Applied Educational Studies, B.A.
The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Educational Studies provides undergraduate students with a solid foundation in education preparation with options to study social and behavioral studies, infant and toddler care/education, teaching methods, or psychology. Students who pursue this major are interested in working in education adjacent roles such as family specialist, home visitor or social service roles related to serving children and families. Students may also choose this major if they encounter difficulties completing the Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education majors (either due to testing or field experience expectations). Topics in this major include foundations of education, introduction to assessment techniques, culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy, topics in psychology and human services, and working with children and families under stress.
This program does NOT lead to a Professional Educator License. Students will not be eligible to be licensed to teach in settings that require a licensed teacher.
The program is conveniently offered in both fully online and blended formats.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
At the completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Educational Studies program, students will be able to:
PLO 1. Use current and emerging principles, theories, and knowledge of individual and family development, family functioning and the family system as a foundation to guide all aspects of their work with families.
PLO 2. Apply acquired knowledge of culture, family systems and human development to identify appropriate referral services across the lifespan as the core of their professional practice.
PLO 3. Apply intersection of state standards, policies, and procedures to support the physical health, mental health and safety of the individual and family through the construction of collaborative plans across systems.
PLO 4. Employ a strength-based approach to assessment of family strengths, assets, concerns, priorities, and goals through formal and informal observations and assessments in family service settings.
PLO 5. Use extensive knowledge of family service practices to share resources, coordinate services, and monitor service delivery using a broad range of technologies.
PLO 6. Demonstrate culturally, linguistically and individually appropriate interactions to ensure that family services are responsive to and respectful of each family, individuals, and community strengths.
PLO 7. Demonstrate ethical practices, ideologies, and continuous reflection to enhance professional development and advocacy skills on behalf of the family service and education profession.
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH including 70 QH of General Education for completion
- There are field hours built into courses across the entire program, taken each term, that candidates must complete. In addition, there is an internship that students must complete at the end of their program.
- Requires the following courses to be completed at NLU: AES 470, EAL 312, EDU 305, HSM 304, HSM 410, PSY 352, PSY 348, and SPE 435.
- A minimum grade of "C" or better in all General Education and elective courses is required
- A minimum grade of "C" or better is required in all undergraduate educator preparation core, major, concentration, and courses leading to a credential
- Demonstrate a 2.5 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale prior to PSY 352
- Credit by examination is accepted for elective credit
- Requires that all courses in the major, concentration and educator preparation core must be completed within 15 years of admission
- Candidates may choose one of the following concentrations:
Note: Students interested in applying for the Family Service Credential (FSC) through Gateways to Professional Opportunity or taking the exam for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) certification through the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), must complete PSY 450, HSM 306, and PSY 311 as elective credit. Additional testing, application and fees may apply.
Required Courses
Communications- 15 QH
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Humanities and Fine Arts- 15 QH
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any Humanities or Fine Arts elective including studio and performance classes.
Quantitative Reasoning- 5 QH
Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any coursework that is considered College level math.
Physical and Life Sciences - 10 QH
Once course must have a lab.
SCI 101 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any coursework in physical science.
SCI 102 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any coursework in life science.
Social and Behavioral Sciences- 15 QH
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
| HIS 212 | Think Global: Movements in US History and its Impact on Society and School | 5 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
HIS 102 and HIS 212 Notes: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two social science courses from different subjects.
PSY 101 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use another social and/or behavioral science course.
Additional General Education Requirements - 10 QH
Note: GEN 103 may be waived for transfer students who (1) enter NLU with an associate's degree or 90 or more quarter hours of transfer credit; and (2) have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in their previous undergraduate studies. For MTH 115, transfer or returning students may use any general education course to fulfill this requirement.
Educator Preparation Core - 40 QH
| EAL 300 | Educational Foundations for Learning English as an Additional Language | 5 |
| EAL 331 | Cross Cultural Studies for Working with English Language Learners | 5 |
| ECE 334 | Language and Early Literacy Development | 5 |
| EDU 200 | Applied Educational Psychology | 5 |
| EDU 210 | Educational Philosophy- A Historical Account | 5 |
| EDU 290 | Professionalism and Ethical Engagement with Children, Families and the Community | 5 |
| EDU 299 | Practicum I Child Development | 5 |
| EDU 305 | Equity in Education | 5 |
Applied Educational Studies Major - 55 QH
| STEM 300 | Inquiry and Thinking in STEM for Teachers | 5 |
| or | |
| ECE 324 | Integrated Preprimary Methodology in Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| and | |
| AES 470 | Internship in Applied Educational Studies | 5 |
| EAL 312 | Linguistic Considerations for Learning to Read in a New Language | 5 |
| EDU 350 | Teacher Preparation Curriculum and Assessment | 5 |
| HSM 101 | Introduction to Human Services | 5 |
| HSM 304 | Human Development and Human Services in a Multicultural Society | 5 |
| HSM 410 | Management and Leadership in Human Services | 5 |
| PSY 348 | Cross-Cultural Communication | 5 |
| PSY 352 | Children and Families under Stress | 5 |
| SPE 300 | Introduction to Special Education and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE 435 | Autism-Spectrum Disorders and Characteristics of Children With Disabilities | 5 |
Electives
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be satisfied by completing the concentrations listed above.