National University Honored with Excellence Award for Law Enforcement Training Programs Focused on Community Policing and Wellness

La Jolla, CA – July 23, 2021 – National University, a nonprofit university with a 50-year history of serving working adult learners, educators, and Veterans, has been honored, in conjunction with National Education Partners (NEP) with a D2L 2021 Excellence Award for a recently-launched program aimed at enhancing community policing partnerships. The award is open …

Popular Theories of Sociology

As the study of social relationships and systems, sociology has many theories that can help us to better understand and interact with the world around us. That includes competing theories that are attempting to explain the same phenomena, as well as theories that cover an incredibly diverse range of different social systems and issues. Fully …

Higher Education Visionary Carey Hilderbrand Joins National University System as Chief Marketing Officer

LA JOLLA, CALIF. (July 21, 2021) — National University System, a nonprofit network of education institutions that includes National University, Northcentral University, and City University of Seattle, today announced the appointment Carey Hilderbrand as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). As National University System’s CMO, Hilderbrand will utilize her more than 20 years of combined marketing and …

What is School Psychology?

School psychologists work with school-aged children and engage with children, youth, families, and school systems. With that in mind, school psychology could be considered a subset of child psychology. However, unlike child psychologists, school psychologists are not just concerned with individuals, but the systems and environments they are placed in. A school psychologist is, characteristically, …

The Importance of Mental Health During a Pandemic

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that over 17 million Americans, or about 7 percent of the population, suffered “at least one major depressive episode” during 2017. Anxiety, which frequently overlaps with depression, is even more prevalent in the United States. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), roughly 40 …

Helping Students Overcome Procrastination

Some students struggle to understand algebra. Others have trouble remembering history. Others excel when tasked with group projects but find it a challenge to study consistently. While each student’s skill sets and strengths are unique, there’s one obstacle nearly all of them face: the tendency to procrastinate. In fact, you might be surprised (and dismayed) …

Engaging Students in Distance Learning

As part of the ongoing effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, thousands of schools have transitioned toward distance education, replacing conventional classrooms with online courses, websites, and apps. Thanks to innovations in educational technology, or “edtech,” students can take tests, attend lectures, collaborate on group assignments, and participate in class discussions — all while …

Southern California-Based University Saves Students $25 Million and 14,500 Courses by Counting Prior Learning for Credit

National University’s Prior Learning Assessment innovations are dramatically reducing tuition costs and time to completion by automatically counting prior learning credits LA JOLLA, CALIF. (July 1, 2021) — National University, a private nonprofit university that serves a diverse population of more than 30,000 working adult learners, educators, and Veterans, today announced results from its successful …

Sociology vs. Psychology

Though similar in many respects, students who pursue studies in sociology or psychology will develop somewhat differing skills and career prospects. Both fields involve understanding human behavior, and both teach the skills necessary to enter a wide range of career paths.  Pending your individual tastes, intellectual curiosity, and career goals, you might find one field …

What Can I Do with a Strategic Communication Degree? [UPDATED 2025]

An ordinary communication degree teaches students a variety of highly marketable skills; but a BA in Communication with a concentration in Strategic Communication degree further specializes those skills with an even greater emphasis on professional communications theory.  From improving internal communication to enhancing marketing campaigns, graduates with a strategic communication degree learn about business communication in …

Higher Education and Future of Work Strategist Joins National University System to Scale Learner-Centered Programs

Acclaimed author and future of work scholar Dr. Michelle R. Weise joins adult-serving nonprofit university as vice chancellor for strategy and innovation LA JOLLA, CALIF. (June 18, 2021) — National University System, a nonprofit network of education institutions that includes National University, Northcentral University, and City University of Seattle, today announced the appointment of Dr. …

What is Strategic Communications?

Communication is an important aspect of our lives. It affects the way we relate to one another and it’s the backbone of any large company, project, or supply line. Being able to improve communications using data and analysis can be an invaluable skill; one which falls under the purview of strategic communications.  While studying communications …

Creating Reward Systems for Virtual School

In a recent article we discussed the importance of motivation for successful remote learning, offering teachers a few suggestions on keeping students inspired and engaged. We found that while different students were motivated by different causes, several common threads emerged across varying sources of research. For example, multiple experts point to teacher enthusiasm, personalized feedback, …

How to Keep Your Students Motivated to Learn

Motivation has a powerful influence over learning outcomes, with research suggesting that demotivated students are at higher risk of dropping out. Students have a better chance of succeeding when they are driven and engaged, meaning educators should take steps to help students find and maintain motivation.  COVID-19 made distance learning inevitable, forcing teachers to innovate. …

Providing Effective Feedback to Students in Online Courses

Clear and constructive feedback can propel a student’s growth, providing opportunities for reflection while sharpening critical thinking skills. Feedback can also help motivate students to persevere with difficult material, take creative risks, or explore new angles and perspectives, creating a springboard for learning. Not only is instructor feedback helpful, “for many students,” it’s becoming “the …

Essential Skills Needed for a Child Psychologist

Child psychologists do not have an easy job. They work within school systems, treatment facilities, research labs, social service agencies, and beyond. Working with children can be immensely fulfilling as a career field, and oftentimes soon-to-be-psychologists enter the field because of their love of children. While that is one quality necessary to have for the …

What Does It Take to Be a Psychologist?

Understanding the qualities and skills needed to be a psychologist is fundamental to understanding the profession. Some of these will come naturally, others take honing. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and finding a balance will be a focus for any aspiring psychologist. That is why it is essential to consider the distinctions between skills …

What’s the Difference Between Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology?

According to a survey from the National Science Foundation, there were 3.5 million people in the United States in 2017 who held a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Among those individuals, 14 percent pursued graduate degrees in the field. That means approximately 499,000 people have been tasked with the judgment call of joining a clinical psychology or …