Our Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree program prepares you to work with children from birth through grade 2. In this program, you will do coursework aligned to meet the new Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IL-PTS).

Early Childhood Education, Competency-Based program is ideal for educators in community-based early care and education settings and is aligned to multiple in-demand industry credentials, licenses and endorsements. Gateways to Opportunity ECE Credential aligned A.A.S. Degrees will transfer into NLU in its entirety.

Through this course, students will gain an in-depth understanding of development and learning in children from prenatal to age three. This course focuses on the interrelationship between unique developmental trajectories and early relationships, nutrition, and safety on infant and toddler development, learning, mental health, and well-being.

Pass ECE 470A and ECE 470B: Early Childhood Education Student Teaching with a "B" or better. Have an overall GPA of 3.0. Achieve a satisfactory rating on all field assessments during student teaching demonstrating knowledge, skills and dispositions to teach the early childhood grades.

The Competency-Based B.A. in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is geared toward professionals without a bachelor’s degree but are already working in the educational field. The program is aligned to the Gateways to Opportunity Early Childhood Education Credential - Level 5.

ECE Competency Appraisal Rubric: Rubric to be used as a reference tool for completing the ECE Competency Appraisal in Sonia. Your Next Step is Within Reach. With over 135 years of excellence and 70,000 alumni, we provide an extraordinary education that’s within your reach.

Early Childhood Education, M.A.T. (Teacher Resident) is for candidates accepted into NLU’s teacher residency licensure partner program. Year One, residents are paired with a mentor teacher and earn their PEL. In Year Two, residents earn an additional endorsement in ESL/bilingual or special education.

Students enrolled in the Competency-Based Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program and Post Bac Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program are eligible to participate in the Credit by Portfolio and Credit by Credential programs for Major Course Credit.

The NLU Aim4Excellence Undergraduate College Credit courses are each five quarter hours and span two quarters (24 weeks). Participants taking these courses must abide by the course schedule. Please review this information BEFORE purchasing. Learn More.

Students accepted into the accelerated track will complete the ECE M.A.T. program in one academic year. Because candidates accepted to the accelerated track are experienced classroom teachers, with facility with the content, they will take three …