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
September 5, 2022What is a Major in College? [Updated 2026]
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.
January 20, 2022Best Degrees for Jobs in Los Angeles
When searching for jobs in Los Angeles, you might find that the amount and variety of choices can be overwhelming. If you’re open to a new career, check out our companion article, Top Industries in Los Angeles to see which jobs are hot in the City of Angels.
January 7, 2022Is Public Health a Good Career?
Public health is a strong and growing career field focused on protecting and improving the health of communities, with professionals implementing educational programs, researching diseases, shaping health policy, and working across government agencies, healthcare systems, and nonprofit organizations at every level from entry-level to executive leadership.
December 17, 2021Do You Need to Have a Teaching Degree to Teach in California?
No. California does not require a teaching degree to teach in public schools, but it does require a valid teaching credential. To become credentialed, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, then completing a graduate program, proof of subject matter competence, basic skills proficiency, and completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program that includes student teaching. This means completing at least five years of higher education.
- December 14, 2021
Skills, Abilities, and Personality Traits of a Good Behavior Therapist
An ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapist is a professional who applies the science of behavior to help individuals, primarily children with autism spectrum disorder or developmental delays, develop communication, social, and daily living skills while reducing harmful or restrictive behaviors through positive reinforcement and individualized intervention plans. ABA therapy is delivered by a two-tier credential structure: Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) provide direct, one-on-one therapy under supervision and typically require a high school diploma or bachelor's degree plus a 40-hour training program and BACB examination; Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) design the treatment plans, conduct functional assessments, and supervise RBTs, requiring a master's degree and BACB board certification.
- December 10, 2021
Can You Become a Teacher with a Sociology Degree?
Yes, a sociology degree qualifies you to become a teacher. Most states require public school teachers to hold a bachelor's degree in any subject, so a sociology degree fulfills the foundational requirement. The additional steps are completing a state-approved teacher preparation program and obtaining the appropriate teaching certification.
December 9, 2021Soft and Hard Skills for Leading Healthcare Administrators
Leading healthcare administrators require a blend of strategic, operational, and interpersonal competencies to navigate complex medical environments, with the ability to make data-informed decisions, maintain regulatory compliance, manage organizational change, and lead diverse teams being the most consistently demanded skill set across hospitals, health systems, and healthcare organizations.
- December 8, 2021
The Role of Health Administrators and How to Become One [Updated 2026]
Health administrators manage the business and non-clinical operations of healthcare facilities, overseeing budgets, staffing, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning to ensure smooth, high-quality patient care delivery while allowing clinical professionals to focus on patient outcomes.
- December 3, 2021
Classroom Techniques and Strategies You’ll Learn in an Applied Behavior Management Program
Applied Behavior Management programs equip educators with evidence-based strategies that shift classroom management from reactive discipline to proactive, data-driven science, grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles that identify the root causes of behavior and build structured interventions around them.
- December 2, 2021
Challenges of Distance Learning for Teachers
Distance learning presents teachers with a distinct set of professional challenges that differ from in-person teaching demands, most centered on the loss of physical presence that makes real-time engagement assessment, behavioral attunement, and inclusive support significantly harder to deliver through a screen.
- November 19, 2021
What is Upskilling: Why is it Important for Your Career?
Upskilling is the proactive process of learning new skills or deepening existing ones to stay current and competitive within your field, distinct from reskilling, which involves training for an entirely different role or industry. Where reskilling prepares someone to change careers, upskilling improves performance and advancement potential within a current career path, through methods such as training programs, certifications, courses, and mentorship.
- November 10, 2021
How to Use Your Post 9/11 GI Bill®
What is the Post 9/11 GI Bill®? The Post 9/11 GI Bill® helps eligible Service members and Veterans pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Four Steps to Finance Your Degree at NU: To apply, you’ll ...
- November 9, 2021
Applying Your Sociology Degree to the Business World
A sociology degree transfers more directly to business than most graduates expect because the skills at its core (quantitative and qualitative research, cultural competency, and systems thinking) map directly onto what modern organizations need to understand their customers, manage their people, and navigate complex organizational change.
- November 5, 2021
Similarities and Differences Between Sociology and Psychology
Psychology and sociology are both social sciences that study human behavior, but they differ fundamentally in scale: psychology focuses on understanding the individual, their mental processes, emotions, and behavior, while sociology focuses on social groups, communities, institutions, and the cultural and structural forces that shape collective behavior. A practical illustration: a psychologist might work with a patient experiencing anxiety, while a sociologist examines how social media platforms affect anxiety rates across an entire population.
- November 4, 2021
Basic Data Science Skills for Business Professionals
Data science is a dynamic and fast-developing field that combines elements of computing, statistics, and business. Data scientists use algorithms, machine learning, analytical software, and other tools to sort and interpret vast quantities of data, producing actionable insights that companies, school systems, or governments can use to improve their services and reach their goals. For ...