Mental Health courses for Nursing

Again, the number of students accepted varies with each program, the number of applications received, and the overall standing of those applicants. Each year the numbers can be different, but for the standard we allow 40-50 students into the Master’s Program each fall.

When is the deadline to apply?

The program only offers admission in the fall, and the application deadline to apply is March 1st for all Master’s programs.

Where do I apply?

Applicants should apply to each: the University of Southern Mississippi, the Graduate School, and the Program of their choice here at the College of Nursing.
For more information on each please use the following links:

What are the admission requirements (Specific to the College of Nursing programs)?

• Graduated from a baccalaureate program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate nursing courses.
• Submission of scores on the verbal and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Admission to the Graduate School at USM.
• Completion of an introductory course in statistics.
• Submission of three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future practice as an advanced practice nurse.
• Proof of current unrestricted Mississippi RN license.
• Proof of Current CPR certification, Criminal Background Check and/or affidavit, hepatitis immunization, TB skin test, Tdap.

*NO medical records should be sent to Student Services in the College of Nursing until they have been notified of acceptance.

Do we offer a part-time plan of study?

Yes, the Department of Advanced Practice allows part-time plans of study to better serve the nursing community and help balance work with furthering one’s education. Each program allows for a part-time track.

Do we offer Post-Master Certificates?

Students who have earned a master’s degree in nursing are able to enroll in post-master’s coursework to complete requirements needed for nurse practitioner certification.
All students entering the nurse practitioner tracks must complete a graduate level course in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment for nurse practitioners.

What are the descriptions of the three programs?

Family Nurse Practitioner
The online program of study is designed to prepare graduate nurses to provide primary health care in rural and urban community health settings. Upon completion of the program, the graduate is qualified to apply for certification as a nurse practitioner with the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Students continue the full-time program of study for four semesters.

Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
The online program of study is designed to prepare graduate nurses to provide health care and address the specialized needs of the adult population in rural and urban community health settings.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The online program of study is designed to prepare graduate nurses to provide adult mental health care in diverse community health settings. Study is focused on individual group and family interventions. Upon completion of the program, the graduate is qualified to apply for the certification examination as a nurse practitioner. The Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program of study may be taken full-time or part-time. Students may complete the full-time program of study in six semesters.

What is the curriculum?

Family Nurse Practitioner
All students admitted to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program take courses from the graduate core as well as FNP courses.
The core courses are designed to enable the student to study the problems and concerns of a specialized area of nursing from a theoretical perspective. Core courses may be completed on a part-time basis prior to admission to the FNP program. All students also take a designated number of courses from their area of study. These courses provide students with the opportunity to develop competence and expertise as a family nurse practitioner. Additional support courses provide students with the opportunity to individualize the program requirements.

Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

The AGNP track requires six graduate courses offered over three semesters (summer, fall, spring) with one didactic and one practicum course each semester. The courses are sequential and co-requisites. The AGNP track may be completed for the MSN degree or as a Postmaster’s Certificate option.

Didactic courses are taken online with distance learning activities completed independently via both synchronous and asynchronous computer technologies.

• Clinical practicum courses may be completed in the student’s home area with a total of 600 hours:

*First semester—180 hrs.
*Second semester—180 hrs.
*Third semester—240 hrs.
Each practicum course requires licensed preceptors for direct care at clinical sites and at least one clinical evaluation on site by faculty.