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Nursing Specialties: Choose Your Concentration

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As a nurse practitioner (NP), your nursing concentration matters. Your area of study can determine not only the scope of your professional practice but also the type of work you do, which patients you see, and where you practice.

At Maryville University, we offer five online nurse practitioner concentrations to help you develop the high-level skills that match your nursing passions and career goals. These NP concentrations are available through any of our graduate-level programs, so you can specialize or expand your practice at the master’s or doctorate level.

Choose from the following online nursing specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

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Which nurse practitioner concentration should I choose?

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It’s important to choose a nursing specialization that aligns with your nursing aspirations and interests. Do you want to work with children and adolescents? Build relationships with patients of all backgrounds over time? Help people overcome mental health challenges? With the right nurse practitioner concentration, you can make an impact on your terms.

Here’s a quick look at the specializations we offer.

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Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

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Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners focus on delivering comprehensive care to adults in critical settings like the ICU, ER, step-down units, med-surg, and more. These roles require expertise in performing life-saving procedures and managing treatments that improve patients' quality of life in high-pressure environments.

This concentration consists of 18 credit hours. Learn more here.

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Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

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Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners specialize in providing excellent care to adults across their lifespan. With the growing aging population, these professionals play a crucial role in addressing the unique and evolving healthcare needs of modern adults.

This specialization includes 18 credit hours. Read more about the AGPCNP here.

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Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

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Family nurse practitioners deliver primary care to patients of all ages, applying their expertise in treatment, disease prevention, health counseling, and wellness education. They provide comprehensive care from infancy to end-of-life, ensuring lifelong health support.

This concentration requires 18 credit hours of coursework. Learn more about it here.

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Pediatric (Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

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Pediatric primary care nurse practitioners care for children from infancy through young adulthood. They provide expert care while empowering families with the knowledge to make informed health decisions for their children.

This track includes 18 credit hours of coursework. Get more information here.

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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

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Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) deliver comprehensive mental healthcare across the lifespan. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and manage mental health conditions while offering education and counseling to patients of all ages.

This 21-credit-hour track includes courses in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and management. Learn more here.

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Master’s, doctorate, or certificate: Which pathway should I choose?

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At Maryville, we offer four pathways for each of our online NP concentrations, so you can choose the level of education that fits your background and goals. Choose from the following.

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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

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If you are a licensed RN and hold your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you can pursue NP certification in one of our practice-focused MSN programs. You can complete an MSN with an NP concentration, comprising 47-50 credit hours, in about 32 months.

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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

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If you already hold your MSN and want to pursue further education and certification, our DNP may be for you. The DNP is a terminal degree that can qualify you for a wider range of career opportunities than an MSN or prepare you for the highest level of NP practice. Our DNP-NP programs comprise 68-71 credit hours and can be completed in about 36 months.

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Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP)

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This accelerated degree program is designed for RNs who hold a BSN and want to pursue a DNP directly. This track covers master’s- and doctorate-level coursework at the same time, allowing bachelor’s-prepared nurses to save time and money while earning a terminal degree and preparing for NP certification. These options comprise 74-77 credit hours and can be completed in about 40 months.

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Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner Certificate

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If you already hold a graduate degree — or even NP certification — and would like to pivot to a new area, advance your practice, or expand your skills, you can choose to pursue one of our five nursing concentrations on its own as a certificate. These accelerated programs skip general graduate-level nursing education and focus specifically on the concentration you choose. They comprise 18-21 credit hours and can be completed in about 12-24 months, depending on your courseload.