2 (0 credits)

No courses

Fall Quarter Year 2 (13 credits)

6001 Advanced Health Assessment Lab

6101 Advanced Health Assessment Theory

6022 Advanced Pharmacological Applications for Primary Care

6504 Advanced Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management

Winter Quarter Year 2 (10 credits)

6015 Critical Inquiry II

6506 Psychopharmacology and Complementary Therapeutics I

6508 Assessment and Management of Substance Disorders and Addictions Across the Lifespan

Spring Quarter Year 2 (12 credits)

6018 Health Program Planning, Development and Evaluation

6500 Motivational Interviewing Theory and Practice

6501 Theory-Guided Psychotherapy and Health Promotion Theory

6510 Psychopharmacology and Complementary Therapeutics II

Summer Quarter Year 3 (5 credits)

6503 PMHNP Clinical Diagnosis and Management Practicum I

Fall Quarter Year 3 (8 credits)

6505 PMHNP Clinical Diagnosis and Management Practicum II

6901 DNP Internship I

Winter Quarter Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6507 PMHNP Clinical Diagnosis and Management Practicum III

6903 DNP Project Internship II

Spring Quarter Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6509 PMHNP Transition to Professional Practice, Clinical Practicum IV

6905 DNP Internship III

DNP Project Presentation and Program Synthesis

Get in Touch

We’re here to help. For information about DNP degrees at Seattle University, contact:

Oz Sener, MEd

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