A closer look at the updated Degree Search
Degree Search has a new look—and Academic Affairs Marketing is working with academic units across NAU to make sure the content inside it is just as strong.
The university-wide Degree Search content project is updating pages with clearer, more engaging content designed around the questions prospective students have as they explore their academic options.
Helping students find the right program
Choosing a program involves more than understanding its curriculum.
Prospective students want to know: What will I learn? What makes this program different? What kinds of experiences will I have? What can I do with this degree?
Updated Degree Search pages are designed to answer those questions. Each page includes student-centered content covering the program overview, unique attributes, career opportunities, research experiences, emphasis areas and accelerated options when applicable, along with other information that helps students understand the program and its value.
The result is a more consistent experience across Degree Search while still giving individual programs room to communicate what makes them distinctive.
One part of NAU’s academic web ecosystem
Degree Search doesn’t need to tell students everything about a program. It needs to help them understand the program, decide whether they want to learn more, and connect them to the right next step.
That’s especially important because Degree Search is one part of a larger academic web ecosystem at NAU.
At the broadest level, nau.edu introduces prospective students to NAU and helps them explore academic possibilities. Degree Search allows them to dig a little deeper into individual programs and compare their options. Department sites on in.nau.edu can provide additional depth, including information about faculty, research, student experiences, facilities, resources, deeper program-level information (especially for graduate programs), and other program-specific opportunities. And the academic catalog remains the authoritative source for curriculum, requirements, policies, and other official academic information.
The Degree Search content project is designed with that ecosystem in mind. Instead of trying to duplicate information available elsewhere, we’re focusing each Degree Search page on the information prospective students need at the early stage of their exploration—and creating clearer pathways to additional information when they’re ready for it.
A better first look at each program
One of the most noticeable changes to Degree Search is the redesigned “At a glance” section.
Previously, “At a glance” appeared at the top of each program page, before the program content, and included a large amount of detailed academic and administrative information—from advanced math requirements and additional coursework to accelerated options, Honors opportunities and application information.s
That information is important, but it doesn’t need to be the first thing a prospective student encounters. Before asking students to consider detailed academic requirements, we want to give them a reason to be interested in the program.
The revised interface puts prospect-friendly information first. Students can begin by learning what the program is about, what they’ll learn, what makes it distinctive, and where it might take them. Once they’ve found a program that interests them, they can move on to the academic requirements and other details they need to make an informed decision.
The streamlined “At a glance” section supports that progression, by highlighting key program information without overwhelming the initial exploration.
It’s a simple shift with an important purpose: help students discover why a program might be right for them before asking them to navigate the details of how to get there.
The experience will continue to evolve
The updated interface was an important step, but the work isn’t finished.
AAM continues to identify and address user-interface improvements that can make Degree Search easier and more intuitive for prospective students to use. One priority is improving the program search experience, so results are more relevant to what a student is actually looking for—not simply based on matching words.
We’re also continuing to evaluate how students navigate Degree Search, discover programs, and move between Degree Search and other parts of NAU’s academic web ecosystem.
The goal is an experience that doesn’t just provide better program information, but makes it easier for prospective students to find the right information in the first place.
See the updates in action
The new Degree Search interface is already live, and program content is getting updated. Here are a few examples:
While every page follows a consistent content framework, the story each program tells is different. One might highlight hands-on field experiences, another professional preparation, and another faculty-mentored research. The structure provides prospective students consistency, while giving programs space to show what sets them apart.
Where we are now
Before beginning the university-wide rollout, AAM piloted the content process with programs represented by participating units on the FY26 Degree Search Task Force. Their feedback helped us refine the worksheets, content standards, review process and overall approach.
The first phase of the larger project focused on doctoral programs. We’re now continuing through graduate programs, with undergraduate programs to follow.
Current progress
- Graduate programs to update: 118
- Worksheets distributed to Chairs/Directors: 92
- Degree Search profiles updated: 40
The Degree Search content update process begins with AAM providing a pre-populated worksheet that guides faculty and program representatives in sharing the expertise and details that make their programs distinctive. AAM then develops and standardizes the content, and units have an opportunity to review the revised copy before publication.
If you’ve already received a Degree Search worksheet, returning it as soon as possible helps us keep the project moving. The sooner we receive completed worksheets, the sooner we can develop and publish the updated content—and continue on to the next group of programs.
If you haven’t received a worksheet, no action is needed. AAM is working through the project in phases and will reach out to participating units as we move forward.
With each completed page and each improvement to the user experience, we’re building a Degree Search that better represents the breadth of NAU’s academic offerings and helps prospective students find the program that’s right for them.