Elementary Education, B.A.

The Elementary Education program is for future teachers who wish to teach grades 1–6. Successful completion of the program enables students to apply for licensure by entitlement in Illinois for a Professional Educator License endorsed for self-contained general education. 

Special Admissions Requirements:

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

Applicants to the Elementary Education program must:

  • Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative
  • Have completed all General Education and Foundational courses. Students who receive a “D” or “F” in a Foundational course must petition the Academic Policies Committee if they wish to receive permission to retake the course. Foundational courses may not be repeated without the permission of the council.
  • Have a GPA of 2.5 or better at National Louis University, with a grade of "C" or better in each course required for the degree
  • Have completed 45 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” in all courses in the program is required 
  • Faculty reviews each student during his or her Professional Sequence to determine continued eligibility in the Elementary Education program
  • Completion of a minimum of 100 clock hours of preclinical experience (practicum) is required prior to student teaching
  • Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 10- 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school. 
  • Requires practicum I, II, and III
  • Requires field-based experience hours in ELE 210, SPE 300, EPS 300, RLL 220, ELE 300, CIL 300, ELE 415, ELE 425, and ELE 470A
  • Requires the following courses to be completed within 6 years of degree completion: ELE 300, SPE 300, TIE 300, ELE 350, ELE 410, ELE 415, ELE 420, ELE 425, RLL 478, RLL 479, MHE 480A, SCE 480A, CIS 480A, ELE 470A, and ELE 470B
  • Candidates must complete a second major or minor, listed below

Second Major options:

Minor options:

Required Courses

Student Success Seminar- 5 QH

GEN 103Student Success Seminar

5

Communications- 15 QH

LAE 101English Composition I

5
LAE 102English Composition II

5
LAE 202Effective Speaking

5

Humanities- 5 QH

RLL 220Children’s Literature and the Literacy Learning Environment

5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may only use a course in Children’s Literature substantially equivalent to the National Louis University’s course.

Fine Arts- 5 QH

LAA 101Art Appreciation I

2
LAA 102Art Appreciation II

3
Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Introductory Art, Music, or Theater including any Fine Arts History or Appreciation. Studio Arts and Performance courses cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

Quantitative Reasoning- 10 QH

LAM 112Math Content for Teachers I

5
LAM 213Math Content for Teachers II

5

Physical and Life Sciences- 5 QH

One course must have a lab. 

LAN 110General Biology

5
or
LAN 150Survey of Physical Science

5

LAN 110 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Life Science in lieu of LAN 110.

LAN 150 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in General Chemistry, Chemistry and Society, General Physics, Physics and Society, or Earth Science (which covers at least four areas of physical science) in lieu of LAN 150.

Social Sciences- 10 QH

LAS 118Introduction to Politics and U.S. Government

5
and
LAS 203Survey of U.S. History

5

Notes: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Politics or Government and coursework in U.S. History.

Behavioral Science- 5 QH

LAP 100General Psychology

5

Additional General Education Requirements - 18 QH

LAN 110General Biology

5
or
LAN 150Survey of Physical Science

5
and
LAS 254Global Economics

5
SCE 205Scientific Inquiry for Teachers

4
MHE 205Mathematical Thinking for Elementary Teachers

4

LAN 110 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Life Science in lieu of LAN 110.

LAN 150 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in General Chemistry, Chemistry and Society, General Physics, Physics and Society, or Earth Science (which covers at least four areas of physical science) in lieu of LAN 150.

LAS 254 Notes: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may only transfer in coursework in World Geography and Economic (both courses must have been taken) or Introductory Economic Geography.

Undergraduate Core- 16 QH

ELE 210History and Philosophy of Education

3
EPS 300Educational Psychology: Theory in Classroom Practice

5
SPE 300Introduction to Special Education and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities

5
TIE 300Introduction to Technology in the Classroom

3

Foundational Requirements- 18 QH

ELE 300Practicum I Seminar and Field Experience

4
ELE 345Methods of Teaching Arts Education

3
ELE 347Methods of Teaching Health and Physical Education

3
ELE 350Theories and Practices of Curriculum and Assessment

3
CIL 300Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education

5

Professional Sequence - 38 QH

ELE 410Elementary Education Practicum II Seminar

3
ELE 415Elementary Education Practicum II Field Experience

2
ELE 420Elementary Education Practicum III Seminar

3
ELE 425Elementary Education Practicum III Field Experience

2
RLL 478Literacy Methods I

3
RLL 479Literacy Methods II

3
CIS 480AMethods of Teaching Social Studies

3
MHE 480AMethods of Teaching Mathematics

4
SCE 480AMethods of Teaching Science

3
ELE 470AElementary Education Student Teaching Field Experience

10
ELE 470BElementary Education Student Teaching Seminar

2

Second Major - 45 QH

See links to majors above

Minor - 30 QH

See links to minors above

Elementary 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 prior to ELE 300 Practicum I
  • Turn in a signed log of all the pre-clinical hours specified in their pre-clinical hours required for the program prior to the admission to NCE
  • Pass the Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Content Area Test (197-200) before student teaching 
  • Complete all of their licensure courses except for ELE 470A and ELE 470B (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 licensure coursework and departmental assessments