Early Childhood Education, M.A.T. (Teacher Resident Program)
The Early Childhood Education, M.A.T., Teacher Residency Program, leads to a master's degree and a Professional Educator License endorsed for self contained general education (Birth to Grade 2). Visit Licensure and Endorsements at NLU for more details.
The field residency model requires teacher candidate placement in a classroom during an entire academic year.
For more information on state licensure and certification information please visit NLU’s Public Disclosures page.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO 1. Candidates analyze young children’s characteristics and needs, multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, and be able to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
PLO 2. Candidates value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities; they are able to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
PLO 3. Candidates justify goals and benefits of child assessment, are able to design systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible and ethical way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence each child’s development and learning.
PLO 4. Candidates use positive relationships as the foundation for their work with young children; candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, tools, and technologies to positively influence each child’s development and learning.
PLO 5. Candidates have solid knowledge of academic disciplines, know the essential concepts, structure of content areas, and resources, and are able to apply this knowledge to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive and comprehensive learning outcomes for each child.
PLO 6. Candidates apply NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and professional standards to their early childhood education practice; identify and conduct themselves as professionals who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, make informed decisions, and advocate for sound educational practices and policies.
PLO 7. Candidates demonstrate leadership skills in the early childhood field to think strategically, build consensus, create change, effectively collaborate with and mentor others; demonstrate a high level of oral, written and technological communication skills with specialization for specific professional roles.
Program Details:
- Requires 35 SH for completion
- Requires practicum
- Requires student teaching
- Requires a minimum score of 220 on the Early Childhood Content Area Test (206) before ECE 588 Early Childhood Residency Seminar. See Residency Handbook for specific date for each year. The passing of the content test is not required for a degree completion but it's required for teaching license.
Required Courses
Program Requirements - 35 SH
| CIL 531 | Cross Cultural Education | 3 |
| or | |
| ECE 510 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| and | |
| ECE 503 | Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 504 | Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 507 | STEM in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 522 | Foundations of Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| ECE 523 | Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE 588 | Early Childhood Residency Seminar | 1 TO 11 |
| RLP 537 | Early Literacy Methods, PreK-3 | 3 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: ECE 588 must be taken for a total of 11 SH.