Elementary Education, B.A. (Type 03 Certification)

The Elementary Education program is for future teachers who wish to teach grades K–9. Successful completion of the program enables students to apply for certification by entitlement in Illinois for the Type 03 certification and, with completion of additional requirements, the courses may be used toward a Middle Level endorsement.

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)
• Have completed all General Education and Foundational courses (except LIBR 200, Developmental Psychology and Science elective, which may be completed after admission) Students who receive a “D” or “F” in a Foundational course must petition the Undergraduate Admission and Retention Council 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
• Submit applications requesting Practicum II and Practicum III placements

This degree requires:

• Completion of a minimum of 180 QH
• 60 QH of coursework must be completed at NLU
• The Professional Education Sequence must be taken at NLU
• A minimum grade of “C” or better in all courses in the program
• Faculty review of each student during his or her Professional Sequence to determine continued eligibility in the Elementary Education program
• Students must pass the Elementary/Middle Grades Content Test (110) prior to student teaching
• Completion of a minimum of 100 clock hours of preclinical experience (practicum) is required prior to student teaching
• Student teaching
• Practicum
• Observations
• Completion of a second major or minor from the lists below

Second Major options:

• Art
• Biology
• English
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Psychology/Human Development
• Science

Minor options:

• Anthropology
• Art
• English
• Mathematics 
• Psychology
• Psychology/Human Development
• Science
• Sociology
• Sociology/Anthropology

Coursework completed as part of the second major or minor can, with other requirements, be applied toward a Middle Level Endorsement in that subject. For more details, visit Certifications and Endorsements at NLU.

Required Courses

Communications - 15 QH

LAE101	English Composition I
LAE102	English Composition II
LAT210	Effective Speaking

Humanities - 5 QH

LAE307

Literature for Children

Fine Arts - 4 QH

Choose two of the courses listed below:

LAA110	Introduction to Art
LAU110	Introduction to Music
LAT220	Introduction to Theatre

Note: One course in each of the areas of introductory art, introductory music or introductory drama may be accepted in place of the courses above.

Quantitative Reasoning/Math - 10 QH

LAM112	Math Content for Teachers I
LAM213	Math Content for Teachers II

Physical and Life Sciences - 10 QH

LAN110	General Biology
LAN150	Survey of Physical Science

Note: One course must have a lab

Social Sciences - 10 QH

LAS120	Introduction to American Politics
	or
LAS200	U.S. History and Culture: 1492-1828
	or
LAS201	U.S. History and Culture: 1828-1898
	or
LAS203	U.S. History and Culture: 1898-Present
	and
LAS300	Contemporary World Cultures
	or
LAS110	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
	or
LAS302	Asian History and Culture
	or
LAS303	Sub-Saharan African Cultures
	or
LAS304	Middle and South American Cultures

Notes: LAS 300 is preferred. Another U.S. History course may be accepted. Another nonwestern History course may be accepted. 

Behavioral Science - 5 QH

LAP100

General Psychology

Library - 2 QH

LIBR200

Digital Information Literacy

Additional General Education Requirements - 10 QH

LAN300	Ecology and Conservation
	or
LAN303	Botany
	or
LAN304	Human Physiology
	or
LAN306	Microbes--Global Perspectives
	or
LAN325	Human Genetics
	or
LAN422	Biological Evolution
	and
LAP201	Psychology of Early Childhood

Notes: Another Science elective may be accepted. Another Developmental Psychology course may be accepted in place of LAP 201.

Foundational Requirements, Undergraduate Core

ELE210	History and Philosophy of Education
EPS301	Educational Psychology for Teachers
SPE300	Survey of Exceptional Children and Adolescents
TIE300	Introduction to Technology in the Classroom

Remaining Foundational Requirements

ELE300	Elementary Education: Practicum I Seminar/Field Experience
ELE345	Methods of Teaching Arts Education
ELE347	Methods of Teaching Health and Physical Education

Professional Sequence - 38 QH

ELE410	Elementary Education: Practicum II
ELE415	Elementary Education Practicum II: Field Experience
ELE420	Elementary Education: Practicum III
ELE425	Elementary Education Practicum III: Field Experience
RLL478	Literacy Methods I: K-4
RLL479	Literacy Methods II: 5-9
CIS480A	Methods of Teaching Social Studies
MHE480A	Methods of Teaching Mathematics
SCE480A	Methods of Teaching Science
ELE470	Elementary Education: Student Teaching

Second Major - 45 QH

See links to majors above

Minor - 30 QH

See links to minors above

Non-specific Electives - 17 QH

Choose 17 QH of elective courses

Note: MLE 300 and MLE 302 are recommended

For more information about this program, visit http://www.nl.edu/t4/academics/bachelorsprograms/education/baelementaryeducation/.