Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN-PHMNP) Track
Overview
Meet the critical need for qualified mental health care professionals with Xavier University’s online Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN-PMHNP) program.
Calendar
Fall 2026
8/1/2026
Why Xavier’s Online MSN-PMHNP Program?
Earn Your MSN 100% Online
Advance your nursing career with our 100% online MSN-PMHNP program. Get the same rigorous curriculum and personalized faculty mentorship as our on-campus degrees, with the flexibility of asynchronous online courses.
Gain Advanced Nursing Expertise
The training you receive in our online MSN-PMHNP program prepares you to diagnose, treat and manage psychiatric disorders for individuals, families and groups, emphasizing holistic care and patient-centered outcomes.
Personal Attention From Expert Faculty
At Xavier Online, you learn from the best — no matter where you are. You’ll get the personal attention and flexibility needed to reach your goals at your pace. Our invested professors and small class sizes will set you up for success.
CCNE-Accredited Online MSN Program
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Xavier University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) has also approved this program.
Curriculum
In Xavier’s online MSN-PMHNP program, you develop the advanced skills needed to provide integrative mental health care.
Xavier’s online MSN-PMHNP program consists of 48 credit hours, including:
- 17 credit hours of nursing core courses
- 25 credit hours of psychiatric mental health courses
- 6 credit hours of synthesis/application courses including practicums and a scholarly project
Online MSN Core Courses
Online MSN-PMHNP Track Courses
This course is designed to equip Nurse Practitioner (NP) students with the critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning needed to accurately diagnose and manage a wide range of medical conditions across the lifespan. Emphasizing the process of differential diagnosis, students will learn to systematically evaluate patient symptoms, medical histories, physical exam findings, and diagnostic test results to rule in or rule out potential diagnoses. Through case studies, clinical scenarios, and evidence-based strategies, students will develop the ability to formulate a comprehensive differential diagnosis and determine appropriate interventions. Key topics include understanding common and complex medical conditions, prioritizing differential diagnoses, integrating diagnostic data, and recognizing red flags that require immediate attention. The course will also emphasize the importance of collaboration with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and effective communication with patients regarding the diagnostic process.
NURS 760 will be required for students enrolling FA26 and after
*Indicates the number of didactic credit hours to practicum credit hour. Each practicum credit hour is 8 clinical contact hours: 1:8. The total number of practicum hours required for the PMHNP is 600.
Pre/Co-requisites: NURS 770 is pre/co-req for NURS 775/776 and is a pre-req for NURS 773/774 and NURS 771/772.
Online Synthesis and Application Courses
Admission
Xavier accepts applications to our MSN programs on a rolling basis. Once admitted into the program, you may start online classes in the fall or spring semesters.
Application Deadline: August 1, 2026
Start: Fall 2026
To receive acceptance into the online MSN-PMHNP program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a registered nurse with an unencumbered United States RN license in the state where practicum experiences are to be completed. A minimum of 1 year of nursing experience is required, a strong candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of nursing experience.
- Hold a BSN and be a graduate of an accredited college or university’s nursing program (the College of Nursing will verify accreditation to ensure it meets requirements). Transfer credits are accepted only from regionally accredited institutions.
- An undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better is required for admission.
- Applicants who do not have a BSN (BS in Nursing) cannot be accepted into the online MSN programs but should consider the MSN direct entry as a second degree – MIDAS Program.
- A strong applicant will have a 3.0 GPA.
The admission committee considers all information contained in the admission application, including prior grades, test scores and evidence for potential for success in graduate study.
No admission tests (i.e. GRE) are required for applying to this graduate nursing program.
- Free Online Application
- Get started on Xavier University’s free online application. You can begin the process in just a few clicks.
- Official Transcript
- One official transcript directly from all colleges or universities that you have attended for any undergraduate and graduate course work. Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited university. Send transcripts to:
- Xavier University
ATTN: Admission Processing Center
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207-5131 - For electronic transcripts, send to:
xuadmit@xavier.edu
- Xavier University
- One official transcript directly from all colleges or universities that you have attended for any undergraduate and graduate course work. Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited university. Send transcripts to:
- Current Resume and Personal Essay
- Current résumé or curriculum vitae outlining all professional nursing experience, including facility/organization name & location, position and employment dates.
- A 3-page goal statement that addresses the following points:
- Why are you applying to Xavier University?
- What MSN track are you applying for and why? How do you plan to use the degree and specialty?
- What experiences have prepared you for graduate study? (or have influenced your desire to pursue graduate studies)
- Graduate school is challenging and a large time commitment, especially with working, family, other responsibilities. What are your plans and strategies for being successful in your graduate program?
- We also consider the writing quality of this essay. If writing is a challenge for you, also address strategies to help you in this area.
- Professional References
- Three professional recommendations, (Please provide contact information for recommenders in the online application. An electronic form will be sent via email). A strong candidate will provide:
- At least one reference from a direct manager or supervisor who evaluates their clinical work.
- Two references will be from someone with a master’s or doctoral degree.
- Three professional recommendations, (Please provide contact information for recommenders in the online application. An electronic form will be sent via email). A strong candidate will provide:
- Personal Interview
- A personal or phone interview may be required for the MSN-PMHNP program.
View the complete list of approved states on the State Authorization page.
Xavier welcomes students from outside the United States to enroll in its online programs. However, some countries do not formally recognize foreign online degrees. This may have implications for enrolling in subsequent degree programs or for securing employment requiring these credentials. It is students’ responsibility to determine whether the online degree will be recognized in their country of residence or in any country in which they plan to work.
Additionally, students should inquire in their country of residence how the collection of student data may be used and whether they will be subject to additional withholding taxes in addition to the cost of tuition.
- All international students are strongly encouraged to submit an official third-party course-by-course evaluation of their high school and/or college transcripts from an international credential evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
- International students must pass either the TOEFL or IELTS exam if English is your second language.
- International students may have additional application requirements. Find more information on the International Admission page.
Note: International students in the U.S. cannot enroll in an online degree program to fulfill the legal requirement for an F-1 or J-1 visa.
Tuition and Fees
Get More from Your Graduate Education with Xavier
Tuition
Fees
- Liability Insurance (per semester with practicum): $18
- Student ID Fee: $15
- Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking full-time: $15 (per semester)
- Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking part-time: $10 (per semester)
Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 10 semesters.
The amounts listed are for the 2026-2027 academic year, and include classes from Fall 2026 through Summer 2027. Tuition cost is per credit hour unless otherwise stated. For the full, official listing, please visit xavier.edu/costs.
Xavier University reserves the right to correct any computational or clerical errors.
Terri Enslein, EdD, MSN, RNC-OB, CNE
Nationally Recognized
Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online program is an accredited program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the premier accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.
This program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN).
Admission requirements for applicants include:
- Registered Nurse: Applicants must be a registered nurse with an unencumbered United States RN license in the state where practicum experiences will be completed.
- Experience: A minimum of 1 year of nursing experience is required. Two years of experience is preferred.
- Education: Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university. The College of Nursing will verify program accreditation. Transfer credits are accepted only from regionally accredited institutions.
- Statistics Course: An undergraduate statistics course with a grade of "C" or better is required.
- Non-BSN Applicants: Applicants who do not hold a BSN are not eligible for online MSN programs. Please consider the MSN Direct Entry (MIDAS) program as an alternative pathway to a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
Online MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Track Program at Xavier University
Xavier University’s 100% online MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program prepares you to provide comprehensive mental healthcare across the lifespan. This specialized program equips you with the advanced knowledge and clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with mental health disorders.
Xavier University’s College of Nursing prepares undergraduate and graduate students as professional nurses to meet the needs of diverse populations in an ever-changing, highly technical health-care environment. Graduates have the skills to practice nursing today and to be nurse leaders tomorrow in holistic health-care delivery with an educational foundation grounded in Jesuit values. Our graduates are well-respected in the health-care community as knowledgeable, professional, and ethical and prepared to excel in meeting challenges in health-care delivery. Xavier’s Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."