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).
For more information on state licensure and certification information please visit NLU’s Public Disclosures page.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO 1. Candidates analyze young children’s characteristics and needs, multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, and be able to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
PLO 2. Candidates value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities; they are able to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
PLO 3. Candidates justify goals and benefits of child assessment, are able to design systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible and ethical way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence each child’s development and learning.
PLO 4. Candidates use positive relationships as the foundation for their work with young children; candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, tools, and technologies to positively influence each child’s development and learning.
PLO 5. Candidates have solid knowledge of academic disciplines, know the essential concepts, structure of content areas, and resources, and are able to apply this knowledge to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive and comprehensive learning outcomes for each child.
PLO 6. Candidates apply NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and professional standards to their early childhood education practice; identify and conduct themselves as professionals who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, make informed decisions, and advocate for sound educational practices and policies.
PLO 7. Candidates demonstrate leadership skills in the early childhood field to think strategically, build consensus, create change, effectively collaborate with and mentor others; demonstrate a high level of oral, written and technological communication skills with specialization for specific professional roles.
Program Details:
- Requires 45 SH for completion (43 SH for licensure)
- 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 (Chemistry or Physics), 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 531 | Cross Cultural Education | 3 |
| ECE 502 | Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers | 2 |
| ECE 503 | Teaching & Learning in Early Childhood Settings:Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Music & Movement | 3 |
| ECE 504 | Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 507 | STEM in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 510 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECE 522 | Foundations of Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| ECE 523 | Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE 526 | Methods of Developing Mathematical Mindsets in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 570 | Internship in Early Childhood Education Preprimary Settings | 3 |
| ECE 580 | Internship in Early Childhood Education Primary Setting | 3 |
| ECE 590 | Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| ESR 504 | Assessment and Curriculum Differentiation in Early Childhood Settings | 2 |
| RLP 537 | Early Literacy Methods, PreK-3 | 3 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: ECE 502 is required for the degree, not licensure. 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 ECE 580 Practicum II
- 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