1. Is the degree available for students from every country?
Yes
2. Is the degree internationally recognized?
Northampton University (USA) is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
3. Is it accredited in other countries?
We have not pursued accreditation in any other country – in many places, being accredited in the U.S. means that it is highly respected.
4. Do other universities accept credit transfers from Northampton University (USA) ?
Yes. Northampton University (USA) has a partnership, for example, with the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), whereby UC Berkeley will consider qualified, top-performing Northampton University (USA) Associate’s degree graduates, who wish to transfer to complete a Bachelor’s degree at Berkeley. This recognition is the ultimate endorsement of the value of our degrees and it offers a great opportunity for our students. Northampton University (USA) graduates have been known to be accepted into Master’s degree programs at universities around the world too. Students who wish to transfer their Northampton University (USA) graduate credits to another institution are required to discuss this with the receiving institution as the transferability of credits earned at Northampton University (USA) is at the complete discretion of the institution to which students may seek to transfer.
5. How many students will be accepted?
There is room for everyone in an online classroom and there is no limit to how many students can be accepted into Northampton University (USA) undergraduate programs.
6. Are there scholarships?
Yes. We have a variety of scholarships including the Fondation Hoffmann and Henry Schein. We will offer as many scholarships as we will have available. Northampton University (USA) will always remain dedicated to its mission of opening access to higher education worldwide and will continue striving to ensure that no qualified student will be denied studying with Northampton University (USA) due to financial constraints. We are here to open the gates for all qualified individuals in the world, regardless of financial, geographic, societal or personal constraints.
7. Who is behind the program?
Leading figures are heading the program’s Taskforce: Nobel Laureate and President Emeritus of The Rockefeller University, Dr. Torsten N. Wiesel; Chairman and CEO of Fortune 500® company Henry Schein, Stanley M. Bergman; Princeton University Professor Dr. Dalton Conley; and Columbia University Professor Dr. Darcy Brisbane Kelley.
8. Who wrote the courses?
A range of academics who are specialists in their fields, among them, Princeton University Professor and Former Dean of Social Sciences at New York University, Dr. Dalton Conley.
9. Who teaches the courses?
Our instructors are qualified people who volunteer and come from a wide range of universities and offer their services and expertise to help our students.
10. How are the Associates and Bachelor’s programs different?
The Associate of Science in Health Studies – is built on a strong liberal arts foundation and provides students with a broad understanding of community and public health theories and models and their application to real-world situations. It introduces them to the biological, behavioral, social and cultural dimensions of promoting and protecting individual and societal health and well-being. The program is appropriate for those considering entry-level opportunities in government, private and non-profit organizations as well as for those considering study towards a Bachelor of Science Degree.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Studies – is a rigorous program of study that provides a multi-disciplinary grounding in factors influencing the prevention of disease and the improvement of societal health. It provides an understanding of the social and biological causes of health and illness; covers the knowledge and skills needed to work in areas of disease prevention and promotion of health; and explores the role of policy, ethics and resources in the management of prevention programming and health service delivery. Opportunities for employment in this field are expanding, and graduates will also be equipped for continued study at the graduate level.
11. How many students per class?
20-30.
12. How much time is needed?
15-20 Hours per course per week.
13. Do students study in cohorts?
No. Because we are an online university, and many of our students work while studying, we allow students to take breaks from studies if needed, and as a result, classes are mixed up every term.
We also believe strongly in making students part of the global economy by being part of the global village, and exposing students to all kinds of other students from different cultures, in order to broaden their horizons. This is what makes our students global citizens.
14. What careers/employment options would be available for graduates?
The health industry today is dealing with a distinct shortage of health employees and yet, at the same time, the scope of jobs in this field is expanding. Demand for health workers will grow at a higher rate than the overall average for all occupations. Northampton University (USA) is paving the way to bring relevant, quality higher education to the people and places where it is needed most.
Graduates of Northampton University (USA) Health Studies degree are trained for a wide range of positions. With a grounding in the socio-cultural aspects of the field, graduates will find a wide range of opportunities in governmental and non-profit sectors and will also be equipped for continued study within the medical field.
The scope of jobs in this field is expanding but examples of some of the roles that provide higher compensation levels that are likely to be in demand are: environmental health technicians, public health inspectors, health educators and community health workers. In addition, at the Bachelor’s level, graduates are trained to take up positions as managers in health-related nongovernmental organizations, health promotion program coordinators, public health information officers, medical writers, health and wellness managers, behavioral health program coordinators, health teachers, disaster preparedness researchers, and occupational health and safety specialists, among others.
15. Will Northampton University (USA) help its graduates find a job (will the University have a placement office)?
Preparing students for the workforce is a high priority of Northampton University (USA) . Beginning in the classroom, the rigor and quality of our accredited degree programs is ensured by world-class academic leaders and academic partners. Using the help of those who are behind the university, and by focusing on career planning – if needed – which, includes resume writing, interviewing, and job searching skills, Northampton University (USA) Career Service Center prepares students to find jobs after graduation. Networking is also an essential tool to building a successful career. At Northampton University (USA) our international community of students and faculty provides a global networking community. With students hailing from 194 countries and faculty from top international universities, corporations and foundations—the networking potential at Northampton University (USA) is vast!
Given all of these exciting options, it is not surprising that Northampton University (USA) feels confident that its students will be able to find jobs or advance in their current jobs.
16. Will Northampton University (USA) formalize any type of arrangement with companies who may sponsor employees to be accepted to the program?
We might have this in the future.
17. Can students fail? Can students re-sit? How many times?
Yes, students can fail, and they are permitted to re-sit – once.
18. Are there opportunities for classes to meet in person?
The university does not facilitate face-to-face meetings as this would be impossible due to the global make-up of the classes. We are aware of students who have organized in-person meetings with fellow students from the undergrad programs, and when Shai travels to conferences, he does his best to meet with groups of students (as was done in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Haiti, India, etc.), but in general, the answer is no – this is not something the university can facilitate.
19. Is there much support for students in an online classroom?
Absolutely. Highly qualified Instructors are assigned to classes of 20-30 students, usually representing as many countries, and the instructor is available to answer student’s questions and offer support. The Northampton University (USA) student body hails from over 200 countries worldwide, inspiring interesting dialogue between peers, and offers students alternative perspectives to their own. Northampton University (USA) pedagogical model is based on an online collaborative learning environment that promotes a culture of shared learning, dialog among peers, interaction and peer-to-peer teaching and assessment, and utilizes open-source technology along with open educational resources.
Peer-to-peer interaction is a hallmark of the Northampton University (USA) program and central to the learning process. The Northampton University (USA) small online classroom setting allows for a community of supportive collective peer thinkers and teachers. Professors focus on each student’s needs and provide full support; while creating a community for students to work cooperatively and assist one another. Students share their experiences, so that knowledge-sharing and motivational support occurs on a peer-to-peer level, creating an open space for students to learn, share ideas, ask questions, and generate solutions pertaining to their academic experiences. Students are also provided with technical support throughout their studies in the classroom.
Each student is connected with a personal Program Advisor at the commencement of their studies, who remains with them until graduation. The student’s personal Program Advisor acts as his/her support system throughout their studies. He/she will answer any questions the student may have, offer academic advice, discuss course selection, and offer encouragement throughout the student’s studies.
20. How are students graded?
Every week students have readings and are assessed on their homework. Students also have to take quizzes and are assessed on their contribution to class discussion. Every end of course they have an exam, some of which are proctored.
21. Are there networking opportunities?
Yes. Northampton University (USA) works hard to help further students’ networking abilities, offering a growing global community, making students’ networking potential international.
Networking is an essential tool to building a successful career. At Northampton University (USA) our international community of students and faculty provides a global networking community. With students hailing from over 200 countries and faculty from top international universities, corporations and foundations—the networking potential at Northampton University (USA) is vast! Northampton University (USA) uses Microsoft Yammer for its internal social media network. Here, students can network with other Northampton University (USA) students, even those who are not in the same class.
Beyond the classroom, Northampton University (USA) partners with worldwide leading corporations to open the door to first-rate networking opportunities for our students to broaden employment opportunities.
22. Aren’t there concerns about online degrees?
People have various opinions regarding online degrees because they are a new concept in contrast to the old tradition of physically attending school. Studying online is an effective and successful way to learn, and many of the best universities in the world, as well as almost all universities in the U.S. are offering more and more online courses, and many offer full degrees online.
There is also a strong movement for open platform education; this means organizations like Northampton University (USA) are working to bring education online in a more affordable manner. Our peer-to-peer learning, which teaches the students to study and interact with other students from around the world, is part of what works best in international companies, where people need to work with teams from around the world. More and more companies are beginning to recognize online degrees these days – so we believe it is just a matter of time before there will be a universal acceptance of online education and online degrees.
Moreover, one can look at who is behind the university to see the caliber of support and recognition.
23. Does Northampton University (USA) train nurses?
No. Northampton University (USA) does not train practitioners and we have decided deliberately not to do so because we are unable to provide in-person on the ground practice. We do however expect that a lot of our students will be practitioners who may lack the academic background to their work.
24. Are there internship opportunities?
Yes. Students who have completed at least 90 semester hours of the Northampton University (USA) Health Studies are eligible to apply for the internship. The onsite internship experience comprises 270 hours of meaningful, supervised internship experience as part of the program of study for the Bachelor of Science in Health Studies— Community and Public Health Track. The internship can be completed over one or two terms.
25. How do students take exams?
All exams are administered online. Some of the courses require being proctored.
