Post Baccalaureate Program in Early Childhood Education

The post baccalaureate non-degree program is designed around a one year (three-term) delivery and includes a full year of classroom experience in an approved early childhood setting, PreK- Grade 2. The coursework is detailed below:

Fifth Year: Post Bac Coursework for Professional Educator Licensure (PEL) in Early Childhood Education

Fifth Year Post Bac Coursework for ECP Graduates Seeking the PEL with an ECE endorsement

• EDU 400: Practicum II (5QH)
• RLL 479: Literacy Methods 2 (4QH)
• MHE 480A: Methods of Mathematics (5 QH)
• EDU 410: Practicum III (5QH)
• SCE 480A: Methods of Teaching Science (3QH)
• CIS 480A: Methods of Teaching Social Studies (3QH)
• ECE470: Student Teaching (10QH)

• The program requires 35 QH, including practicum, methods coursework and student teaching.
• All previous baccalaureate coursework must have earned grades of “C” or better as requirement for licensure in Illinois.
• All post baccalaureate coursework must have a GPA of 2.5 or better, with a grade of “C” or better in each course required for licensure in Illinois.
• All candidates must pass either the ACT plus writing or SAT test one prior to the start of the practicum 2 term.
• All candidates must pass the ECE Content Test Code 206 prior to beginning practicum 3.
• All candidates must pass the edTPA which is completed and submitted during the student teaching as a requirement for licensure in Illinois.
• All candidates must provide evidence (through professional disposition assessment) of emotional stability, adequate personality adjustment, competency, timeliness and responsibility for work in the field of education
• Candidates must submit to their advisor a report of a TB test taken within 90 days of field placement (practicum 2), results of criminal background check and acknowledgement of mandated reporter status form.

All applicants must meet NLU's general admission requirements as well as additional requirements specific to this program. Refer to the appropriate application checklist available online at nl.edu/applyonline.

• Graduation from NLU’s ECP program (BA ECP) requires transcript review to determine if additional coursework is needed to meet licensure requirements.
• Graduation from Kendall College’s Early Childhood Education program requires transcript review to determine if additional coursework is needed to meet licensure requirements.
• Graduation from another University program (non-licensure BA in early childhood education or related field) requires a transcript review to determine if additional coursework is needed to meet licensure requirements.
• Requires faculty review of Early Childhood professional coursework.
• The program requires General Education transcript review to be completed for all of the above candidates at the time of admission. Candidates must meet the following requirements before starting the program:
  • Science – coursework that addresses at least three of the following areas of the sciences; physical, life, and earth and space
  • Social Science- coursework that addresses at least four of the following areas of the social sciences: history, geography, civics and government, economics of Illinois, the United States and the world.