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

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.

I. Spanish Language Program

1. Spanish 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 is ideal for individuals with little or no previous experience in Spanish. Emphasis is placed on essential vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversational phrases related to everyday life, travel, and work.

Learning Objectives:
– Introduce oneself and others
– Ask and answer basic questions
– Use common verbs in the present tense
– Understand basic cultural norms in Spanish-speaking countries

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

3. Spanish for Professionals (Advanced I)
Prerequisite: Intermediate-level fluency
Schedule: 8 weeks, 3 hours/week (Total: 24 hours)
Tuition: $395
Description:
Designed for learners who want to refine their language skills for workplace or academic contexts, this course emphasizes formal and informal registers, public speaking, and professional vocabulary.

Learning Objectives:
– Deliver short oral presentations in Spanish
– Write formal and informal business emails
– Participate in professional role-plays
– Analyze and discuss current events in Spanish-speaking countries

II. Mandarin Chinese Language Program

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

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.

CERAMICS: Tuesdays | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | APRIL 3 – MAY 22
WATER MARBLING: Wednesdays | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | APRIL 4 – MAY 23
GRAPHIC ART: Thursdays | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | APRIL 5 – MAY 24
DRAWING: Saturdays | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | APRIL 7 – MAY 26
WATER MARBLING: Saturdays | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM | APRIL 7 – MAY 26

LEADERSHIP

This leadership program consists of two modules. The first module of the community leadership program will be dedicated to personnel leadership skills development. Sessions will include trainings,
workshops and fieldtrips.

The second module of the program will focus on social awareness, civic engagement, and social capital building. According to the concentration of the sessions, the participants will take courses to analyze problems of their societies and develop strategies on how to respond to them. Click on the brochure below to learn more.

 

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 or (832) 230-5557 by phone. Access the Mentoring Page to LEARN MORE

Criminal Justice at NAU

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The challenges facing criminal justice professionals are more complex than ever. North American University is commencing with on-campus certificate programs starting Summer 2018. 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.

SOFTWARE QA WITH TEST AUTOMATION BOOTCAMP

Become a test automation developer with industry best practices in 6 months. A hands-on and intensive 6-month program will yield results and prepare you with great experience and a bright future.

This program is designed jointly by academic leaders and industry experts. The curriculum is a step by step process made easier by our fantastic professors.Find out more via the link: LEARN MORE

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.