Continuing education courses

Learn something new this summer. Explore an interest or gain a new skill. NAU offers continuing education courses for you to try something fun and interesting this summer.

Explore non-credit courses:
Summer youth programs
Personal enrichment courses
Professional development courses

For registration questions, please call 928-523-6826.

Sign up for continuing education courses

 

Summer youth programs

The World of the Olympians: Myths, Monsters, Gods, and Heroes (ages 10–14)

Dates: Jun. 20–24, 2022
Duration: One week, Mon.–Fri.
Time: 10–11:30 a.m.
Location: Online
Registration deadline: June 10
Cost: $89
Register

In this fun and interactive online day camp, you’ll uncover the mythological landscape of monsters, gods, and heroes while immersing yourself in classical studies. Through ancient Greek language, mythology, and art, you’ll embark on an exciting journey through time. Led by a knowledgeable and engaging instructor, you’ll experience Greek life through incredible stories and art to explore Greece’s culture and influence from ancient to present times. Dive into language, legends, and history while role-playing and demonstrating knowledge through projects.

Young Author’s Day Camp (ages 9–13)

Dates: Jul. 18–22, 2022
Duration: One week, Mon.–Fri.
Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Location: Flagstaff campus, in-person
Registration deadline: July 8
Cost: $199
Register

Come and explore your artistic self through creative writing in this weeklong day camp with assistance from expert instructors. Discover the power of words and how they can be used to shape worlds both imagined and real. You’ll focus on poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Young Authors will experience:

• daily writing prompts designed to spark creativity and sharpen your capacity for observation
• discussions and activities to enrich your understanding of yourself and others in a safe and collaborative space
• writing workshops to develop editing and revision skills
• campus-oriented field trips to acquaint you with the arts and letters at NAU
• a zine-making workshop with hands-on practice using zine-making art supplies

 

Personal enrichment courses

Comedy Films from Chaplin to The Big Lebowski

Dates: Jul. 5–Aug. 9, 2022
Duration: Six weeks, Tues.
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Flagstaff campus, in-person
Registration deadline: June 27
Cost: $199
Register

Discover a diverse range of film comedies and study insider details, film history, and fascinating trivia. Led by an expert in the field, this course will expand your perspective and cultural knowledge as you analyze each film’s genre, influences, and period in close detail. Exploring historical context to the evolution of film comedies, this course will introduce you to exciting films, equip you with diverse knowledge, and prepare you to engage with comedy through a new lens.

Intro to Brewing Science (ages 21+)

Dates: Jul. 25–Aug. 18, 2022
Duration: Four weeks, Mon. and Thurs.
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Online
Registration deadline: July 18
Cost: $199
Register

Whether you are getting started as a beginning to intermediate homebrewer, working in the brewing or restaurant industry, or aiming to expand your knowledge and interest in beer, this course is for you.

• Discover the fundamental science behind beer production, fermentation, and brewing microbiology.
• Characterize common flavor profiles in beer with your fellow learners through beverage sensory best practices.
• Learn through a combination of interactive tastings, online lectures, and group discussions.
• Engage with—and learn from—experienced lecturers including brewing professionals and experts in related research disciplines.

Steps for Getting Your Self-Published Book into Print

Dates: Jul. 16 and 23, 2022
Duration: Two weeks, Sat.
Time: 9 a.m.–noon
Location: Flagstaff, in-person
Registration deadline: July 8
Cost: $169
Register

You’ve written a book, or maybe you’re close to writing it, and you are wondering how to get it into print. Should you look for an agent or a specialty publisher? If not, how will you print your book or produce an e-book? In this course, you’ll learn from a successful self-published author and marketing professional to get your book published and promoted. You will learn how the pandemic has changed the publishing field, take critical first steps in determining your book’s target audience, and learn the importance of an editor and designer. Finally, we will discuss essential marketing materials, including book descriptions, cover copy, bios, and social media content.

 

Professional development courses

Computer Skills for the Workplace

Dates: Jun. 9–Jul. 14
Duration: 6 weeks, Thurs.
Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: NAU–North Valley (Room 141), in-person
Registration deadline: June 2
Cost: $199
Register

This course will help job seekers and experienced professionals in any field refresh and expand their basic computer skills. Get comfortable with your computer while exploring input, processing, and output; utilizing portable and cloud storage solutions to take your work with you; and navigating the Microsoft Windows operating system with ease. In this course, you will also practice using the Microsoft Office Suite—including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook—in a professional context to prepare for a career in any digital workplace.

Developing a Dynamic Strategic Plan for Your Small Business

Dates: Jun. 9–Jul. 14, 2022
Duration: Six weeks, Thurs.
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Online
Registration deadline: June 2
Cost: $249
Register

This course will help you understand how to create and protect your competitive advantage through proper strategy development while ensuring your competitive positioning meets your target’s current and future needs. Designed for small business owners and professionals, this live workshop will help you explore what true competitive advantage means—and why there is no such thing as a “sustainable competitive advantage.” By the end of the course, you’ll have an outline of your strategic plan and will continue growing based on feedback from your classmates and instructor.

Financial Wellness for Educators Series

Registration deadline: June 13

Cost: $99 each
Register for two workshops: $159
Individual registration only.
Group rate: $69 each
Five or more participants from one school.

Duration: 1.5 hrs. each workshop
Location: North Valley Campus
Room: TBA
You will be notified upon registration.

• Basic Budgeting, Automating Your Savings and Goal Setting

Date: Monday, June 20
Time: 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Register
OR
Date: Wednesday, June 22
Time: 3:30–5:00 p.m.
Register

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• • learn how to build a basic budget along with how to stick to it
  • understand what paying yourself first means
  • see how automating your savings works
  • create short, intermediate and long-term goals
  • understand inflation and the power of compounding

• Understanding the Arizona State Retirement System

Date: Tuesday, June 21
Time: 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Register

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• • understand how to calculate and maximize your Arizona state pension

• 18 Step Retirement Planning Checklist

Date: Tuesday, June 21
Time: 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Register

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• • understand the importance of each step
  • remove the guesswork out of knowing “if you have enough”
  • understand how your Arizona state pension and Social Security fit together
  • learn how to prepare for and manage the emotions that accompany this significant life transition

• Investing Basics

Date: Monday, June 20
Time: 3:30–5:00 p.m.
Register
OR
Date: Tuesday, June 21
Time: 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Register

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• • learn key questions to answer before starting to invest
  • learn the differences between investment choices
  • see why DCA is a time-proven strategy
  • understand how to open a brokerage account

• Understanding District Benefit Packages

Date: Wednesday, June 22
Time: 5:30–7:00 p.m.
Register

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• • better understand what your districts pay for health insurance plans
  • learn how to analyze vision and dental plans
  • understand the value of short, intermediate and long-term disability plans
  • learn about leave buy back rates, special pay plans and phased retirement options
  • learn how to calculate your total compensation

How To Give an Effective Online Presentation

Dates: Jun. 7–Jul. 12
Duration: Six weeks, Tues.
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Online
Registration deadline: May 31
Cost: $179
Register

This effective virtual presentations class is designed to improve your ability to engage with your audience online and clarify your intended message(s) in a virtual setting using WebEx, Microsoft Teams, or similar online collaboration tools. It will discuss slide design, timing, tools, breakout rooms (as applicable), and evaluation/feedback.

Intro to Adobe Illustrator for Graphic Design

Dates: Jun. 8–Jul. 20, 2022
Duration: Seven weeks, Wed.
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Online
Registration deadline: May 31
Cost: $299
Register

In this course, you’ll learn to produce infographics, products, posters, and promotional marketing materials using industry-leading software and techniques. You will practice using advanced tools—including pen, anchor points, and Bézier curves—while learning and reinforcing essential tools like transformation, selection, direct selection, type, blend, and eyedropper. As you practice working with layers and organizing your drawings, color palettes, and gradients, you’ll establish skills as both a print and digital designer. Appropriate for beginner to intermediate designers, this course will help you produce high-quality work to begin or upgrade your portfolio while engaging in interesting and exciting design challenges.

Make It Clear: Write Emails So Your Readers Know What to Do

Dates: Jun. 4 and 11, 2022
Duration: Two weeks, Sat.
Time: 9:30–11 a.m.
Location: Online
Registration deadline: May 27
Cost: $79
Register

In this online interactive workshop, you will create emails that follow some of the Plain Language Guidelines. These guidelines are a requirement for federal government writers who write for the public. In addition, the guidelines are an easy, practical way to help all email readers know what to do.

STEM Focus Schools for the Future

Begins Apr. 23, 2022
Duration: One-year program, days of the week and times will vary
Location: Online
Cost: $699
Register

In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that young people develop the knowledge and skills to solve problems, evaluate information, and gather evidence while making decisions. Through science, technology, engineering, and math, young students learn and apply these critical skills. In this professional learning program, you will learn to facilitate systemic change in your K–8 school by supporting school-wide STEM learning. In teams of one administrator and four teachers, you will work together to develop a plan for your school that addresses STEM learning in real classrooms. Through lesson and unit planning, school-wide data collection and analysis, vision and goal setting, staff professional development, and long-term planning, this course will help you to establish STEM-focused changes in your school over three years. The program implementation plan used in the course aligns with research-based practices for effective professional learning and STEM education.

Utilizing Data Analytics and Social Media in Decision-Making

Dates: Jun. 7–28, 2022
Duration: Four weeks, Tues.
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: NAU–North Valley (Room 141), in-person
Registration deadline: May 31
Cost: $169
Register

Social media activity—on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit—represents rapidly changing trends among society, consumers, students, and prospective clients. In this course, you’ll learn to analyze these social media platforms to make data-driven decisions. Applying innovative and industry-leading techniques in your life and professional career, you’ll learn to inform critical decisions and goals with real-life data. This course will cover a range of focus areas:

• Establish the value of social media data to guide business and personal interests.
• Practice creating and following hashtags to inform your online presence in business and personal areas.
• Analyze Twitter to explore how your users feel about individual issues, products, and brands.
• Utilize free and open-source software like RStudio to gather and analyze social media data.