Nursing

Master of Science (MS)

Master’s Program

Modes of study:

Blended
·
In person

How does being a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner improve lives?

Prepare for a rewarding career as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) by earning your Master of Science from the University of Southern Maine. The program prepares graduates to provide comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care across the lifespan. You will develop advanced competencies in assessment, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric conditions, integrating psychotherapy and psychoparmacologic treatment while emphasizing patient-centered, culturally responsive care.

In addition to in-person didactic coursework, you will train in state-of-the-art simulation labs and complete Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) with standardized patients. You will also engage in a total of 600 supervised clinical practicum hours participating directly in a PMHNP preceptorship that is arranged by USM.

Once you have earned your Master of Science degree and national certification and licensure as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), you will be prepared to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care across the lifespan. In this role, you will assess, diagnose, and manage mental health conditions; provide psychotherapy and pharmacologic treatment; and support individuals, families, and vulnerable populations in achieving optimal mental health and overall well-being.

Credit hours

50 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to three credit hours.

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Program duration

Study full-time and complete your degree in just three years, or study part-time and finish in four years.

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School

School of Nursing

Admissions

No GRE required. Apply by April 1 for the fall term, and October 1 for the spring term.

View application process and deadlines

Just what can you expect from USM’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program?

Have access to the university’s expansive network across southern Maine: Acquire hands-on clinical experience taught in various psychiatric care settings, including inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community clinics.
Technologically advanced facilities: The university’s new modern and advanced simulation center features innovative features like mobile health monitoring, virtual reality training, and the ability to replace hospital rooms and home settings to ensure learning in a real-world setting.
Gain hands-on experience: You will shadow a preceptor for a total of 600 hours, learning how to diagnose and treat mental health conditions with medication and therapy as appropriate.
Access the USM network of healthcare partnerships: USM has established partnerships with clinical sites across southern Maine, including large hospital groups, small private practices, federally qualified health centers, as well as schools and universities — offering you a diverse range of behavioral health environments to build your experience in.
Learn from dedicated faculty in the field: Our practicing faculty are experts in their field and dedicated to teaching you how to become the best nurse possible.
National accreditation: Our program is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing. It’s also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduate certification ready: After graduating, you will qualify to sit for the Psychiatrist-Mental Health Nurse (PMHN) exam through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Flexibility to match a busy lifestyle: While some courses are fully in-person, the majority of our courses are offered in a blended format. This offers some flexibility on how often you need to be on campus. USM advisors can tell you more!

From the docks of the fishing industry to the communities serving our refugee, immigrant, homeless, and veteran populations, our faculty and students are on the ground as they learn the impact of the social determinants on health outcomes. Our university sits in the metropolitan area of Portland while the reach of our clinical affiliates are located across rural Maine and New Hampshire.

Brenda Peterson, Associate Dean, School of Nursing, Chief Nurse Administrator

What will you do with an MS in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing?

USM nursing grad students helping patients at events like the annual Fisherman's Forum.

USM’s expansive southern Maine network and lifelong career support

The USM network reaches across southern Maine, including large hospital groups, small private practices, federally qualified health centers, as well as schools and universities. As a USM alum, you’ll have access to lifelong advising and support services from the Career and Employment Hub.

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We’re here to help answer questions about costs

Tuition & fees Financial aid Scholarships

What does the MS in Psychiatric-Mental Health in Nursing at USM look like?

Students who are New England residents may qualify for reduced tuition with the NEBHE Tuition Break program!

Are you a New England resident?

New England residents may qualify for a reduced tuition rate thanks to the NEBHE Tuition Break Program.

Check eligibility

If you're interested in enrolling in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, consider a scholarship.

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Scholarships offer valuable financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. You’ll be automatically considered for Merit Scholarships when you apply for admission by the deadline. Additional opportunities are available.

Explore scholarships and deadlines

Accredited in Maine and nationally

Proud to be accredited by the nationally-recognized Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

More about CCNE accreditation

What do I need to know about admission information, including application deadlines?

Applications will be reviewed after the deadline.

Application deadline	Fall term start	Spring term start
Applicants not currently enrolled in BS degrees at USM	April 1	October 1
Admissions Pathway: Early consideration*	October 1 (of previous year)	Not applicable
Admissions Pathway for current BS in Nursing students at USM**	April 1	Not applicable

*Must be a current student in the University of Southern Maine BS in Nursing – Traditional Program.
**Must be a current student in the University of Southern Maine BS in Nursing – Traditional Program or Nursing – Accelerated Program.

Because the MS in Nursing program includes supervised clinical experiences and the desire to maintain a high-quality program, the nursing faculty reserves the right to limit enrollment. The number of students accepted varies by program (Family Nurse, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) and is based on clinical cohorts.

Admission to the program is highly selective. The graduate program in nursing seeks candidates whose baccalaureate preparation, scholastic achievement, professional experience, interest, motivation, and references are predictive of successful graduate study.

Each student’s application for admission will be evaluated based on a composite of the following recommended standards.

A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from a degree program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing.
Minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average.
An undergraduate course in Microbiology with a grade of B- or better.
An undergraduate course in introductory Statistics that includes descriptive and inferential statistics, completed with a grade of B- or better.
An undergraduate course in total health assessment.
Proof of RN licensure in Maine before the start of the graduate program. Students who do not hold this at the time of application can be considered for conditional admission.
Students with a GPA less than 3.0 may submit GRE or MAT scores to be considered.

A personal interview with the graduate faculty of the School of Nursing may be requested following a preliminary review of all required admission materials.

Admissions pathway for current University of Southern Maine (USM) BS in Nursing students

Current USM students in the Nursing program may apply through a reduced application process to the Master of Nursing program. The concentrations students can apply to via this pathway are: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Students applying to this pathway will be considered for entry in the Fall semester following their graduation from the BSN. Eligible students will maintain a GPA of 3.3 or better throughout the undergraduate nursing program and be current BSN students at USM at the time of application.

Admission to the MS program is conditional upon passing the NCLEX exam. Conditionally admitted students may take 6 credits of graduate courses prior to matriculation.

Students will still follow the admissions and application process, but will have the following requirements changed:

No letters of recommendation required.
No GRE or MAT required.

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

General requirements

Application: Online application (external link)
Application fee:
- In-state, out-of-state, and Canadian applicants: Free to apply
- International applicants: Submit US $50 fee to apply
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.
- International College transcripts: In addition to an official copy of the transcript, we require an official evaluation of college-level transcripts approved by one of the following transcript analysis agencies
  - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) (external link)
  - Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) (external link)
Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
Students whose first language is not English may be required to take one of the following: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo. Applicants must submit official scores as part of the application process. Get additional information regarding test scores and requirements.

Essay: A 500-word essay that addresses the following topics:
- Understanding of the nurse practitioner role and reasons for becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
- o Professional goals that will be supported by the Master of Science Degree.
- o The experiences, capacity, and abilities brought to a master’s program.
- o Reasons for choosing the University of Southern Maine for this program.
Two letters of recommendation reflecting professional practice and academic achievement. Recommendations should come from individuals who are qualified, through direct experience with the applicant’s academic or professional work, to comment on the applicant’s ability to undertake graduate study and the chosen profession.
Evidence (photocopy or PDF) of an unencumbered registered nurse license in Maine

What are the international student application instructions?

What are the English proficiency test score requirements?

Where do I send my application materials?

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Nursing — Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan)