Northern Arizona University Top Questions

Another great part of NAU is that yes, the professors will know you by name by the end of the semester in most classes. The class sizes are usually no larger than 40 people on average and can be as small as 15-20 students. It really allows for a personal interaction with the teacher. My favorite class, or classes, have been my psychology classes. They psychology department has amazing professors that do a very good job in teaching the material. I haven't had a least favorite class yet, I really enjoy most of my classes and you'll find that many students at NAU love almost all of their classes as well. I really enjoy how much participation is involved in the smaller classes as well. Some classes, though they are lecture classes, have a lot of discussions and group participation that is so crucial teachers even assign points to participating in class! That really helps get your mind thinking and get involved in the material. Students here, study a lot! That's what our huge library is for. The library even has extended hours, open until 2AM for all of your study needs. I'm a criminal justice and psychology double major with a minor in sociology. My majors fall under the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. This department is really neat and like most of them, they all have options for study abroad, internships, and careers that you're able to look into through the department. This definitely makes it easier to find a job or a career in the major of your choice, making our school definitely geared towards getting a job as well as learning about the field of study.

NAU overall is an excellent school to attend, from the location in Flagstaff, the surrounding town, to the great staff and faculty in the various colleges. NAU is comparably smaller than ASU and U of A, but it makes it the perfect size to me. Many students you meet in class you will see walking around campus and lends itself easily to making new friends and getting extra help in a class that may be particularly difficult.The only thing I would change about NAU would be to update the Louie system to make it easier to work on mobile devices, and more intuitive than it currently is. Oddly this isn't the most common complaint from students, it is the bus system that many students choose to share their displeasure with. In reality the bus system is very efficient in getting oneself around the campus, just at peak hours before class it is heavily packed. The only downside to NAU is that because of it's smaller size I have to explain to somewhat NAU is, where it is and why I chose to attend there. Personally I like the size and setup of NAU's campus and policies put forth by the administration of the school. Mostly because with each policy decision there is ample opportunity to get the student voice heard on whatever issue is being presented.

I enjoy the academics at NAU. NAU has a wide variety of classes and a wide variety of teachers. Some classes are very easy and some classes are very hard. I have had some very difficult teachers and some very easy teachers. In all my classes though I have learned a tremendous amount. For students struggling in classes there are many free programs to help students get back on track. Teachers seem to care a lot about their students success.

Academics at NAU are taken pretty seriously. I think depending on your major, the class size and intensity of classes vary. For instance NAU is known for a very good Physical Therapy program, a very competitive Nursing program, a good education program, a very good forestry program, the engineering program is popular... I could go on. Overall the academics are high quality I would say.

I think that their are some great teachers at NAU, but there is also bad ones. I believe that if a teacher is teaching ed majors, they should be good at teaching. Education major is overall good, but some advisers are not helpful and you can't get the classes you need because there are so many people trying to get in to the class as well.

Class sizes are relatively small compared to other in-state university. Because of this, it's easy to get to know your professors and get individual help in the class. There's a lot of awesome professors too.

The academics at NAU are relatively good. There are large lecture classes and smaller classes but all in all the professors know how to reach you no matter the size. If you ask questions and are interested in the topic at hand the professors, in my experience, will get to know you and will call you by your name/last name. I've come across a lot of teachers that are willing to go out of their way for students. I've also come across a couple that could care less actually and seem like they are just there to teach you and leave, but this is rare. The students seem to have a good grasp on their education. Many students participate in class discussions and ask questions when need be without shame. I am a marketing major/advertising minor and the business program at NAU is one of the most challenging but definitely worth it. It is amazing and it has incredible teachers who make it easier to understand the difficult material. I feel that the requirements for my major/minor are definitely not out of reach and you are offered a Progression Plan that helps you outline your university career so you can finish on time if not early. I feel that the education at NAU is geared towards both helping each student achieve success academically and for their near future.

I would say NAU is mediocre academic wise. There are some classes that are challenging, but for the most part, if you attend class and do the work, it's easy to receive good grades. I'm double majoring in Political Science and Public Relations. My favorite class is PR 272 with Jerry Thull. His class is not only interesting, but entertaining. He knows how to engage his students. Class attendance is required but it's definitely worth it. I would say, in general, most professors know students names, if you take the time to get to know the professor. I tend to talk with my professors after class, ask questions and visit them during office hours. They're far more likely to help students out if they see students are willing to come in on their own time. The one thing I don't like about the academics on this campus is the Political Science departments professors. Most of them are Liberal and try to push students to believe what they do. They are very biased and don't take into account other people's thoughts/opinions. I would definitely say that the academics at NAU are geared toward getting a job, not just learning.