About the B.A. in Elementary Education
National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is for students who would like to earn their elementary education degree in order to attain an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) endorsed for self-contained general education (grades 1-6).
Choose our Teaching Degree in Elementary Education if you:
-
Want to teach 1st through 6th grade
-
Are looking for a well-established and highly regarded program
-
Would like to study with a group of students who will work together and support one another throughout the program
-
Need flexible learning options
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.
What You Will Learn
In any of our education degree programs, students are given a strong foundation of teaching skills to apply in the classroom from day one. You’ll graduate not only with presentation and lesson-planning skills, but also with an understanding of children’s learning differences and how to best reach them. In addition, faculty members are connected within the field, and the career services team is dedicated to matching students with employment opportunities.
Our faculty balances the practical aspects of work in schools with the importance of research, enabling you to increase your knowledge while participating in powerful learning experiences. Students in NLU teacher preparation programs bring the best educational practices into the classroom and make a difference in the lives of students.
- 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 elementary education
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.
Career Outlook
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.
