Early Childhood Education - Competency-Based, B.A.
The B.A. Early Childhood Education, Competency-Based program is ideal for current teachers in community-based early care and education settings and is aligned to multiple in-demand industry credentials, licenses and endorsements. The A.A.S. Degree in ECE will transfer into NLU in its entirety. Student work experience and prior knowledge obtained through previous coursework and experience can be used for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). The Child Development Associate (CDA), for example, is aligned to the two Level 2 courses within the major. Students may choose to use this Credential for CPL. Proof of Gateways Credential is required at the time of admission (minimally, the ECE Level 2 is required), including others aside from the ECE Credential, such as the Infant-Toddler and/or Illinois Director Credentials. These credentials will be considered equivalent to the corresponding coursework for that particular level, allowing the students to only take coursework that leads to a higher credential.
Program Learning Outcomes
The Program Learning Outcomes for the traditional Competency-Based B.A. in Early Childhood Education are as follows:
PLO 1. Use knowledge of self, students, curriculum content, and effective instruction to develop appropriate learning outcomes and design activities to meet diverse learner needs including students with special needs and diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds;
PLO 2. Develop a variety of assessments and explain how they will use them to anticipate varied ways students might perform, make accommodations, monitor student progress, and adjust and evaluate instruction;
PLO 3. Demonstrate respectful and responsive interactions with students that motivate, support, and advance students’ development and learning;
PLO 4. Establish a culture of appropriately high expectations for student learning and behavior and design a classroom environment that supports all students to be successful;
PLO 5. Persist in their efforts to engage all students in content learning through effective instructional discourse, use of appropriate technologies, ongoing performance monitoring, flexibility, and adaptability to support students’ behavior and advance their learning;
PLO 6. Use knowledge of human development and learning to interpret a variety of assessments to inform their instruction and provide meaningful feedback;
PLO 7. Use feedback from a variety of stakeholders to develop meaningful professional learning goals and identify appropriate professional activities to continuously improve their practice; and
PLO 8. Demonstrate the capacity to collaborate effectively and ethically with colleagues, families, and community members to promote positive and inclusive learning for all students.
In addition to the Undergraduate Admission requirements, students must satisfy the following:
- Achieved at least a Level 2 Gateways to Opportunity ECE Credential (documentation required prior to admission);
- Complete a Place Based Site Approval form as a part of their admissions process. This form will verify that they can complete their performance-based field work at their place of employment (for those working in an ECE setting). Students who cannot complete this form because they are not working in the field, will submit a Competency-Based ECE Site Waiver form and will be referred to an Undergraduate Field Experience Specialist to help them secure a long term field placement (with the support of the NLU Career Bridge).
Program Details:
- Requires a total of 180 QH, including the 60 QH of General Education
- All general education, the Competency-Based ECE major, and Learning Journey (minors and concentrations) coursework require a grade of C or better but students who earn their credit through the Competency-Based ECE program must have earned a grade of B or better in order to receive credit for the course (equivalent to score of “competent” or higher for each summative assessment within a course)
- Students in this major who pursue the Competency-Based ECE Licensure Learning Journey (minor) must earn an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 prior to graduation. Students who pursue other options, will need to have a 2.5 GPA prior to graduation.
- Students that are admitted into this program who have a 90 QH Associate’s Degree with an ECE Level4 Gateways to Opportunity Credential are able to transfer in their entire degree, placing them at junior status in this program
- Candidates must successfully complete all of the ECE Competency-Based major coursework, that includes all courses leading to the Gateways to Opportunity ECE Level 5 Credential
- The learning journeys available in the Competency-Based ECE program are: ECE Licensure Minor, ESL/Bilingual Education Minor, Infant and Toddler Studies Minor, Early Childhood Administration Concentration, and Special Education Concentration. A minor or concentration is not required for graduation but 180 QH (additional credit can be obtained through elective credit) must be completed to earn the degree. If a student elects to not have a minor/concentration but requires additional credit for the full 180 QH degree, elective credit may be used.
- Students in this major are eligible to earn the following credentials:
- Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 ECE credential (with completion of the Competency-Based ECE major);
- Gateways to Opportunity Level 2, 3, 4 or 5 Infant/Toddler Credential (ITC) (with completion of the Infant -Toddler Studies Competency-Based Learning Journey);
- State of Illinois Early Intervention/Developmental Therapy Credential (with the completion of the Infant-Toddler Studies Competency-Based Learning Journey);
- Gateways to Opportunity Level 1 or 2 Illinois Director Credential (IDC) (with completion of Early Care and Education Administration Competency-Based Learning Journey).
- Students in this major are eligible to earn the following endorsements/approvals:
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) endorsement (with the completion of the Competency-Based ECE Licensure Learning Journey, and passage of the applicable, required, Illinois State Board of Education {ISBE} assessment);
- ESL/Bilingual Education endorsement (with the completion of the ECE Licensure and ESL/Bilingual Education Competency-Based Learning Journeys, and passage of the applicable ISBE required language proficiency exam {required only for learners seeking the Bilingual Endorsement});
- Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) endorsement (with the completion of the ECE Licensure and Special Education Competency-Based Learning Journeys and passage of the applicable ISBE required assessment);
- ECE Special Education Approval (with the completion of the ECE Licensure and Special Education Competency-Based Learning Journeys).
- The following courses must be taken at NLU:
- EAL 400CB CB Educational Foundations for Learning English as an Additional Language
- ECE 327CB CB Integrated Preprimary Methodology in Early Childhood Education
- ECE 400CB CB Infant/Toddler Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Practice
- EDU 420CB CB Practicum II: Professional Practices and Classroom Contexts
- EDU 477CB CB Literacy Teaching Methods
- EDU 481CB CB Methods of Teaching Science
- EDU 482CB CB Methods of Teaching Literacy
- EDU 480CB CB Methods of Teaching Math
- EDU 353CB CB Teacher Preparation Curriculum & Assessment (K-2)
- ECE 470CB CB Student Teaching
- ECE 400CB CB Infant/Toddler Mental Health
- Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) may be accepted for EDU 200CB and EDU 210CB for students holding the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. CPL is available through Portfolio for EDU 420CB and ECE 470CB.
- Content for the Competency-Based ECE major and Infant-Toddler Competency-Based Learning Journey (minor) through the Gateways to Opportunity Level 4 may be transferred in. Level 5 coursework must be taken at NLU.
Required Courses
General Education Requirements
Communications
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines: academic writing, oral communications, and written communications.
Humanities and Fine Arts
| HIS 103 | History Across the Globe | 5 |
| ART 105 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the following disciplines:
- Humanities: foreign language, history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, interdisciplinary humanities and fine arts, interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences
- Fine Arts: visual arts (including art history, art appreciation, and studio arts, such as drawing, painting, digital art, or film), film and cinema studies, and performing arts (including music appreciation, music theory, and music performance, theatre appreciation and performance, and dance)
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
| MTH 101 | Introduction to Mathematical Concepts | 5 |
| SCI 101 | Physical Science | 5 |
| SCI 105 | Environmental Biology with Lab | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use courses in the following three general education disciplines:
- Mathematics: college-level and not developmental in nature
- Natural Sciences: coursework which covers any of these three areas of science; Life, Physical (Chemistry or Physics), and Earth and Space
- Mathematics or Natural Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Additional General Education Requirements
Note: Students may choose any two courses form the four General Education Fields of Knowledge listed above. Coursework in any general education category or other courses consistent with integrated general education competencies can be used to satisfy the additional general education requirements.
Early Childhood Education Competency-Based Major- 50 QH
| EAL 400CB | CB Educational Foundations for Learning English as an Additional Language | 5 |
| ECE 327CB | CB Integrated Preprimary Methodology in Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| EDU 200CB | CB Applied Educational Psychology | 5 |
| EDU 210CB | CB Educational Philosophy: A Historical Approach | 5 |
| EDU 290CB | CB Professionalism and Ethical Engagement with Children, Families and the Community | 5 |
| EDU 299CB | CB Child Development | 5 |
| EDU 305CB | CB Equity in Education | 5 |
| EDU 352CB | Teacher Preparation Curriculum and Assessment (B-5) | |
| EDU 420CB | CB Practicum: Professional Practices and Classroom Contexts | 5 |
| SPE 401CB | CB Introduction to Special Education and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 5 |
Note: ECE 327CB and 10 additional hours of upper-level major coursework must be completed at NLU. The remaining ECE major course requirements may be completed through equivalent transfer credit or, depending on the student's Gateway to Opportunity Level credential attained, met per demonstrated proficiency (see below for details). Credit hours for courses waived based on the student proficiency will be satisfied with the program electives from any education discipline to meet the number of hours required for the major.
EDU 200CB and 210CB requirement can be met with the Gateways Level 2 ECE Credential
EDU 290CB and 305CB requirement can be met with the Gateways Level 3 ECE Credential
EDU 299CB and 352CB requirement can be met with the Gateways Level 4 ECE Credential
ECE Competency-Based Minors
ECE Licensure Learning Journey Minor - 35 QH
| ECE 470CB | CB Early Childhood Education Student Teaching | 10 |
| EDU 353CB | CB Teacher Preparation Curriculum & Assessment (K-2) | 5 |
| EDU 477CB | CB Literacy Teaching Methods | 5 |
| EDU 480CB | CB Methods of Teaching Math | 5 |
| EDU 481CB | CB Methods of Teaching Science | 5 |
| EDU 482CB | CB Methods of Teaching Social Studies | 5 |
Note: These are a Gateway to Opportunity Level 5 courses that must be completed at NLU. These courses contain the competencies required for an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with an ECE endorsement.
ESL/Bilingual Education Learning Journey Minor - 25 QH
| EAL 405CB | CB Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 5 |
| EAL 406CB | CB Methods and Materials for Teaching Bilingual Education | 5 |
| EAL 410CB | CB Assessment of ESL and Bilingual Education Students | 5 |
| EAL 412CB | CB Reading in a New Language: Linguistic Considerations | 5 |
| EAL 431CB | CB Cross Cultural Education | 5 |
Note: These courses contain the competencies required for the ESL and/or Bilingual Endorsements in the state of Illinois (NOTE: Students must attain the Professional Educator License in order to receive these Endorsements). These may be transferred from a recognized accredited institution.
Infant Toddler Studies Learning Journey Minor - 30 QH
| ECE 301CB | CB Understanding Infants and Toddlers | 5 |
| ECE 302CB | CB Health, Safety and Wellness in Infant/Toddler Environments | 5 |
| ECE 321CB | CB Curriculum and Assessment in Infant/Toddler Settings | 5 |
| ECE 341CB | CB Early Intervention & Screening for Infants & Toddlers | 5 |
| ECE 324CB | CB Culturally Responsive Infant/ Toddler Settings | 5 |
| ECE 400CB | CB Infant/Toddler Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Practice | 5 |
Note: These courses contain the competencies required for the Gateways to Opportunity Levels 2 – 5 Infant/Toddler Credential. The following courses in this minor may be accepted in transfer or depending on the student's Gateway to Opportunity Level credential, accepted based on the demonstrated proficiency. Students that have the Level 2 Credential do not have to complete:
ECE 301CB and
ECE 302CB; Level 3:
ECE 321CB and
ECE 341CB; and Level 4:
ECE 342CB.
ECE 400CB must be taken at NLU.
ECE Competency-Based Concentrations
ECE Administration Learning Journey Concentration - 20 QH
| ECE 303CB | CB The Early Care & Education Administrator as Advocate | 5 |
| ECE 311CB | CB Administration I: Leadership Strategies and Staff Development | 5 |
| ECE 312CB | CB Administration II: Managing Center Operations and Finance | 5 |
| ECE 313CB | CB Administration III: Implementing and Evaluating the Program | 5 |
Note: These are Gateways to Opportunity Level 1, 2, or 3 (depending upon the student’s previous work experience) Credential courses.
ECE 311CB,
ECE 312CB, and
ECE 313CB are taken through the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Development. These may also be transferred from a recognized accredited institution, but the student will not be eligible for the AIM4Excellence National Director Credential (administered by the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership).
Special Education Learning Journey Concentration 20 QH
| SPE 437CB | CB Methods for Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE 438CB | CB Methods for Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities | 5 |
| SPE 439CB | CB Assessment Practices in Special Education | 5 |
| SPE 440CB | CB Equity, Advocacy, and Collaboration in Special Education | 5 |
Note: These courses contain the competencies required for the Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) Endorsement and the ECE Special Education Approval in the state of Illinois. (NOTE: Students must attain the Professional Educator License in order to receive these Endorsements/Approvals).These courses may be transferred from a recognized accredited institution.