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
June 9, 2026AI in Marketing Campaigns: The Rise of AI-Driven Campaigns
AI in marketing integrates machine learning, generative models, and predictive analytics into campaign planning, content creation, and execution, moving brands from static, broad advertising to dynamic, hyper-personalized customer journeys while automating repetitive data-driven tasks. Three core technologies drive this shift: generative AI for rapidly creating and testing variations of ad copy, images, and video; predictive analytics for analyzing historical purchase behavior to anticipate consumer needs and optimize media buying; and agentic, automated AI for orchestrating multi-step customer journeys including automated follow-ups and real-time ad-spend adjustments.
June 5, 2026How to Become a BCBA: Education, Certification, and Career Steps Explained
Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) requires a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, education, or psychology from an ABAI- or APBA-accredited program (or a verified course sequence if the master's is in a different field), The minimum hours of supervised fieldwork, and passing the national BCBA exam administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
May 23, 2026How To Become A Teacher In California
Becoming a public school teacher in California requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, completion of a CTC-approved Teacher Preparation Program, passing the CBEST for basic skills and the CSET for subject matter competency, a fingerprint-based background check through LiveScan, and applying for a Preliminary Credential through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
May 22, 2026Are Working Adults the Key to Southern California’s Next Wave of Job Growth?
Southern California's next wave of job growth is increasingly tied to one underutilized workforce asset: the more than 6 million Californians under age 65 who have some college education but no credential, adults who are close to completing a degree or certification but haven't crossed the finish line, and whose productivity and earning potential remain below what their experience and partial education could support.
May 20, 2026What is Differential Reinforcement? Exploring Applications
Differential reinforcement is an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategy that rewards specific desired behaviors while withholding reinforcement for interfering behaviors, a positive, individualized, and evidence-based approach to shaping more functional responses. Rather than relying on punishment to suppress unwanted behavior, it works by removing the reinforcement that sustains that behavior while making the desired alternative more rewarding.
May 17, 2026Dissertation vs. Thesis: Key Differences Explained
In American academic usage, a thesis is a research project required for a master's degree, while a dissertation is an extensive original research project completed as part of a doctoral program, the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but their purposes differ significantly. A thesis demonstrates mastery of existing knowledge in a field, typically through a literature review and analysis of existing research. A dissertation goes further: it requires original contribution, new knowledge, theories, or methods, to the field of study.
May 15, 2026AI, Skill Gaps, and the Fear of Being Left Behind in the Workplace
Workers are not just afraid of losing jobs to AI, they fear professional obsolescence, and the anxiety is grounded in a real structural problem: most organizations expect employees to master AI independently while providing little to no structured training, leaving workers caught between pressure to keep up and uncertainty about how to do so.
May 12, 2026Community Mental Health: Why It Matters in Public Health Today
Community mental health is a local system of care that provides treatment, prevention, and support services where people live and work, making mental health care accessible, affordable, and tailored to a specific population's needs rather than concentrating care in isolated institutions that many people cannot easily reach.
May 9, 2026What is Organizational Leadership?
Organizational leadership is a management approach focused on guiding entire organizations or major divisions toward long-term goals by setting a clear vision, shaping strategy, and motivating people across every level of the company. Unlike traditional management, which centers on day-to-day oversight and execution, organizational leadership emphasizes big-picture direction, culture-building, and decision-making in the face of change.
May 7, 202611 Types of Business Degrees and Career Pathways
Business is the most conferred bachelor's degree field in the United States and among the most versatile, preparing graduates for roles across finance, marketing, management, human resources, supply chain, healthcare administration, and technology. Business degrees are available at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, each offering different time commitments, career opportunities, and salary potential.
April 30, 2026What Does a Forensic Psychologist Do? Roles and Responsibilities
A forensic psychologist is a licensed doctoral-level psychologist who applies psychological science to legal and criminal justice matters, assessing defendants, advising courts, and bridging the gap between mental health expertise and legal decision-making. Core responsibilities include evaluating defendants for competency to stand trial, risk of future violence, and mental state at the time of an offense; providing expert testimony; consulting with law enforcement; and conducting psychological evaluations in civil cases such as child custody, personal injury, and civil commitment proceedings.
April 28, 2026Balancing Work and Grad School: How NU’s Online Format Helps
You can work full-time, show up for your family, and earn a graduate degree. It's not easy, but with the right format, it's absolutely achievable. National University's online programs are built specifically for adults who are doing it all, with asynchronous coursework, short course cycles, and support services designed around your life, not the other way around.
April 25, 2026What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Why It Matters
Social emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development through which young people and adults learn and practice skills that set them up for academic success, fulfilling careers, healthy relationships, and responsible civic engagement. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading nonprofit authority on SEL, founded in 1994, defines five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
April 21, 2026Will Military Service Help Me Get into College?
Yes, military service is a significant asset in college admissions. Veterans bring a distinct application profile that demonstrates discipline, leadership, maturity, and real-world problem-solving experience that traditional applicants cannot replicate, and admissions officers at veteran-friendly institutions actively value these qualities in their review process.
April 21, 2026Are Online Degrees Worth It?
Online degrees are worth it when the program is accredited, aligns with your career goals, and fits your learning style, with research increasingly showing that employer attitudes toward online credentials have shifted significantly in their favor. HR professionals view online degrees from accredited institutions as equal in quality to in-person degrees, a dramatic shift from a decade prior, and LinkedIn hiring data shows online degree holders are being hired at comparable rates to campus graduates in most sectors.
April 19, 2026What Is a Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies?
An interdisciplinary studies degree lets you build a customized education by drawing from multiple fields, instead of locking into a single major. At National University, there are two paths: the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies for students pursuing careers in business, public policy, or the social sciences, and the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Education for those working toward a California teaching credential. Both are designed for students who don't fit, and don't want to fit, a one-size-fits-all mold.
April 18, 2026What is a CNA?
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is an entry-level healthcare professional who provides hands-on daily care to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). CNAs help patients with bathing, dressing, feeding, mobility, and toileting, and they record vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and pulse for the nursing team.
April 17, 2026BBA vs. BS in Business Administration
The main difference between a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) lies in their program focus: the BBA offers a broad-based education across business disciplines, finance, marketing, management, accounting, and economics, designed to develop versatile professionals with knowledge across different areas, while the BSBA is a more technical and analytical program that emphasizes quantitative methods, data analysis, and operations research.