Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is one of the largest school systems in the state of Arizona based on sheer number of campuses. Though it has its flagship campus in Flagstaff, it also operates more than 30 satellite campuses across the state. Founded in 1899, NAU opened as a normal school, which served to prepare future teachers. Many of its early graduates later accepted teaching positions throughout the southwest. During the 1920s, the school became a state college and earned the right to award graduates with bachelor degrees instead of teaching certificates. Though it did lose some of its students during World War II, it later rebounded due in part to its establishment of separate satellite campuses.

These satellite campuses allow students to take courses in person, online and via televisions set up at local campuses. NAU also offers experience credits for students who can show that they have vast experience in the area they want to study. The university administer a test, and students who successfully pass the examination will earn a certain number of course credits. Across the entire NAU school system, the university has a total enrollment of nearly 28,000 students. More than 7,000 of those students attend a satellite campus and/or take classes online.

Northern Arizona University Accreditation Details

All students hoping to receive some type of financial aid from the federal government will need to attend an accredited college or university. Accreditation comes from organizations and agencies that the federal government recognizes as capable of evaluating colleges. Most organizations grant general accreditation to colleges, which allows a college to grant degrees to graduating students. There is also something known as specialty accreditation, which refers to accreditation granted to specific programs. For example, the American Bar Association often accredits schools that offer law, pre-law or paralegal studies programs. Northern Arizona University has both general and specialty accreditation.

The Higher Learning Commission is an organization that offers accreditation and has regional branches located across the country. The North Central Association of the HLC offers general accreditation to Northern Arizona University, which covers its online programs, satellite campuses and programs offered on its main campus. It also has specialty accreditation for many of its programs, including its social work and education/teaching programs. NAU encourages all students to reach out and learn more about the accreditation the university has and the process associated with that accreditation. Students can talk with counselors or professors working in various departments about the accreditation specific programs have.

Northern Arizona University Application Requirements

Northern Arizona University is one of the few colleges in the state that admits high school students. Those students can earn both college and high school credit when they take classes at either the flagship campus or one of the satellite campuses. NSU also accepts students who recently finished high school, those with a GED and students transferring from other colleges. Most students will need to submit a transcript that shows the grades and classes they took and a cumulative grade point average. Students hoping to gain credit for courses they took at other colleges will need to submit a transcript from the colleges they attended. NAU typically offers credit for classes similar to those offered on one of its campuses.

All students must also complete a full application. This application is available online, and students can also pay the application fee online as well with either a debit card or credit card. NAU asks that students log in and check the status of their application at least once a week. The university will notify them about any components or requirements missing from the application and will also inform students of if they received acceptance and when they can start classes. Students applying for online courses must still complete a full application.

Tuition and Fees

Northern Arizona University charges in state and out of state tuition costs based on whether students lived in or out of the state prior to enrolling. The cost of tuition for Arizona residents is around $8,800 a year, but students who come from another state will pay more than $21,000 a year. Students living on campus must also pay for room and board, which refers to one of the meal plans offered by the university. That can add an additional $8,000 or more to the costs that students pay each year. NAU also estimates the cost of textbooks and supplies at around $900 to $1,000 a year. Online students typically pay a set cost based on the number of credit hours they take each semester and any additional fees.

Though this cost might seem high to some, NAU does offer a number of financial assistance packages to both online and offline students. To qualify for financial aid, students must agree to take a full course load and submit the Free Application for Student Financial Aid. Students can generally borrow money in the form of unsubsidized and subsidized student loans, and some may receive grant money as well. NAU also offer scholarships for students who meet income restrictions and other requirements.

Bachelor of Psychological Science

The Bachelor of Psychological Studies at Northern Arizona University is a program that full time students can complete in four years or less. Students take a minimum of 120 credit hours of work, which includes general education courses, electives and psychology and psychological studies classes. The university requires that students maintain a 2.0 grade point average or risk expulsion from the university. Though students can transfer up to 30 credit hours from another college or university, they must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of advanced psychological classes at an NAU campus or through its online system.

This program includes a capstone requirement, which is an intensive paper that requires a high level of research during a student's senior year. Some of the courses that students take include childhood and adult development, principles of learning, social psychology and adult development and aging. Students can select a special topic that they covered in class or a topic they did not learn about in school for the capstone requirement. All psychological studies students will also take lower level courses that offer a general introduction to psychological topics, research and statistics before taking any upper level classes. Northern Arizona University may also offer online students some internship opportunities