National University believes in creating opportunities for students who dont typically fit into the traditional college mold. Our diverse student body contains service military personnel and Veterans, business professionals and entrepreneurs, teachers and health care workers, working and stay-at-home parents, and people launching new careers or second careers. In short, ambitious and curious people, working on career and personal enrichment goals that might otherwise be impossible for them to achieve anywhere else.
Students don’t enroll in classes at National University because its degrees are easier than other educational establishments. National University’s online degrees are fully accredited and recognized by employers as valuable and desirable qualifications. These students come to National University because its online courses are better designed and delivered via an accessible platform that has been optimized with the adult learner in mind.
When time is money, and both are potentially in short supply, the prospect of going back to school can be challenging for some. For those students hoping to return to education, often after many years of being away from the classroom, traditional universities with their rigid academic calendars and semesters (packed full of classes) might not be an option. Adult learners need an alternative that can better fit their individual life experiences while delivering a first-class education.
Flexible Online Courses
National University’s flexible online degrees are typically offered through a unique rolling system of one-month courses. These month-long courses run throughout the year with no downtime between traditional university semesters, creating opportunities for students to work towards their online degrees on their own timeframe and at their own pace.
There are many benefits to the rolling one-month courses when compared with the traditional university academic year. These include:
- The opportunity to enroll in a program at any point of the year: students are rarely more than 30 days away from starting their online degrees or certificate programs.
- The opportunity to focus on a single class at a time and not worry about juggling multiple deadlines for various pieces of coursework throughout a semester.
- The opportunity to study at your own pace. For some students, the rolling one-month courses enable them to complete their online degrees at an accelerated pace.
- For others, there is the opportunity to take strategic breaks between periods of study, enabling them to focus on other priorities or work on a timeline that is more comfortable for them.
In practice, National University’s courses run in focused four-week and eight-week formats, with monthly start dates that let you take one course at a time. This one course a month structure means you concentrate on a single class within an accredited NU degree or certificate program, rather than dividing your attention across several subjects at once.
Because new courses begin roughly every month, you are rarely more than 30 days from starting, and taking one class at a time keeps each term manageable alongside work and family. Focusing on one course at a time is how National University is built, not a separate single-class option, so the pace supports your progress toward a full degree or certificate.
Online: An Ideal Environment For Adult Learning
The flexibility afforded by the one-month courses is matched by the opportunity to study at a time and a place that suits each student’s individual needs.
Adult learners make up a large share of today’s college students: according to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly four in ten part-time undergraduates in fall 2021 were age 25 or older (23 percent ages 25 to 34 and 18 percent age 35 and over).
Students can access online course materials, engage with their professors, other faculty members, and fellow cohorts, and submit coursework via any internet-enabled device. This means any free time on the schedule can be an opportunity to study.
National students hit the books in the evening, during work breaks, or at the weekend. Some even find extra time for their studies while waiting to pick up their kids on the school run or sitting on the sidelines of a sports field.
Again, online does not mean easy. Online education takes a real level of dedication from adult learners, cooperation from friends and family, and good time management skills; there are several things to consider before you commit to starting any online program.
Educational And Personal Support
Despite the remote nature of online learning, National University students have several resources to call on should they need any additional support beyond their regular contact with professors and other faculty members.
As the first port of call, National University’s Student Services can advise students on the availability and eligibility for grants, scholarships, and financial aid. Once enrolled, the Academic Advisor team can help students plan their study schedules and classes and help make necessary accommodations should any unforeseen circumstances result in a student needing to delay taking a class (another advantage of the one-month course system).
As a military-friendly institution, National’s large community of military students can also rely on support from the university’s Veterans Center. This unique resource, staffed entirely by Veterans, provides expert advice on issues ranging from accessing educational assistance via the GI Bill, career advice, and employment opportunities, all the way through to helping military students attend class.
You can visit the Veteran Center in person at the San Diego Spectrum campus or Los Angeles campus. The virtual Veteran Center also provides a welcoming social environment where military students can meet each other, build friendships, and share their common experiences.
National University is a private, nonprofit university accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and it has served working adults and military-affiliated students for over 50 years. That track record means a flexible, one course a month format does not come at the expense of academic quality or the recognition your degree carries.
FAQs
Yes. National University’s programs are built around taking one course at a time, so you can give a single class your full attention instead of juggling several at once. With monthly start dates, a new course is usually close at hand when you finish the last one.
National University offers monthly start dates, so you are rarely more than 30 days from beginning your first course. You often do not have to wait for a traditional semester to get going. Your academic advisor can help you plan when to enroll and begin.
Yes. National University is a private, nonprofit university accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Its online degrees carry the same accreditation and employer recognition as its on-campus programs, so a flexible format does not mean a lesser credential.
National University courses run in focused four-week and eight-week formats. This shorter, concentrated structure lets you take one course at a time and move through your degree or certificate on a schedule that fits your life.
For many ANDers balancing work, family, and school, yes. Focusing on one course at a time keeps your workload manageable and lets you plan study time around your other responsibilities. National University’s academic advisors and student services support you throughout, so you are never working through your program alone.
Learn More About Adult Learning And Online Courses
National University has over 200 online degree programs across a wide range of disciplines, including the psychology, liberal arts, teaching and education, health care, business, science, and technology.
To learn more about how National University’s one course a month option can help you access the education you need to achieve your life goals on your terms, visit the program finder.
