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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).  

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

PLO1. PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base. They use their understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.

PLO2. BUILDING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful early childhood education depends upon partnerships with children’s families and communities. They know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities. They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.

PLO3. OBSERVING, DOCUMENTING, AND ASSESSING TO SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the development of every child.

PLO4. USING DEVELOPMENTALLY EFFECTIVE APPROACHES - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.

PLO5. USING CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD MEANINGFUL CURRICULUM - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child. Candidates understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Candidates use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.

PLO6. BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.

PLO7. EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD EXPERIENCES - Field experiences and clinical practice are planned and sequenced so that candidates develop the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood – in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth – age 3, 3 through 5, 5 through 8 years) and in the variety of settings that offer early education (early school grades, child care centers and homes, Head Start programs).

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 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.

Required Courses

Program Requirements - 45 SH

CIL 531Cross Cultural Education

3
ECE 502Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers

2
ECE 503Teaching & Learning in Early Childhood Settings:Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Music & Movement

3
ECE 504Human Development: Infancy and Childhood

3
ECE 507STEM in Early Childhood

3
ECE 510Child, Family and Community

3
ECE 523Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education

3
ECE 570Internship in Early Childhood Education Preprimary Settings

3
ECE 580Internship in Early Childhood Education Primary Setting

3
ECE 590Student Teaching

5
ESR 504Assessment and Curriculum Differentiation in Early Childhood Settings

2
MHE 450Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers

3
RLL 535Foundations of Emergent Literacy

3
RLL 537Early Literacy Methods PreK-3

3
SPE 500Introduction 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 (206) 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