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.
Our editorial expertise at work
At NU, we rely on expert feedback and knowledge to craft and vet the information we present to our learners and staff. Learn more and get some process information about the curation of our blogs, how we ensure accuracy, and what to expect from our written materials.
Articles by NU Editorial Contributors
October 4, 2024How to Prepare for Nursing School: Tips and Advice
Preparing for nursing school before your program begins significantly improves your chances of success, because nursing programs move quickly, demand high performance from day one, and often require passing dosage calculation exams with near-perfect scores to remain enrolled.
September 27, 2024What Can You Do with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?
A Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) prepares graduates to lead hospitals, health systems, clinics, and healthcare organizations, combining expertise in healthcare finance, operations management, policy, regulatory compliance, and health informatics to fill leadership roles that require both clinical context and business acumen. Data shows the median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $117,960 in May 2024, with employment projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, significantly faster than the national average, generating over 61,000 annual openings.
September 20, 2024Master of Arts or Master of Science Degree: Choose Your Path
A Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) are both one-to-two-year postgraduate degrees with equivalent academic standing, the primary difference is curriculum emphasis rather than prestige. An MA focuses on humanities, arts, and social sciences, with coursework emphasizing qualitative analysis, theoretical exploration, and critical thinking, and capstone requirements typically involving a comprehensive exam, internship, or theoretical thesis. An MS focuses on STEM, healthcare, and technical fields, with coursework emphasizing quantitative research, laboratory work, and applied scientific methods, and capstone requirements typically involving data-driven research or a practical project.
- September 13, 2024
How to Become an Information Technology (IT) Manager
An IT Manager plans, directs, and coordinates an organization's technology infrastructure, bridging business strategy and technical execution by overseeing network security, software deployment, hardware lifecycles, vendor relationships, and IT support staff.
September 6, 2024How to Become an Engineering Manager
An engineering manager (EM) bridges technical execution and business strategy, leading engineering teams as a people-first manager focused on team health, hiring, performance management, and cross-functional alignment rather than individual code contribution. Core responsibilities include mentoring engineers and managing their career development through 1-on-1s and performance reviews; translating product roadmaps into executable technical work and ensuring on-time delivery; making or reviewing architectural decisions that align technical direction with business goals; and communicating technical realities clearly to stakeholders in product, design, and data science.
August 30, 2024Why Study Economics?
Economics is the study of how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions under conditions of scarcity and studying it builds one of the most versatile analytical skill sets available in undergraduate education. National University's economics program equips students with analytical and problem-solving tools applicable across finance, government, international development, data science, risk management, and consulting, fields where the "economic way of thinking" translates directly into high-value decision-making.
August 23, 2024Economics vs. Finance Degree: Which Should You Choose?
A finance degree focuses on the practical management of money, investments, corporate valuation, and financial markets, preparing graduates directly for banking, corporate finance, and wealth management roles. An economics degree is a broader analytical social science covering market behavior, public policy, macroeconomic systems, and econometrics, preparing graduates for research, consulting, government, and data-driven careers with greater cross-sector flexibility. Finance tends to have more specialized career paths and typically leads to higher starting salaries, while economics majors find success across a wider variety of fields, including financial services, public policy, think tanks, and academia.
August 22, 2024Can I Be in the Military and College at the Same Time?
Yes, active-duty service members can earn college degrees simultaneously with military service, primarily through online programs that accommodate deployments and unpredictable duty schedules with asynchronous coursework available whenever a service member's schedule permits.
August 16, 2024Cybersecurity Certificate vs. Degree: Which Should You Choose?
The right choice between a cybersecurity certificate and a degree depends on your current experience level, timeline, and career goals, both pathways lead to the same high-demand field, but through different routes and with different long-term ceilings. A cybersecurity degree (associate or bachelor's) builds foundational critical thinking, networking, systems, and security knowledge alongside broader IT competencies, satisfying HR requirements for management-track and government roles and providing the credential base for long-term advancement. A cybersecurity certificate covers specific, job-ready skills faster and at lower cost, making it the stronger choice for IT professionals specializing or pivoting quickly.
August 9, 2024How to Become a Financial Manager
A financial manager oversees an organization's financial health and strategic direction, preparing financial statements, developing long-term strategies, managing budgets, directing investments, and ensuring regulatory compliance across all financial activities. BLS data from May 2024 shows the median annual salary for financial managers is $161,700, with the top 10% earning over $239,200, and employment is projected to grow 17% from 2024 to 2034, significantly faster than the national average, generating approximately 69,600 annual job openings driven by the growing complexity of global markets and regulatory environments.
July 26, 2024How to Become an Investment Banker
An investment banker is a financial professional who helps corporations, governments, and institutions raise capital and navigate complex transactions, including Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt issuances, and corporate restructuring. The work is technically intensive and deadline-driven, requiring financial modeling, valuation analysis, due diligence, and client-facing pitch book creation.
- July 19, 2024
What Can You Do With an Economics Degree?
An economics degree builds some of the most transferable analytical and quantitative skills available in undergraduate education, opening career paths in corporate finance and banking, management consulting, data and market research, government and public policy, and law, as well as technology and operations roles that value strong quantitative backgrounds.
July 12, 2024A Guide to Trauma Informed Care Principles
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a practice framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and actively integrates that understanding into every level of service delivery, from physical environments and organizational policies to individual clinical interactions, with the explicit goal of avoiding re-traumatization. SAMHSA's foundational framework defines six core principles: safety, ensuring physical and psychological environments feel secure and welcoming; trustworthiness and transparency, building trust through open and consistent communication; peer support, incorporating individuals with lived experience into care models; collaboration and mutuality, leveling traditional power dynamics through shared decision-making; empowerment, voice, and choice, validating individual strengths and preserving control over care decisions; and cultural, historical, and gender sensitivity, actively recognizing and addressing the role of bias, historical trauma, and identity in care experiences.
July 5, 2024What can you do with a Math Degree?
A mathematics degree develops analytical, problem-solving, and quantitative modeling skills that transfer across technology, finance, government, research, and education, making it one of the most versatile undergraduate degrees by career pathway breadth. Top career paths include data scientist and data analyst roles in tech and business intelligence; actuary, financial analyst, and quantitative analyst positions in finance and insurance; operations research analyst and software engineer roles; and applied mathematics work with government agencies.
June 28, 2024Major Branches of Psychology: A Comprehensive Guide
Psychology encompasses more than a dozen specialized branches, each applying the scientific method to a different dimension of human behavior, mental processes, and development. The five most foundational branches are clinical psychology, which focuses on assessing and treating mental health disorders; cognitive psychology, which examines how people perceive, remember, and solve problems; developmental psychology, which studies physical, emotional, and cognitive growth across the full lifespan; social psychology, which explores how social contexts, cultural influences, and group dynamics shape thought and behavior; and industrial-organizational psychology, which applies psychological principles to workplace motivation, leadership, and team performance.
June 20, 2024Accounting Degree Jobs: 12 Jobs for Accounting Majors
An accounting degree provides a versatile foundation for careers across corporate finance, public accounting, tax, auditing, and data analytics, with career progression from entry-level roles through senior leadership depending on experience, certifications, and specialization.
June 13, 2024Accounting vs. Finance Degree: How to Choose Your Path
An accounting degree focuses on recording, auditing, and reporting historical financial data, preparing graduates for regulatory compliance, tax roles, and the structured career path toward CPA licensure. A finance degree looks forward, focusing on strategic investment decisions, market trend analysis, and maximizing organizational wealth through financial forecasting and modeling.
- June 4, 2024
Why Choose the RN to MSN Career Path? [Updated 2026]
You’re enjoying your career as a nurse, but you’re also thinking about the future. Maybe you feel confident in your skills and feel ready to take on a bigger role in nursing leadership and management. Perhaps you are developing an interest in a certain area of specialization and need to add to your skill set ...