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Master of Arts in Teaching/ Master in Education in Early Childhood Education

National Louis University's Early Childhood Education programs provide comprehensive courses of study in core child development knowledge, classroom practices, and foundational philosophies of teaching and learning for typical and atypical children from birth to age eight. Students may select among two degree programs: the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Early Childhood Education program or the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education program.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) graduate program leads to initial State of Illinois Type 04 certification. The M.A.T. is designed for students who have a baccalaureate degree and seek initial certification.

The M.Ed. program is designed for students who have a baccalaureate degree and do not seek additional certification. Students who choose the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education program typically seek a graduate program that will enhance competence and deepen their understanding of the practice of early childhood education, within an already existing teaching career.

Consider getting your Early Childhood Education degree at National Louis University (NLU) if you:

Have a bachelor's degree in another field but want to receive certification to become an early childhood teacher
Want to learn in a highly regarded program with an innovative approach to teacher education
Want the flexibility to attend full-or part-time, on-campus or online

Why NLU for Early Childhood Education

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 Illinois' Golden Apple Award winners—one of the most prestigious teacher honors in the state.

NLU was at the forefront of the kindergarten movement in 1886, preparing some of the first early childhood teachers to be employed in the Chicago area. Now more than a century later, our National College of Education continues to design and deliver the best in teacher education programs including the Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education. Class size is small and faculty is experienced and well known in the field.

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education is offered as a 15-18 month full-time program or can be completed part-time in 24-27 months. Students can take courses as a traditional student or join a cohort and follow a guaranteed course sequence. The program is also offered in a blended format so students may take some classes online and some on-campus.

What You Will Learn

Principles of child development that affect teaching and learning
Different instructional and evaluative methods and their historical and theoretical foundations
Methods for teaching content and skills in a supportive learning environment
How to incorporate technology into practice
Techniques for developing curriculum and lesson plans
An appreciation of diverse needs and perspectives in working with children and families

Students will graduate with 100 hours of pre-clinical experiences in infant/toddler, pre-primary and primary school settings during the program.

Career Outlook

Wage and salary jobs in child care services are projected to grow about 15 percent over the 2008-18 period.¹ Currently there are not enough elementary school teachers to meet the country's demand—particularly in urban school districts.²

The demand for childcare centers and the professionals to staff them will increase as states implement preschool programs for 3 and 4 year-old children. The number of subsidies for children from low-income families attending child care programs is rising. Additionally, there are a growing number of employers funding and operating child care centers for their employees. This increase in children being served through early child care programs will result in excellent opportunities for teachers within this industry.¹

Clinical Experiences

Students in the M.A.T program are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of pre-clinical experience before student teaching. Fifty hours of observation are required in a primary grade setting, and 25 hours each are required in pre-primary and infant-toddler settings. Students complete 24 of their pre-clinical hours in conjunction with course number ECE580 under the guidance of a university supervisor. Additional hours are met through other coursework and field experiences.