Early Childhood Education, M.A.T. (Traditional Program)
This program is designed for those who do not have a Professional Educator License. It provides candidates with a comprehensive background for working with younger children in a variety of settings. Completion of this degree program leads to licensure by entitlement for a Professional Educator License endorsed for early childhood and self-contained general education (age 0 to grade 2).
In addition to National College of Education Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
Program Details:
- Requires 45 SH for completion
- Candidates must complete General Education Requirements before the end of the second term or before the start of the third term:
- Science – coursework covering at least three of the following areas: physical, life science, and earth and space
- Social Sciences – coursework covering at least four of the following areas: history, geography, civics and government, economics of Illinois, US and the world
- Requires student teaching. Student teachers spend a minimum of 10- 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.
Required Courses
Program Requirements - 45 SH
| CIL 531 | Cross Cultural Education | 3 |
| ECE 502 | Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers | 2 TO 3 |
| ECE 503 | Teaching & Learning in Early Childhood Settings:Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Music & Movement | 3 |
| ECE 504 | Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 507 | Teaching and Learning in ECE Settings: Science and Math | 3 |
| ECE 510 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECE 523 | Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE 570 | Internship in Early Childhood Education Preprimary Settings | 3 |
| ECE 580 | Internship in Early Childhood Education Primary Setting | 3 |
| ECE 590 | Student Teaching | 5 |
| ESR 504 | Assessment and Curriculum Differentiation in Early Childhood Settings | 2 TO 3 |
| MHE 450 | Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers | 3 |
| RLL 535 | Foundations of Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| RLL 537 | Early Literacy Methods PreK-3 | 3 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: ECE 502 and ESR 504 must be taken for 2 SH. ECE 590 has specific enrollment requirements. See below for details.
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 graduate program of 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 licensure courses except for ECE 590 (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