NU Editorial Contributors
National University Editorial Contributors include writers, editors, and academic professionals who are experts in creating high-quality educational content that is timely, accurate, informative, and easy to understand. All contributors who develop content for National University follow strict guidelines to ensure they provide credible and authoritative information that is independent, free from advertiser influence, and aligns with the high standards our readers and students expect from National University.
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Articles by NU Editorial Contributors
November 15, 2022What Does an Accountant Do?
An accountant is a financial professional who manages, analyzes, and reports financial transactions for individuals, businesses, and organizations, ensuring records are accurate, taxes are properly filed, and financial activities comply with applicable laws and regulations. Core responsibilities include preparing financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements; tax preparation, planning, and filing to minimize legal tax liability; auditing financial records to detect errors, fraud, or compliance gaps; overseeing bookkeeping for accounts payable and receivable; and budgeting and forecasting to support organizational planning and investment decisions.
November 10, 2022How to Support Veteran Employees
It’s critical to ensure your business has the bandwidth, resources, and capabilities to provide a Veteran-friendly environment. Take a few moments to ask yourself some questions that’ll help determine if your organization is Veteran-friendly. If your organization falls short, there is always room for improvement. We encourage you to read further and gain an understanding ...
October 25, 2022Learning Theories: Five Theories of Learning in Education
Learning theories are conceptual frameworks that explain how individuals acquire, process, and retain knowledge, serving as the foundational guides educators use to design instruction, structure learning environments, and select teaching strategies. While some sources identify as many as 31 distinct learning theories, most educational contexts focus on five primary frameworks: Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, Humanism, and Connectivism.
- October 23, 2022
How To Become A High School Teacher In California
Becoming a high school teacher in California requires a bachelor's degree, passing the CBEST for basic skills and the CSET in your specific subject area for content knowledge, completing a CTC-approved teacher preparation program including approximately 600 hours of student teaching or fieldwork, and passing the CalTPA or edTPA performance assessment before applying for a Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential through the CTC.
October 12, 2022Getting Clinical Skills in Human Sexuality Psychology
Gaining clinical skills in human sexuality psychology requires an existing foundation in clinical mental health practice, a master's or doctoral degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, plus an active state license, before pursuing specialized postgraduate training in sexual health assessment and therapeutic intervention.
October 9, 2022Inclusion in the Workplace
Workplace inclusion is a cultural and structural environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully, going beyond diversity representation to ensure that every person has genuine belonging, equitable access to opportunities, and an active voice in organizational decisions. Research grounded in social identity theory consistently shows that inclusion produces positive outcomes for both individuals and organizations, including improved performance, higher wellbeing, and stronger organizational commitment.
October 7, 2022What Is Public Administration?
Public administration is the field responsible for implementing government policies, managing public programs, and delivering services to communities at the local, state, and federal levels. The MPA, Master of Public Administration, is the core professional degree for the field, combining interdisciplinary coursework in economics, finance, management, political science, and psychology to prepare graduates for leadership roles across government, nonprofit, and public-facing private sector organizations.
- October 3, 2022
What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in History?
A bachelor's in history is more career-versatile than its reputation suggests, the research, critical thinking, and persuasive writing skills it develops transfer across law, government, communications, marketing, public history, and business.
September 28, 2022Weighing the Pros and Cons of Online vs. In-Person Learning
The right learning format depends on career goals, lifestyle, and learning style, and neither format is universally superior. Online learning offers flexibility, lower cost, and global access, making it particularly well-suited for working adults: research shows approximately 50% of undergraduates and 69% of postgraduates who complete online courses are employed full-time, reflecting how flexibility drives format choice for most adult learners. An online degree is typically around $10,000 less expensive than an equivalent on-campus program, and over 60% of graduates post-pandemic have chosen online learning primarily for its affordability.
- September 19, 2022
What Do Electrical Engineers Do?
Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical devices, systems, and components, applying the physics and mathematics of electricity to build and improve technology across electronics and circuit design, electric power and energy systems, telecommunications, control systems, and robotics. Core competencies include advanced mathematics, circuit analysis, electromagnetism, and proficiency in tools such as AutoCAD, SPICE simulation software, and programming languages including Python, C++, and MATLAB, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering as the standard entry credential and Professional Engineer (PE) licensure available for those seeking advanced or independent practice roles.
- September 19, 2022
How to Become a Therapist: Your Questions Answered
Becoming a licensed therapist requires six to eight years: a four-year bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or a related field, followed by a two to three-year master's program, and approximately 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical work before sitting for licensure examinations.
- September 12, 2022
Behavior Analyst: What Is a Behavior Analyst?
A behavior analyst is a trained professional who applies the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to assess, understand, and modify behavior, developing individualized, data-driven intervention plans and teaching functional skills across clinical, educational, and community settings. The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is the primary professional credential in the field, requiring a master's degree, supervised fieldwork hours, and passing the BACB examination, with a hierarchy of credentials that also includes the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) and the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT).
- September 6, 2022
Types of Nurses: 39 Different Types of Nursing Specialties [Updated 2026]
Nurses are organized into credential levels based on education and licensure, from Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who assist with basic daily living activities after a brief state-approved training program, to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs/LVNs) who perform clinical tasks after approximately one year of schooling, to Registered Nurses (RNs) who coordinate care and administer complex treatments after completing an ADN or BSN, to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including Nurse Practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Clinical Nurse Specialists, who hold master's or doctoral degrees and can diagnose, order tests, and in most states prescribe medication.
- September 5, 2022
Doctorate Degree: What Is a Doctoral Degree?
A doctorate is the highest level of academic degree, signifying expert-level mastery and, in the case of research doctorates, an original contribution to a field's body of knowledge. There are two broad types: research doctorates, led by the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which require producing new knowledge through original research and a defended dissertation; and professional doctorates, such as the EdD, PsyD, DNP, DBA, and JD, which focus on applying advanced knowledge to complex, real-world problems in practice-oriented fields.
- September 5, 2022
What is a Major in College?
A college major is a student's primary field of study within a bachelor's degree program, typically accounting for one-third to one-half of the credits required for graduation, usually around 30 to 36 credits out of the 120 needed for a bachelor's degree. The remaining credits are distributed across general education requirements and electives. A major leads to a degree designation, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) typically for humanities and social sciences, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) for technical or scientific fields, though the naming conventions vary by institution.
- August 26, 2022
What Can You Do With a Business Administration Degree?
A business administration degree is a broad-based program covering accounting, finance, marketing, operations, and organizational management, available at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels, with the bachelor's (BBA or BSBA) serving as the standard credential for management-track careers.
August 26, 2022What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has completed graduate-level education, serving as a primary or specialty care provider with the authority to examine patients, diagnose illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, create treatment plans, and prescribe medications. NPs blend clinical nursing skills with medical expertise, focusing on both treating illness and promoting health and disease prevention, a holistic orientation that distinguishes the NP role from that of a physician assistant or a staff RN.
August 26, 2022Forensic Accountant: How to Become a Forensic Accountant
A forensic accountant is a specialized financial investigator who merges accounting, auditing, and investigative expertise to uncover financial misconduct, investigating fraud, tracing hidden or misappropriated assets, providing litigation support, and serving as an expert witness in civil and criminal court proceedings.