Infant-Toddler Studies, B.A.
The undergraduate major in Infant-Toddler Studies provides undergraduate students with a solid foundation in early childhood development and significant concepts necessary for supporting healthy infant and toddler growth, learning, and development from prenatal to age three. Students who pursue this major are interested in working in a variety of settings that support best practices for children and families prenatal to age three. Topics in this major include best practices in curriculum, early intervention, assessment, culturally relevant pedagogy, infant mental health, trauma-informed practice, and other relevant topics necessary for supporting infants, toddlers, and families across a wide spectrum of programs, communities, and funding streams.
Candidates who complete the program will be eligible to earn a credential in Early Intervention in Illinois as well as the currently entitled Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 Early Childhood Education and Infant/Toddler credentials.
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.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
At the completion of B.A. in Infant-Toddler Studies, students will be able to:
PLO-1 Demonstrate competency in using knowledge of learners, content and pedagogical knowledge of the critical years of birth to five to inform their planning in the learning environment;
PLO-2 Demonstrate competency in creating healthy and safe active learning environments that support individual and collaborative learning, encourage positive social interactions and identity for children ages birth to five;
PLO-3 Demonstrate competency in using a variety of instructional strategies, connect concepts and different perspectives to build on children’s (birth to five) critical stages of development;
PLO-4 Demonstrate competency in observing and assessing children ages birth to five with a focus on using data to inform children’s learning and their own teaching to inform future planning and possible early intervention strategies;
PLO-5 Demonstrate competency in modifying curriculum and instruction based on the needs of children to provide culturally relevant and responsive developmentally appropriate curricula and programming for children ages birth to five;
PLO-6 Demonstrate competency in collaborating with diverse families, using knowledge and understanding of individual contexts to plan for and support the development and learning for children ages birth to five;
PLO-7 Demonstrate competency in reflective practice, professionalism, leadership and advocacy to further advance the field of early care and education; and
PLO-8 Demonstrate competency in promoting healthy social and emotional development and mental wellness from prenatal stages of development through three years of age.
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. They are mapped to the following Credentials:
- Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 ECE Credential.
- Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 Infant-Toddler Credential.
- Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Level 2 Director’s Credential (for those completing the Early Care and Education Administration concentration).
- Illinois Department of Human Services’ Early Intervention Specialist Developmental Therapist Credential.
Note: The Infant-Toddler Studies major includes all content and field hours necessary for each of these credentials (except for the Director’s Credential, which requires the Early Care and Education Administration concentration coursework). Candidates will need to pursue each of these credentials independently and may need to apply and pay a fee for each of them separate from their degree program.
- Requires completion of 35 QH of the ITS major to be completed at NLU: ECE 303, ECE 321, ECE 341, ECE 342, ECE 400, and ECE 480
- A minimum grade of "C" or better in all General Education and elective courses is required
- A minimum grade of “C” or better in all courses in the Educator Preparation Core is required including ITS major and chosen concentration
- A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required prior to taking ECE 400
- 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 graduation
- Candidates may choose one of the following concentrations:
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
ART 101 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use other coursework in Introductory Art, Music, or Theater including any Fine Arts History or Appreciation courses as well as studio arts and performance.
EDU 220 Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may only use another English or Literature course as long as children's literature is being covered.
HIS 103 Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use another Humanities or Fine Arts course.
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 mathematics.
Physical and Life Sciences- 10 QH
One 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 105 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 |
Note: Students transferring coursework from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three Social and/or Behavioral Science courses of which at least two must be from different content areas.
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 |
Infant -Toddler Studies Major - 55 QH
| ECE 301 | Understanding Infants & Toddlers | 5 |
| ECE 302 | Health, Safety and Wellness in Infant/Toddler Environments | 5 |
| ECE 303 | Issues, Trends and Leadership in Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| ECE 321 | Curriculum and Assessment, Infant/Toddler Settings | 5 |
| ECE 324 | Integrated Preprimary Methodology in Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| ECE 341 | Early Intervention and Screening for Infants & Toddlers | 5 |
| ECE 342 | Culturally Responsive Infant/Toddler Settings | 5 |
| ECE 400 | Infant/Toddler Mental Health and Trauma Informed Practice | 5 |
| ECE 480 | Internship in Infant/Toddler Studies | 10 |
| EDU 350 | Teacher Preparation Curriculum and Assessment | 5 |
Concentration- 15 QH
See links to concentrations above