View our EdD Early Childhood specialization completion requirements
Minimum degree requirements:
60 quarter credits
- Core courses (50 cr.)
- Capstone (10 cr.)
How to Choose a DNP Specialization
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How to Choose a DNP Specialization
Sync your doctorate in nursing studies with your professional goals.
Are you considering an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, academia’s highest clinical nursing degree? Earning a doctorate in nursing can help prepare you with the skills to become the type of nursing professional the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says is needed: “The changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes.”1
When choosing an online DNP degree program to help you meet those challenges, you will want to look for specializations that mesh with your career goals. Walden University, a leader in nursing education ,2 offers a DNP core program as well as six specializations, five of which can help academically prepare you to seek nurse practitioner certifications. These specializations can also help prepare you for some of today’s in-demand nursing careers. If you are trying to decide on a DNP specialization, this guide may give you the information you need to make that choice.
| Specialization | What You'll Learn | Program Benefit | Sample Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Leadership | A top-down clinical perspective of healthcare and the skills needed to pursue nursing leadership roles. | Work with administrative and executive leaders in practicum experiences. | Evidence-Based Practice for the Executive Leader |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) | Learn to plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients with acute and complex medical conditions. | Provides academic preparation to sit for the national AGAC nurse practitioner certification exam. | Advanced Practice Care of Adults in Acute Care Settings |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) | Learn to provide continuous healthcare to patients from adolescence to older adulthood; manage disease prevention, health promotion, health maintenance, and restorative care. | Emphasis on women’s and seniors’ health | Advanced Nurse Practice in Reproductive Health Care |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | Develop skills for delivering primary and preventive care to individuals and families across the life span; focus on disease prevention, health promotion, and restorative care | Work with patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors. | Primary Care of Adolescents and Children |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care | Focus on treatment of patients from birth through adolescence; assess, diagnose, and treat patients 21 and younger. | Build clinical, leadership, and organizational skills to improve well-child care. | Management of Complex Pediatric Conditions |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) | Learn to learn how to provide holistic mental health services across the life span. | Create, assess, and refine educational materials that serve your community populations | Psychotherapy With Multiple Modalities |
A Doctor of Nursing Practice Your Way
Still unsure of your DNP path? An Enrollment Specialist can discuss your options and tell you more about admission requirements. Some Walden DNP specializations offer two tracks: BSN-DNP if you’re a registered nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and MSN-DNP if you’re an RN with a Master of Science in Nursing MSN) degree.
Walden’s online DNP degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). And all of Walden’s online DNP specializations allow you to earn a degree while continuing to work and enjoy family life.
When you’re ready to take the next step in your education, choose a doctorate in nursing specialization that can help you realize your goals.
Walden University is an HLC-accredited institution offering an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program. Earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet.pdf
2Based on 2024 total enrollment reported to AACN.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Note on licensure:
The DNP nurse practitioner specializations programs are designed to prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license or APRN license to practice in the U.S. as nurse practitioners in their program specialty area. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own credential for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state.
No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will obtain licensure to practice as a nurse practitioner. We encourage students to consult the appropriate board of nursing or regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside or intend to seek licensure to determine specific requirements. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information relating to licensure; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to licensure for the state in which they intend to practice, as requirements vary widely.
Note on certification:
Walden’s DNP NP specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates to apply for national certification. Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to achieve national certification. We encourage students to consult an appropriate certifying body for the specific certification eligibility requirements. Students should also consult their state board of nursing or other state agency to determine what certifications are required or accepted in that state. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification, as requirements vary widely. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board at www.aanpcert.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.
Note on Field Experience and Relocating
Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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