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
- May 18, 2021
What’s the Difference Between Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology?
Clinical psychology and counseling psychology are both doctoral-level specializations that lead to psychologist licensure and qualify practitioners to diagnose mental health conditions, provide therapy, conduct psychological assessments, and work in private practice. The primary distinction is training emphasis and treatment focus: clinical psychology programs concentrate more on psychopathology, assessment, and severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, while counseling psychology programs emphasize wellness, multicultural competence, strengths-based approaches, and developmental challenges such as life stressors, relationship issues, and career concerns.
May 13, 2021The Negative Effects of Technology on Children
Technology has measurable, dual-edged effects on children's development, offering genuine educational benefits while posing documented risks when use is excessive or unregulated. A 2025 rapid review of studies published between 2020 and 2025 found that prolonged and unregulated exposure to digital technologies is linked to sleep disruption, increased sedentary behavior, anxiety, depression, and heightened inattention, with evidence suggesting that even one hour of daily screen use can be associated with lower curiosity, reduced emotional stability, and greater difficulty completing tasks.
- May 11, 2021
The Importance of Teaching Technology to Children
Teaching technology to children builds digital literacy, foundational computer skills, and critical thinking, with the goal of helping children view technology as an active tool for creation and problem-solving rather than passive entertainment, structured progressively by age and developmental stage.
- May 6, 2021
Should I Get a Certificate or a Master’s Degree?
Achieving a bachelor’s degree is a great feat. After graduating college, you can take your education to the next level by enrolling into a master’s degree program or obtaining a graduate certificate. The differences between getting a master’s degree vs. a graduate certificate are characterized by cost, time, courseload, and career benefits. Both options are ...
- April 27, 2021
Scholarship Options for Children and Grandchildren of Military Veterans
Are you the child, grandchild, spouse, or family member of a U.S. military Veteran or servicemember? If so, you may qualify for valuable scholarships that can shave thousands of dollars off your college expenses. Combined with military tuition assistance, tuition discounts, and/or other sources of financial aid, military dependent scholarships can make higher education accessible. Earning ...
- April 20, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions: California Teaching Credentials
Teaching has the potential to be a rewarding, fulfilling, and flexible career. Today’s educators have countless opportunities to inspire some of tomorrow’s brightest young minds. In California, where educators are paid more than in almost any other U.S. state, a teaching career can also be financially attractive. If you’re considering a career in education, read on to ...
- April 13, 2021
Can I Get College Credit for Work Experience?
You already know that work experience can help your college application stand out from the others. But did you know that, in addition to strengthening your application, a history of full-time or part-time employment can also help you earn your degree faster? Regardless of whether you’re an undergraduate, a grad student, a transfer student, or ...
- April 8, 2021
Eye on the Prize: Tips for Staying Motivated in College
Staying motivated in college requires relying on structured habits and systems rather than waiting for inspiration, because discipline built into daily routines outlasts motivation, which fluctuates with stress, fatigue, and the natural rhythm of a demanding semester.
- April 1, 2021
Time Management Tips, Tools, and Apps for Adult Learners
Adult learners balancing studies with work and family benefit most from time management systems that make academic commitments non-negotiable and visible, treating study blocks with the same seriousness as work meetings or family obligations rather than filling them in around everything else.
March 25, 2021Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: What’s the Difference?
Computer science (CS) and computer engineering (CE) are related but distinct disciplines: CS focuses on software, algorithms, data structures, and computational theory, primarily working in code, while CE integrates computer science with electrical engineering, focusing on hardware design, embedded systems, and the physical architecture of computing devices. A useful analogy is that a computer scientist might optimize a search algorithm to run faster, while a computer engineer might redesign a chip to use less power, both solve computing problems, but from different layers of the technology stack.
- February 23, 2021
Best Degrees for Work from Home Careers
The degrees most directly linked to permanent, high-paying remote careers are computer science and information technology, accounting and finance, business administration, and communications and graphic design, fields where work is project-based, output-measurable, and conducted entirely through digital tools that function as well from home as from an office.
- February 11, 2021
Which Majors Are in the Most Demand?
The most in-demand majors are concentrated in healthcare, computer and mathematical sciences, engineering, and business and finance, fields driven by technology advancement, an aging population, and the persistent need for analytical and technical expertise across virtually every sector of the economy.
- October 5, 2020
Can You Transfer Online College Credits?
Yes, online college credits transfer on the same basis as on-campus credits. Receiving institutions evaluate accreditation and course alignment as the primary criteria, not the method of delivery, meaning an online course from a regionally accredited institution is treated identically to the same course taken in a physical classroom.
- October 1, 2020
What to Know About Transferring Old College Credits
Old college credits generally do not expire, they remain permanently on your transcript, but whether a receiving institution will accept them toward a current degree depends on the subject area, how much time has passed, and the accreditation of the institution where they were earned.
September 28, 2020Associate Degree vs. Bachelor’s Degree
An associate degree is a two-year, 60-64 credit undergraduate program designed for rapid career entry or foundational coursework, most commonly offered at community colleges. A bachelor's degree is a four-year, 120-credit program that provides comprehensive academic and professional preparation in a specific major, and is the baseline credential for most management, specialized professional, and corporate advancement roles.
- September 24, 2020
3 Reasons to Go Back to School After Dropping Out
Going back to school after dropping out unlocks three meaningful benefits: significantly higher lifetime earnings, upward career mobility past the invisible ceiling that stops many non-degree holders, and the personal confidence and sense of accomplishment that comes from finishing what you started.
- September 21, 2020
What is a Certificate Program and Is It Right For Me?
A certificate provides targeted, skills-based training for a specific job or role, typically completed in a few months to one year at lower cost, while a degree is a broader academic credential that includes general education requirements alongside specialized study, taking two to four or more years and offering greater long-term career flexibility and advancement potential.
September 10, 2020Best Online Undergraduate Degrees
The best online undergraduate degrees combine scheduling flexibility with strong career demand, high postgraduate earnings, and full delivery compatibility, with business administration, computer science, psychology, and nursing (RN-to-BSN) consistently ranking among the most recommended based on these criteria.