Continuing Education

Certificate Programs

PROGRAMS OFFERED

Agents for business
Agents for nonprofits
Bootcamp
Computer basics
Criminal Justice
Fine Arts
Leadership
Management efficiency
Mentoring
SEO
SCHOOL COUNSELING
Spanish Mandarin

Mission

The Continuing Education Department at North American University is committed to providing high-quality, accessible educational opportunities that empower individuals to enhance their skills, advance their careers, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. We aim to foster lifelong learning by offering a diverse range of programs that respond to the evolving needs of the workforce and the global society.

Vision

North American University (NAU) is committed to fair and equitable treatment of all members of the institution’s community through compliance with university policies, state and federal regulations, and standards of ethical and professional conduct. As such, NAU ensures that students have the right to formally report complaints or grievances regarding the university itself, or its faculty or staff or students. This includes NAU Distance Education students. All grievances and complaints will be taken into consideration.

PROGRAMS

SCHOOL COUNSELING

This non-degree continuing education program is designed to strengthen knowledge and applied skills in school counseling. Participants will explore developmental, ethical, cultural, and practical aspects of counseling in K–12 schools. The curriculum blends theory with application, preparing completers to enhance student support services in educational settings.

• Total Hours: 60 (12 weeks, 5 hours per week)
• Delivery: Online (lectures, readings, discussions, applied projects)
• Completion Requirement: 80% attendance/participation & successful completion of weekly assignments.
• Credential Awarded: NAU Certificate in School Counseling Foundations & Practice

Week Topics Objectives
1 Foundations of School Counseling (COUN 5311) Understand the evolution and role of school counselors; recognize developmental counseling models for K-12.
2 Learning & Developmental Psychology (EDUC 2312 & PSYC 2311) Connect psychology theories to classroom behavior; identify developmental milestones relevant to counseling.
3 Individual Counseling Theories (COUN 5312) Compare counseling theories; apply techniques to common student cases.
4 Counseling Children & Adolescents (COUN 5313) Design intervention strategies for children/adolescents; apply ethical standards with young clients
5 Multicultural Counseling (COUN 5314) Identify cultural influences in counseling; apply strategies for inclusive school counseling.
6 Developmental Guidance & Counseling (COUN 5315) Align program design with ASCA standards; develop strategies for school-wide
developmental guidance.
7 Career Development & Counseling (COUN 5316) Guide students through career exploration; use tools to support career/college readiness
8 Group Counseling Theories & Techniques (COUN 5312 / 5318) Apply group counseling methods in schools; recognize dynamics of family counseling approaches.
9 Mental Health & Community Counseling (COUN 5319) Identify risk factors for student mental health; develop referral strategies to community resources.
10 Counseling Special Populations (COUN 5320) Apply ethical/cultural skills to diverse populations; design accommodations and supports in counseling.
11 Ethics in Professional Counseling (COUN 5327) Analyze ethical dilemmas in schools; apply codes of ethics to practice.
12 Integration & Practicum Simulation (COUN 5317)) Integrate knowledge from the program; demonstrate readiness for applied school counseling practice.

  • Attendance in at least 10 of 12 weeks (synchronous or recorded).
  • Weekly assignments/case study reflections.
  • Final integrative project: Design a mini school counseling intervention plan.
  • Certificate awarded upon successful completion of 60 clock hours.
Leadership Development Workshop

LEADERSHIP

This program aims to help participants understand and develop leadership skills they can use in various settings. The program includes workshops to examine critical components of effective leadership and to provide activities for participants to exercise and practice leadership abilities. The workshop series will cover the following topics: Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, Collaborative Writing, Effective Communication, Power and Influence, and Time Management.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will:

  • Be aware of sources of power through which leaders influence others and examine which influence tactics are called for in different situations.
  • Learn about the strengths-based leadership approach and gain insight into their own traits and personality.
    Utilize a model of emotional intelligence to study the role of emotions in leadership.
  • Practice and understand the pros and cons of different approaches to resolving conflicts.
  • Review key strategies to improve time management and communication skills for building personal credibility and influencing others.

TECH BOOTCAMP

North American University’s Continuing Education Bootcamp offers flexible, fully online training that helps learners become tech‑career ready fast — no IT background required. Choose from 9‑week fast‑track programs in Web Development and No‑Code AI, 13‑week professional tracks in IT Support, Cybersecurity, DevOps, and Data Analytics, or 34‑week advanced programs in Full‑Stack Python, Full‑Stack Java, and Data Science. With structured timelines, industry‑aligned curriculum, and a free trial class, NAU makes it simple to start — and accelerate — your path into today’s fastest‑growing tech careers.

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AI AGENTS FOR BUSINESS

NAU’s AI Agents for Business program teaches practical, beginner‑friendly skills for using AI assistants to streamline everyday business tasks. You’ll learn how to build simple AI agents, write clear prompts, and apply AI tools to customer relations, marketing, content creation, data reporting, and business automation — all without any coding experience.

Delivered in person at NAU’s brand‑new prime location in Galleria Tower II, the program provides hands-on training and a final project that develops real workflows tailored to your business. By the end, you’ll have a custom AI assistant, practical automation strategies, and a Certificate in AI Business Automation.

 

AI AGENTS FOR NONPROFITS

A practical, non-technical executive program, AI Agents for Nonprofits helps leaders safely automate administrative tasks and expand their mission capacity in 4 weeks. Through hands-on learning across 8 live hours, participants master applications from grant writing and donor communications to meeting summaries and no-code AI agents. The program equips nonprofit directors and managers with a ready-to-use toolkit, data privacy policies, and a 90-day plan to deliver more mission with less paperwork.

 

hands holding paper figures to demonstrate nonprofit organizations
Computer on a table

COMPUTER BASICS

Computer Basics is an introductory 8-week course for adult language-school students with little or no computer experience. Students learn to use a Windows 11 desktop computer, including the mouse and keyboard, windows, files and folders, settings, typing, the internet and email. They then use Microsoft Word to create and format documents, learn the very basics of Microsoft Excel, and finish with an introduction to using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude safely and wisely. Every class has one hour of theory and one hour of hands-on practice. 
 

MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY

The Management Efficiency Program helps K–12 school leaders build the financial and leadership skills needed to run stronger, more sustainable schools. This 30-hour professional development program combines practical training in financial analysis, budgeting, cash flow, tuition planning, staffing, resource management, and internal controls with essential leadership topics such as organizational culture, motivation, conflict resolution, and change management. Participants work with their own school data and Excel-based tools to solve real challenges, make smarter decisions, improve operational efficiency, and better align financial resources with educational goals.

Narrative

Management Efficiency is a comprehensive professional development program designed for K–12 school leaders, executives, founders, board members, and finance administrators. The 30-hour program combines 20 hours of theory with 10 hours of hands-on practice, enabling participants to manage schools effectively through both financial analysis and organizational leadership. The curriculum consists of four modules: Financial & Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, School Budgeting & Resource Management, and Organizational Management. Participants learn to interpret financial statements, develop budgets, evaluate investments, manage cash flow, determine cost-based tuition, analyze staffing needs, and implement effective internal controls. The program also addresses leadership, organizational culture, motivation, conflict resolution, and change management. Practical sessions use participants’ own school data and Excel-based tools to solve real-world challenges. By completion, school leaders can make evidence-based decisions, improve operational efficiency, strengthen financial sustainability, and align resources with educational priorities.

Program Details

Management Efficiency Program for School Leaders is a specialized leadership and management development initiative created for K–12 educational administrators. The program recognizes that successful school leaders must understand not only educational leadership but also finance, budgeting, organizational management, and operational effectiveness. Through a combination of theory and application, participants gain practical skills to improve both academic and financial outcomes.

Program Structure

The program includes 30 hours of instruction, divided into:
• 20 hours of theoretical learning
• 10 hours of practical application
The theoretical component consists of four integrated modules, while the practical component focuses on applying concepts using participants’ own school data and structured Excel-based tools.

This module introduces school leaders to accounting concepts that support planning, budgeting, operational control, and decision-making. Participants develop the ability to interpret financial information and use it strategically.

Major Topics

• Financial accounting foundations
• Accounting cycle and financial statements
• Internal controls and asset protection
• Management accounting
• Cost accounting systems
• Activity-Based Costing (ABC)
• Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis
• Break-even analysis
• Budgeting and performance planning
• Strategic use of financial information

School Applications

Participants learn to calculate:
• Cost per student
• Cost-based tuition rates
• Break-even enrollment
• Internal control procedures for cash management, collections, and payments
By the end of the module, school leaders can use accounting information to support strategic planning, budgeting, operational decisions, and performance evaluation.

This module examines financial decision-making processes that influence institutional sustainability and organizational value.

Major Topics

• Capital budgeting
• Investment analysis
• Cost of capital
• Debt and equity financing
• Capital structure management
• Dividend policy
• Financial forecasting
• Business valuation
• Mergers, acquisitions, and buyouts
• Risk management

School Applications

The module helps leaders evaluate:

• Create strategic and vision-based budgets
• Use demographic and enrollment data for planning
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses
• Allocate resources effectively
• Monitor budget performance
• Manage expenditures and risks

Participants learn how to forecast performance, analyze investments, and make informed financial decisions that contribute to organizational success.

This module focuses on aligning financial, human, and physical resources with a school’s mission, vision, and improvement plans.

Major Topics

• School finance terminology
• Funding sources and budget codes
• Needs assessment
• School improvement planning
• Resource allocation strategies
• Budget planning and implementation
• Financial transparency and ethical leadership
• Budget sustainability

Practical Skills Developed

Participants learn to:

• Create strategic and vision-based budgets
• Use demographic and enrollment data for planning
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses
• Allocate resources effectively
• Monitor budget performance
• Manage expenditures and risks

A major outcome is the development of a justified budget proposal tailored to the participant’s own school environment.

The organizational management component emphasizes leadership and people-focused management practices.

Major Topics

• Organizational culture
• Transformational leadership
• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Conflict resolution
• Negotiation
• Team effectiveness
• Change management
• Ethical leadership
• Strategic planning

Leadership Applications

Participants learn how to:

• Create strategic and vision-based budgets
• Use demographic and enrollment data for planning
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses
• Allocate resources effectively
• Monitor budget performance
• Manage expenditures and risks

The module examines leadership at three levels: individual leadership effectiveness, employee performance management, and organizational development.

The practical section translates theory into real-world school management applications through five training sessions:

1. Knowing the Institution & Internal Control
2. Budget Planning & Implementation
3. Income, Expense & Cash Flow Budgeting
4. Revenue Management, Capacity & Cost Analysis
5. Staffing Norms & Performance Scorecards

Participants use actual institutional data to develop actionable solutions and management tools for their schools.

Upon completion, participants can:

• Read and interpret financial statements confidently.
• Develop and monitor school budgets.
• Forecast cash flow and financial performance.
• Make data-driven tuition and staffing decisions.
• Evaluate investment and financing opportunities.
• Establish strong internal control systems.
• Align resources with school priorities.
• Lead organizational change effectively.
• Improve staff motivation and performance.
• Manage conflict constructively.
• Create performance scorecards and accountability systems.

Conclusion

Management Efficiency Program for School Leaders provides a unique combination of financial expertise, strategic planning, operational effectiveness, and organizational leadership. By integrating accounting, financial management, budgeting, and leadership practices, the program prepares school executives to make informed decisions, improve sustainability, strengthen accountability, and lead educational institutions with both financial discipline and organizational effectiveness. The program ultimately develops leaders who can manage schools successfully through both numbers and people.

NAU Teacher in a classroom with students

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

The Search Engine Optimization course will teach you the basics of SEO. You will learn the
fundamentals of On-Page and Off-Page optimization techniques, keyword, website structure, content optimization, off-site and local SEO.

You will learn how to apply these tools, techniques, strategies, and best practices to drive more traffic to your websites and how to align your search engine marketing efforts with other digital marketing strategies. Additionally, you will develop practical communication skills for use within the industry and with third-party vendors concerning the use and impact of search engine optimization on marketing strategy.

FINE ARTS

This Fine Arts program is apart of our Continuing Education Programs and includes five separate courses namely: Graphic Design, Water Marbling (2 sections), Drawing, and Ceramics. In graphic design, you will learn the concepts of storyboards and use graphic software to create several projects like children’s story books and architectural 3D drawing.

Water Marbling ensures that students will discover the secret worlds of colors via the dance of paint and water. Ceramics brings students’ thoughts and ideas to form. Passion and desire create lasting pieces of art. Lastly, in the drawing, you will learn how to add small details and create good art.

Criminal Justice at NAU

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The challenges facing criminal justice professionals are more complex than ever. . Choose from the following on-campus certificate programs: Certificate in Mental Health & Criminal Justice Issues and Certificate in Diversity & Criminal Justice.

The diversity & criminal justice curricula composes deals with: race and ethnicity; age, gender & sexuality; cultural competency; global diversity and inclusion. The mental health & criminal justice curricula focuses on : mental health and criminal justice; abnormal psychology; drugs and behavior.

SPANISH & MANDARIN CHINESE

The Continuing Education Language Program at North American University offers non-credit Spanish and Mandarin Chinese language courses tailored to adult learners seeking to develop practical communication skills for professional, academic, or personal enrichment. Courses are offered in three levels (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced) and emphasize interactive, real-world language use.

Enrollment & Certification

• Certificate of Completion is issued for each course with 75% attendance and completion of the final assessment or project.
• Courses are non-credit but may be used for professional development hours (PDHs) where applicable.

1. Mandarin Chinese for Beginners I
Delivery: In-person or online (live instruction)
Schedule: 8 weeks, 3 hours/week (Total: 24 hours)
Tuition: $395
Description:
This introductory course teaches foundational Mandarin with a focus on pinyin pronunciation, tones, and essential vocabulary. Practical conversation topics include greetings, shopping, numbers, and daily activities.

Learning Objectives:
– Master Mandarin tones and basic sentence structures
– Conduct simple exchanges in Mandarin
– Recognize common Chinese characters
– Understand cultural etiquette in Chinese-speaking settings

2. Spanish for Communication (Intermediate I)
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish for Beginners I or equivalent
Schedule: 8 weeks, 3 hours/week (Total: 24 hours)
Tuition: $395
Description:
This course strengthens listening and speaking skills through structured conversations, short readings, and culturally relevant materials. Students will build on foundational grammar and develop comfort in discussing topics like work, family, food, and travel.

Learning Objectives:
– Converse using the present and past tenses
– Use reflexive verbs and idiomatic expressions
– Interpret authentic short dialogues and articles
– Explore regional linguistic differences

1. Mandarin Chinese for Beginners I
Delivery: In-person or online (live instruction)
Schedule: 8 weeks, 3 hours/week (Total: 24 hours)
Tuition: $395
Description:
This introductory course teaches foundational Mandarin with a focus on pinyin pronunciation, tones, and essential vocabulary. Practical conversation topics include greetings, shopping, numbers, and daily activities.

Learning Objectives:
– Master Mandarin tones and basic sentence structures
– Conduct simple exchanges in Mandarin
– Recognize common Chinese characters
– Understand cultural etiquette in Chinese-speaking settings

 

2. Mandarin for Everyday Conversation (Intermediate I)
Prerequisite: Completion of Beginner level or equivalent
Schedule: 8 weeks, 3 hours/week (Total: 24 hours)
Tuition: $395
Description:
This course builds oral fluency and comprehension through real-world dialogues, vocabulary development, and structured role-play. Emphasis is on travel, hospitality, directions, and simple business etiquette.

Learning Objectives:
– Engage in dialogues with appropriate tone & grammar
– Use key measure words, particles, and question forms
– Expand vocabulary for food, shopping, and transportation
– Practice listening using authentic materials

 

3. Mandarin for Business and Academic Purposes (Advanced I)
Prerequisite: Intermediate proficiency in Mandarin
Schedule: 8 weeks, 3 hours/week (Total: 24 hours)
Tuition: $395
Description:
For learners looking to use Mandarin in professional or academic settings, this course focuses on formal communication, advanced grammar, and Chinese social/business norms.

Learning Objectives:
– Present and defend ideas in Mandarin
– Write short essays, emails, or summaries
– Understand cultural nuances in negotiation and networking
– Analyze simplified texts, short articles, and news reports

Class Schedule and Term Calendar
Schedule Options

1. Option 1: Weekday Evenings
– Tuesdays & Thursdays
– Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
– Benefits: Popular for professionals with 9-5 jobs; allows spacing between sessions for review and homework

2. Options 2: Saturday Mornings
– Saturdays Only
– Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
– Benefits: Ideal for weekend learners; suits both working adults and retirees

Term Suggestions
4 terms per year to maintain continuity and allow for progressive learning:
• Winter Term: January – March
• Spring Term: April – June
• Summer Term: July – August (optional, shorter session)
• Fall Term: September – November

teaching a student

MENTORING

The aim of this program is to train and provide overall guidance to potential mentors, to increase their effectiveness when they assist their mentees, and to be caring community members.

This is a fully online 14 week certificate mentor program. Content is available through J1 eLearning course management system. Student will receive training regarding the use of J1 eLearning at the beginning of cohort 1. The Mentoring Program will be administered by the Business Administration Department. All inquiries and applications should be communicated via mentoring@na.edu by email