Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree

• How to strengthen your oral, written and presentation skills
• How to write and evaluate lesson plans
• How to assess and evaluate student performance
• How to adjust teaching methods to address student needs
• How to best use technology in the elementary curriculum

You can tailor your elementary education degree program to meet your interests by selecting a specific 30 quarter hour teaching concentration in one of the following areas: English, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Psychology, Science, or Sociology/Anthropology.

NLU has excellent placement rates for our education students, helping them find opportunities through the university's Office of Career Services.. NLU students are recognized by school principals as teachers who are comfortable in the classroom and work in collaboration with their colleagues.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, employment for teachers is projected to grow about 13 percent between 2008 and 2018. Many job openings will continue to result from the need to replace the large number of teachers expected to retire during this same period. Currently, our country's education schools don't graduate an adequate number of qualified teachers to meet the demand, and job prospects are best in areas including urban and rural school districts.

NLU has a long-standing reputation for its education and teacher training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Since 1886, we’ve trained thousands of educators and continue to graduate the majority of winners honored by Illinois’ two Golden Apple Foundations with one of the most prestigious teaching and leadership honors in the state. Our instructors bring both academic skills and practical experience to the classroom, offering the best in elementary education. As a result, we're well known for preparing educators who can meet the demands of today’s diverse classrooms and become leaders in the education profession.

Total quarter hours for the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree is 180. To receive an elementary education degree requires a minimum of 71 quarter hours or the equivalent in General Education coursework. This includes demonstration of competence in all general education areas, as well as INTASC Standards and Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The Elementary Teacher Education Program accepts the following types of equivalent work: transfer of courses with a "C" or higher from approved and accredited institutions, appropriate scores on advanced placement tests, and passing scores on CLEP and DANTES examinations. Contact your Academic Advisor for information.

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.