National College of Education—Undergraduate
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete the General Education Core Requirements prior to completing their degrees.
Preservice Teacher Education Undergraduate Degree Programs
Students planning to enter a teacher education certification program are initially admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences at NLU while completing coursework required for admission to National College of Education (NCE). To enter a teacher education program, students must be admitted to NCE. Candidates for teacher certification programs apply for admission to NCE prior to their senior years when they enroll in their professional education coursework.
Illinois Teacher Certification by Entitlement
The following NCE undergraduate certification programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education:
Individual courses or course sequences not included in the programs listed above may not be assumed to be approved by the ISBE for certification purposes. NCE assumes no responsibility for courses taken by students with the intent of obtaining certification unless the students are under the direct supervision of and meet regularly with an academic advisor at NLU and the courses are taken within a program approved by the ISBE. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she meets all certification and academic standards.
Illinois residents applying for a program leading to certification must pass the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) prior to admission to NCE. TAP scores are valid for 10 years prior to certification. Students must complete all of their coursework and apply for certification within 10 years of taking and passing this test. Those who wait to apply beyond the 10-year limit must retake the TAP. The TAP cannot be taken more than five times.
Successful completion of any of the certification programs enables students to apply for certification by entitlement in Illinois. The degree must be awarded prior to certification. Students should meet regularly with their advisors to make sure they meet their requirements in a timely manner.
Please note that the Early Childhood Practice, B.A. is a non-certification degree program.