This option prepares nurses for advanced practice roles in assessing, diagnosing, and managing mental health and substance use disorders across the lifespan. The curriculum emphasizes comprehensive mental health care, equipping students with the skills to provide individual and family psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication management, and other evidence-based interventions to diverse populations. Through 59 credits and 1,031 practice hours, students gain the expertise to deliver holistic, patient-centered care. Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner examination (Across the Lifespan).
Sample Plan of Study
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
| Year 1 | NURS 510 Theoretical & Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing – 3 credits NURS 590 Colloquium – 1 credit NURS 803 Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse – 3 credits Credit total – 7 | NURS 587 Ethics in Health Research – 1 credit NURS 588 Healthcare Policy for Nurse and Healthcare Scholars – 3 credits NURS 804 Pharmacologic Therapy for the Advanced Practice Nurse – 3 credits Credit total – 7 | NURS 802 Advanced Health Assessment of Adult Populations (18 DPH) – 3 credits NURS 802M Psych MHNP Integrative Biopsychosocial Assessment & Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan – 2 credits NURS 831 Evidence-Based Practice II (75 DPH) – 4 credits Credit total – 9 |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
| Year 2 | NURS 810 Theoretical Foundation and Application of Psychotherapy with Individuals, Groups, and Families – 4 credits NURS 870M Neuroscience and Psychobiology of Mental Illness and Across the Lifespan – 3 credits NURS 872M Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Practicum I (225 CPH) – 3 credits Credit total – 10 | NURS 837 Evidence-Based Practice III: Project Development (75 DPH) – 3 credits NURS 871M Neuropsychopharmacology and Biologically Based Treatments Across the Lifespan – 3 credits NURS 873M Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Practicum II (150 CPH) – 2 credits Credit total – 8 | NURS 835 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (75 DPH) – 2 credits NURS 874M Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Integrative Doctoral Practicum (225 CPH) – 3 credits NURS 877M Clinical Practice Synthesis for Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (38 DPH) – 3 credits Credit total – 8 |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | May | |
| Year 3 | NURS 808 Population Health Perspectives – 3 credits NURS 835 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (75 DPH) – 2 credits Credit total – 5 | NURS 835 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (75 DPH) – 2 credits NURS 836 Healthcare Informatics – 3 credits Credit total – 5 | Commencement |
DPH – Doctoral Practicum Hours | CPH – Clinical Practicum Hours
Learn more about program’s courses by visiting the University Bulletin »
DNP–NP Practicum
A total of 1,031 hours of post–B.S. practicum is required in the hybrid DNP nurse practitioner program. Your required hours will be accomplished through courses in the DNP curriculum that include practicum hours as part of the coursework.
Practicum hour plans will be developed in consultation with the course’s faculty member and with the approval of the DNP faculty adviser.
- Development of the plans for practicum experiences begins with your admission to the program.
- The practicum planning process involves establishing a site affiliation agreement with the practicum site and identifying a preceptor(s).
- Our clinical placement team supports students in finding practicum sites and preceptors, but cannot guarantee top-choice placements. Students are responsible for starting this process early to maximize their chances of securing optimal placements.
- Some students choose to complete practicum requirements at their place of employment and other students identify alternate practicum sites.
