Blog
At National University, we strive to make higher education accessible to all adult learners. View our blog articles below that provide insights and information to help navigate your education path.
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July 22, 2021
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 ...
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July 13, 2021
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, ...
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July 8, 2021
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 ...
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July 6, 2021
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) ...
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July 1, 2021
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 ...
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June 24, 2021
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 ...
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June 22, 2021
What Can I Do with a Strategic Communication Degree?
An ordinary communications 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 communications to enhancing marketing campaigns, graduates with a strategic communication degree learn about business communications in ...
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June 17, 2021
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 ...
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June 15, 2021
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, ...
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June 8, 2021
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 has made this task more challenging, with the ...
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June 3, 2021
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 ...
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June 1, 2021
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 ...
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May 20, 2021
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 ...
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May 18, 2021
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 ...
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May 13, 2021
The Negative Effects of Technology on Children
From smartphones and social media to TV and tablet-based toys, today’s kids are constantly inundated by technology. While it’s important for children and teens to develop an aptitude for technology, after all, they will use computers their whole lives, too much technology use can have detrimental health and physical effects. The negative effects on children’s ...
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May 11, 2021
The Importance of Teaching Technology to Children
From checking our emails on the go, to having groceries delivered right to our doorsteps, we constantly use technology to enrich, expand, and simplify our lives. By harnessing high-tech solutions to everyday problems, we’ve brought countless improvements into our homes, our workplaces, and the society we live in — so why should the classroom be ...
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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 ...
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April 29, 2021
Will Military Service Help Me Get into College? And Other Common Questions for Veterans Considering College
Applying to college can be a daunting process, especially for applicants who are faced with the additional challenge of transitioning successfully from military to civilian life. However, military experience can also be an asset to college applicants. Regardless of which branch you have served, your military background can help to distinguish and strengthen your application. ...
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