Certification (http://www.nl.edu/academics/nce/certification/)

Within the National College of Education, the Certification Office processes applications for students who have completed teacher preparation programs. Currently, National-Louis University offers several entitlement programs that are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for teacher certification in the state of Illinois.  If you would like more information about certification requirements by program, please click here.

 

Degrees

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than education. The M.A.T. emphasizes entrance requirements to the teaching profession and provides basic certification by entitlement in elementary, early childhood education, secondary education or special education  in the State of Illinois.

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The Master of Education degree is designed for certified candidates dedicated to children and the development of their learning. This degree serves the needs of professional teachers who seek advanced preparation for higher levels of professional competence in the classroom. The program is also available to other professionals in accordance with the admission criteria described in Student Admission Policies. Graduate students are assisted in designing an individual sequence of courses, or selecting a prescribed sequence of courses that will contribute to professional growth.

The following programs also admit qualified non-certified teachers:

• Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education Administration
• Educational Leadership
• Educational Psychology/School Psychology
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Middle Level Education
• Technology in Education

For further information contact the program coordinator of the specific Program.

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)

The Master of Science in Education degree is designed for qualified certified candidates who seek preparation for leadership positions in education. The degree is also available to other professionals in accordance with the admission criteria described in Student Admission Policies. The Master of Science in Education degree program is designed to provide sufficient depth in the field of specialization to enable students to pursue continued study at the post master’s level. Applicants may be required to meet specific program entrance requirements in addition to the general admission requirements of the graduate school.

The following programs also admit qualified noncertified teachers:

• Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education Administration
• Educational Leadership
• Educational Psychology/School Psychology
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Technology in Education

For further information contact the program coordinator of the specific Program.

Research Alternative

The standard thesis requirement for the Master of Science in Education degree may be met through the creation of an evaluation and development project in the form of an educational product that meets specific conditions. Students selecting this alternative to the standard thesis will register for and receive thesis credit.

Projects may take such forms as the creation of a media product for instruction, development and verification of an instructional sequence or module, development and verification of a measuring instrument, or other similar projects. The product must be of such a nature that it can be tested and evaluated. It should be able to serve as a basis for generalization and should be useful beyond the boundaries of a single situation or individual.

The final product will consist of the project material and written documentation. Written documentation will include significance of the work, its relationship to existing materials, validation of procedures, and the performance of consumer response data. Approval of the final product rests with the student’s committee. Deadlines for submission of the final copy are the same as deadlines for a thesis.

Students interested in this alternative should consult with their faculty advisors.

Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.)

The Certificate of Advanced Study will be awarded to students who, having completed a master’s degree in a specific field, choose to engage in continued graduate study that will add a new career dimension to their current professional competencies.

A minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the master’s degree is required to complete the Certificate of Advanced Study program. In some instances, depending upon the student’s goals and objectives, additional coursework may be required.

Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)

The Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) is a post-master, pre-doctoral degree designed to meet the needs of school leaders who have completed their master’s level work and who express need for advanced specialization in the areas of their master’s concentration. Experiences include coursework to provide knowledge about recent advances in the areas of concentration and field-based internships that guide application of the new knowledge in school settings. The Ed.S. degree is offered in Educational Leadership, Leadership in Curriculum and Teaching, Reading and Language, and School Psychology.

A minimum of approved 30 semester hours beyond the master’s degree is required to complete the Educational Specialist program. In some instances, depending upon the student’s goals and objectives, additional coursework may be required. A culminating experience that consolidates knowledge gained from coursework and internships will be an integral part of each program.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

The doctoral programs in National College of Education are designed to prepare leaders in the field of education. Faculty and students in the programs form a broad based community of learners, engaging in critique of knowledge and in the active examination of the interrelationship of theory, research, and practice. The doctoral programs built upon a tradition of excellence in teacher education stretching for over 100 years. Through advanced studies, the program extends National-Louis University and its National College of Education’s tradition of providing quality education for educational practitioners, academic scholars, and researchers. Consistent with the strengths and quality of its graduate faculty, NCE offers doctoral programs in five main areas:

• Curriculum and Social Inquiry
• Disability and Equity in Education
• Educational Leadership
• Educational Psychology
• • School Psychology Concentration
  • Human Learning and Development Concentration
• Reading and Language

Doctoral admission and academic policies are discussed in the doctoral section of the catalog (page 280).