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Articles by NU Editorial Contributors
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, 2024What 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 ...
- June 4, 2024
Online Courses: The One Course a Month Option
Online courses cover the full spectrum of educational goals, from short-term professional certifications and career-ready skills training to full college credit sequences and accelerated degree programs, with the defining advantage being the ability to learn on your own schedule without geographic or commuting constraints.
June 4, 2024New Research Shows Key Factors to Land an AI Job
A new research study from National University examined the key factors in landing an AI job. Close to 15,000 job postings on Indeed.com were analyzed to gain insights into experience-level requirements, preferred education, and remote work opportunities. The study also examined the skills employers are looking for. Key takeaways Education Requirement Landing an AI job ...
May 28, 2024Business Administration vs. Business Management Degree
A Business Administration degree and a Business Management degree share a foundational curriculum in economics, business law, and ethics but they diverge in emphasis: Business Administration focuses on broad operational functions including finance, accounting, marketing, and data analysis, while Business Management focuses on people leadership, organizational behavior, resource allocation, and the strategic execution of daily operations.
- May 17, 2024
What Can I Do with a Finance Degree?
A finance degree equips graduates with skills in capital management, financial forecasting, valuation, and investment analysis, typically earned in four years and preparing students for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, financial planning, and financial technology.
May 9, 2024Guide to NU’s Student Academic Success Center
Quick Summary The Academic Success Center (ASC) is your one-stop shop for student resources to help you achieve your educational goals. Whether you’re grappling with time management, academic challenges, or simply feeling stagnant, the center can assist you in gaining clarity, cultivating skills, and taking action to create positive change in your life. The ASC ...
April 20, 2024Life’s Unexpected Twists: Insights from Exploring the Roles of Emotions, Motivations, Self-Efficacy, and Secondary Control
Life's unexpected twists, sudden disruptions to plans, relationships, careers, or health, are among the most universal human experiences, and how we navigate them matters more than the disruptions themselves. Psychological research on resilience consistently shows that the people who adapt most effectively are not those who avoid difficulty, but those who develop flexible thinking patterns that allow them to find meaning and new direction within changed circumstances.
April 5, 2024How to Become a Construction Manager
Becoming a construction manager typically requires a bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, building science, or architecture, followed by three to five years of hands-on field experience, and professional certification to advance into senior roles and larger project responsibilities.