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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. 

Admissions Requirements:

Admission to the Elementary Education program is a two step process. In the first step, students are admitted to National Louis University with a preliminary status. In the second step, students must be admitted with full status before beginning their Elementary Education Major courses.

Full Admission requirements for students beginning Elementary Education Professional Sequence courses:

  • Successful completion of GEN 103
  • Successful completion of all Education Concentration courses 
  • Successful completion of all pre-requisite general education courses as determined by the program
  • Achieve a GPA of 2.5 or better on all previous coursework, with grade of "C" or better in all courses

Program Details:

  • Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion
  • Requires a passing score on the Test of Basic Skills to be submitted one full academic term prior to Practicum II- Student Teaching linked experience
  • Elementary Education Major must be taken at NLU
  • A minimum grade of “C” in all courses in the program is required 
  • Requires completion of field hours built into courses across the entire program. Candidates will complete over 680 hours in the field work by the end of their program. 
  • Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school. 
  • Credit by examination is accepted for general education and elective credit as well as the exam for Educational Psychology required for UG Education Concentration 
  • Demonstrate a 2.5 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale by the junior year
  • Requires the following courses to be completed within 6 years of degree completion: EDU 290, EDU 300, EDU 350, RLL 478, RLL 479, CIS 480A, MHE 480A, SCE 480A, EDU 400, EDU 410, and ELE 470
  • Candidates may complete one of the minors listed below

Minor options:

Required Courses

Communications- 15 QH

ENG 101Beginning English Composition

5
ENG 201Intermediate English Composition

5
ENG 203Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate

5

Humanities- 5 QH

ENG 210Children’s Literature for Educators

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 NLU’s course at the discretion of the program.

Fine Arts- 5 QH

ART 101Basic Art Appreciation

5
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 the licensure requirement.

Quantitative Reasoning- 5 QH

MTH 105Math for Educators I

5

Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in mathematics content for teachers substantially equivalent to the NLU's course at the discretion of the program. 

Physical and Life Sciences- 10 QH

One course must have a lab. 

SCI 101Physical Science

5
SCI 102Survey of Biological Science with Lab

5

SCI 101 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Survey of Physical Science, General Chemistry, Chemistry and Society, General Physics, Physics and Society, or Earth Science, which covers at least four areas of physical science. 

SCI 102 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in general biology or other life science.

Social Sciences- 15 QH

HIS 102Introduction to Political Science

5
HIS 103History Across the Globe

5
HIS 212Think Global: Movements in US History and its Impact on Society and School

3 TO 5

HIS 102 and HIS 212 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 to fulfill the licensure program requirements.

HIS 103 Notes: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in global economics substantially equivalent to NLU's course at the discretion of the program.

Behavioral Science- 5 QH

PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

5

Notes: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in general psychology substantially equivalent to the NLU's course at the discretion of the program. 

Additional General Education Requirements - 20 QH

GEN 103Student Success Seminar

5
MTH 115Math for Educators II

5
EDU 290Professionalism and Ethical Engagement with Children, Families and the Community

5
STEM 205Inquiry and Thinking in STEM for Teachers I

5

STEM 205 and 210 Note: Students seeking Math or Science minors must complete both of these courses, otherwise students may choose one or the other to satisfy additional general education requirement. 

EDU 290 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use another course as long as the content covers Ethics and Child, Family, Community. 

Undergraduate Education Concentration - 20 QH

CIL 300Foundations of ESL and Bilingual Education

5
EDU 210Educational Philosophy- A Historical Account

5
PSY 200Applied Educational Psychology

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

5

Elementary Education Major - 50 QH

CIS 480AMethods of Teaching Social Studies

3
EDU 300Teacher Education Practicum I

5
EDU 350Teacher Preparation Curriculum and Assessment

5
EDU 400Teacher Education Practicum II

5
EDU 410Teacher Education Practicum III

5
ELE 470Elementary Education: Student Teaching

12
MHE 480AMethods of Teaching Mathematics

4
RLL 478Literacy Methods I

3
RLL 479Literacy Methods II

3
SCE 480AMethods of Teaching Science

3

Note: MHE 480A must be taken for 5QH. RLL 479 must be taken for 4QH. 

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 Undergraduate College of Education
  • Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative one full academic term prior to Practicum II- Student Teaching linked experience
  • 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 
  • Pass the Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Content Area Test (197-200) prior to Practicum III (a linked placement with student teaching)
  • Complete all of their licensure courses except for ELE 470 (Student Teaching)
  • Pass all methods courses at National Louis University with an average grade of C or better
  • Participate in program assessment
  • Provide evidence (through professional disposition assessment) of emotional stability, adequate personality adjustment, competency, timeliness and responsibility for work in the field of education