National University: Distance Learning Programs In-Depth

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National University

Distance Learning Program

La Jolla, California

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

National University was one of the first institutions to offer a variety of degree programs via the Internet. National University's online courses give students the ease and convenience of earning their degree at home or in their office. Whether students study most efficiently in the morning or at night, National's online classes give students the added flexibility of completing their course work as it suits their schedule, needs, and learning style.

More than thirty online degree programs include graduate and under-graduate programs as well as teaching credential and certificate programs. Growth in online enrollment has increased 493 percent over the past three years. Today, approximately 3,500 students take online classes at National every month. As the demand has grown for new online offerings, National has continually expanded its programs to meet the changing needs of students and the growing demands of the workforce.

DELIVERY MEDIA

National's online classes include the same essential components as its on-site courses, such as lectures, reading assignments, slide presentations, evaluations, quizzes, and exams. National University's online courses are able to move beyond the limits of the classroom by utilizing resources and communication tools that add tremendous value to the learning environment, including a digital dropbox, online collaboration, discussion boards, announcements, e-mail class feature, assignment manager, and multimedia.

Through group projects and threaded discussions and/or chat rooms, students develop an online community with their classmates that develops and strengthens their communication and collaborative skills. Thus, un-like conventional classroom settings, online courses provide ongoing communication with the instructor and with fellow classmates.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The National University format allows students to work full-time while attending small, online classes. Courses are one to two months in length, and new courses begin each month. This format enables students to complete as many as 54 quarter units (twelve courses) in a year instead of the traditional 40.5 quarter units (nine courses), allowing students to complete an undergraduate degree in just over three years and a graduate degree in a little more than one year.

Undergraduate degrees available online include Associate of Arts (A.A.); Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English, global studies, or psychology; Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.); Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.); and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in accountancy, criminal justice administration, construction engineering, information systems, information technology, and organizational behavior.

Since its founding in 1971, National University has been dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of adult learners. A pioneer in the nontraditional learning format and in distance learning, National is the second-largest private, accredited, nonprofit university in California, with nearly 17,000 students and 109,000 alumni. National University holds accreditations by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, and is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

National University offers an alternative to the traditional, four-year college with a unique, flexible, one-to two-course-per-month format that allows students to obtain a quality education in a shortened time frame, so they can enter the workforce faster. National University ranks first in California in granting master's and bachelor's degrees to Hispanics and African Americans, and it ranks fourth in the U.S. in awarding master's degrees to Hispanics.

Graduate degrees available online include Executive Master of Business Administration (E.M.B.A.); Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.); Master of Arts (M.A.) in English, human behavior, and human resource management and organizational development; Master of Arts in Management (M.A.M.); Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in film art studies and in creative writing; Master of Education (M.Ed.) in cross-cultural teaching; Master of Forensic Sciences (M.F.S.); Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.); Master of Science in Computer Science (M.S.C.S.); Master of Science in Information Systems (M.S.I.S.); Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (M.S.O.L.); Master of Science in Technology Management (M.S.T.M.); and Master of Science (M.S.) in educational administration, educational technology, electronic business, instructional technology, and special education.

STUDENT SERVICES

Each student is assigned to an admissions adviser who assists with enrollment and scheduling. The University offers personalized student services to online students, with access to assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, class sizes are small, with a high level of faculty member involvement.

National University students throughout the world also have continuous access to one of the largest e-book collections in the U.S., with more than 60,000 e-books and reference works, over 900 e-journals, 60 electronic databases, and more than 8,000 full-text journals and reference sources.

Students can benefit from the online career assistance offered by the Career Assessment Center, including resume writing, job searching, interviewing and negotiating skills, and employment opportunities.

CREDIT OPTIONS

National University awards credit in quarter units. Under the current policy, 4.5 units of credit are awarded for most courses. National University accepts collegiate credits from regionally accredited institutions if the courses were completed satisfactorily. Additionally, the University accepts noncollegiate learning experiences. These credits are granted on a case-by-case basis and can come from such sources as CLEP, DANTES, ACT PEP, University departmental examinations, and military experience.

FACULTY

National's faculty members are experienced in innovative online instruction, and many work in the fields that they teach, ensuring real-world knowledge. Ninety-four percent of the faculty members have a terminal degree.

ADMISSION

National University considers every student for entrance and admission is based on evidence of a student's ability to benefit from its educational program. Such evidence can include the following: the student's academic record in other institutions, test scores, interviews, professional experience, motivation, and educational objectives. A year-round streamlined admissions process helps students start their programs right away, with classes that begin every month and no waiting to enroll.

TUITION AND FEES

Undergraduate courses cost $950 each; graduate courses cost $1070 each. There is an application fee of $60 and a graduation processing fee of $100.

FINANCIAL AID

There are many types of financial aid available to assist students who qualify. These include federal, state, and institution aid programs in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships. At National University, the purpose of financial aid is to bridge the gap between the educational cost and a student's resources. In order to establish eligibility for aid, students are asked to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Interested students are encouraged to visit the Web site at http://www.nu.edu/financialaid or call the Financial Aid Office at 800-NAT-UNIV Ext. 8500.

CONTACT

National University
Online Admissions
11255 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California 92037
Telephone: 1-800-NAT-UNIV (toll-free in the U.S.)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nu.edu