Early Childhood Education, B.A. (Type 04 Certification)

The Early Childhood Education program is designed for those interested in teaching children in a pre-kindergarten environment through age eight. Successful completion of the program enables students to apply for certification by entitlement in Illinois for the Type 04 certification.

Special Admissions Requirements:

Admission to the Early Childhood Education program is a two step process. Students must first be admitted to National Louis University.

Applicants to the Early Childhood Education program must:

Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative
Have completed all General Education and Foundational courses
Have a GPA of 2.5 or better at NLU, with a grade of “C” or better in each course required for the degree
Have completed 70 pre-clinical observation hours

Program Details:

Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion
60 QH of coursework must be completed at NLU
Credit by examination is accepted for general education and elective credit
The Professional Education Sequence must be taken at NLU
A minimum grade of “C” or better in all courses in the program is required
Requires student teaching
Requires practicum
Requires observations
Students must complete a second major in Psychology/Human Development OR a minor in Psychology/Human Development

Required Courses

Communications

LAE101	English Composition I
LAE102	English Composition II
LAT210	Effective Speaking

Humanities

One Humanities course

Fine Arts

LAA110	Introduction to Art
LAU110	Introduction to Music

Note: Another introductory Art or Music course of 5 QH may be accepted in place of these two courses.

Quantitative Reasoning

Two Mathematics courses

Note: LAM 106 is recommended.

Physical and Life Sciences

LAN110	General Biology
LAN150	Survey of Physical Science

Note: One course must have a lab.

Social Sciences

LAS120	Introduction to American Politics
	and
LAS110	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
	or
LAS300	Contemporary World Cultures
	or
LAS302	Asian History and Culture
	or
LAS303	Sub-Saharan African Cultures
	or
LAS304	Middle and South American Cultures

Note: Another nonwestern Social Science course may be accepted.

Behavioral Science

LAP200	Psychology of Development in the Infant/Toddler Years
	or
LAP201	Psychology of Early Childhood
	or
LAP202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence
	or
LAP320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child--Part I
	with
LAP321	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child--Part II

Note: Another Developmental Psychology course may be accepted.

Foundational Requirements - 50 QH

LAE307	Literature for Children
	and
LAS200	U.S. History and Culture: 1492-1828
	or
LAS201	U.S. History and Culture: 1828-1898
	or
LAS203	U.S. History and Culture: 1898-Present
	and
ECE202	Developmental Theory and Practice
	and
ECE205	Child Study I: Infant and Toddler
	and
ECE206	Child Study II: Preprimary
	and
ECE310	Child, Family and Community
	and
ECE320	Speech and Language Development
	and
ECE405	Preprimary Methods: Language Arts/Art/Music/Movement
	and
ECE406	Preprimary Methods: Social Studies/Science/Math
	and
ECE460	Early Childhood Practicum
	and
SPE300	Survey of Exceptional Children and Adolescents
	and
LAP200	Psychology of Development in the Infant/Toddler Years
	or
LAP201	Psychology of Early Childhood
	or
LAP202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence
	or
LAP320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child--Part I
	with
LAP321	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child--Part II

Notes: ECE 320 must be taken at NLU. Application to participate in ECE 460 must be made two quarters prior to the quarter of the student teaching experience. Another U.S. History course may be accepted. Another Developmental Psychology course may be accepted.

Professional Sequence - 38 QH

ECE207	Child Study III: Primary
ECE315	History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education
ECE330	Instructional Technology
ECE340	Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education
ECE470	Full-day Student Teaching
CIS481	Theory and Methods of Teaching ECE Primary Social Studies
MHE481	Theories and Methods of Teaching Primary Mathematics
RLL481	Teaching Primary Reading and Language Arts
SCE481	Methods of Teaching Science in the Primary Grades K-3

Note: Application to participate in ECE 470 must be made two quarters prior to the quarter of the student teaching experience.

Psychology/Human Development Minor - 30 QH

See Psychology/Human Development Minor for details

Psychology/Human Development Major - 45 QH

See Psychology/Human Development Major for details

Electives

Choose elective courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 180 QH

Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Enrollment Requirements

Admission to and continuance in student teaching are contingent on the following actions.

Candidates must:

Be accepted into the National College of Education
File, by the designated deadline, the application form for student teaching
Submit to their advisor a report of a TB test taken within 90 days of the student teaching placement, results of criminal background check and acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter status form
Turn in a signed log of all the pre-clinical hours specified in their pre-clinical hours required for the program
Pass the Early Childhood Content Test (107) before student teaching
Complete all of their certification courses except for ECE 470 (Student Teaching)
Pass all methods courses at National Louis University with a grade no lower than a B
Participate in faculty assessment and receive approval of his or her portfolio (Livetext)
Provide evidence of emotional stability, adequate personality adjustment and competency as indicated by certification coursework and departmental assessments