Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education

at National Louis University - Illinois Campus USA

Our Bachelor of Arts in Applied Educational Studies degree program prepares you to work with children in schools or community-based settings without a Professional Educator's License. The program is offered both fully online and in blended formats.

This major is ideal for students that want to work with children and families in education adjacent roles such as ECE social service, community-based family support, and home visiting.

The program provides a solid foundation in education preparation with options to study family services, infant and toddler care and education or psychology. Coursework includes topics in management and leadership, working with children and families under stress, special education and English as an additional language in educational settings.

The goal of this program is to provide a pathway for students who want to work in education adjacent roles such as family specialist, child family life educator, home visitor or social service roles related to serving children and families.

Coursework completed in this program will lead to the State of Illinois’ Gateways Level 5 Family Specialist Credential (FSC) as well as prepare students to take the exam for the National Council on Family Relations’ (NCFR) Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) certification.

The following three specific social and behavior studies courses are needed, as elective credit, in order to achieve the FSC Level 5 and prepare for the CFLE exam: PSY 450, PSY 311 and HSM 306.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree program prepares you for the dynamic and competitive field of workplace communication. We'll prepare you to become a well-rounded and well-informed professional by creating real-world experiences in the classroom that allow you to exercise your creativity while meeting the demands of fast-paced businesses. You’ll enter the job market as a savvy verbal, written, and visual communicator with a portfolio of work to showcase to potential employers.

Program Highlights

Customizable Experience

• Shape your degree to meet your interests and professional goals by choosing from courses in digital, video, verbal, and written communication, as well as pairing your degree with a minor, such as our new Marketing minor.

Flexible Class Options

• Choose from multiple different modalities to fit your coursework around your schedule, including campus-based, blended, online, and a new accelerated online option with condensed six-week terms (normally 12 weeks).

Professional Portfolio

• Prepare yourself for the job market by composing an e-portfolio of your best work from the program and presenting it at a capstone symposium your senior year.

Real-World Expertise

• Learn from faculty who bring years of experience in professional communications to the classroom. Become skilled in contemporary communication practices that employers are looking for, like devising a communications plan.

National Louis University's Bachelor of Science in Management degree program prepares you for the next step in your career by giving you a foundation in business principles, as well as an understanding of management, leadership, marketing and organizational dynamics. This program is designed for students in all phases of their professional career and undergraduate studies, whether you have extensive prior coursework or are enrolling in college for the first time. We offer the B.S. in Management at both our Chicago and Florida locations and also online.

Program Highlights

Class Flexibility

• Choose from both on-campus and online course offerings to fit your degree around your busy schedule.

Quick Degree Completion

• Complete your degree quickly by transferring up to 60 quarter hours of technical credit from a previous institution and qualifying for up to an additional 60 quarter hours of Prior Learning Credit. Students with extensive previous coursework can graduate in as little as 18 months.

Career Advancement

• Advance at your current company or transition to a new career with the B.S. in Management. Our program gives you the tools to succeed in a variety of business-related roles.

Hands-On Learning

• Build your management skillset with our applications-oriented curriculum that includes case studies, team-based learning, presentations and simulations. Refine your abilities in real-world situations before you hit the job market.

Customizable Experience

• Select from a variety of minors and concentrations, such as our Entrepreneurship Concentration, to specialize your degree and hone your interests. Three out of the four available concentrations will give you credit toward an MBA degree, as well.

Kendall College’s B.A. in Culinary Management combines rigorous culinary training with business skills and general education studies on our world-class Chicago campus. Hone your craft at the No. 1 ranked culinary program in Chicago.

During the first two years of this four-year degree, you will learn fundamental and advanced cooking techniques through hands-on experience in kitchen classrooms and on-campus restaurants that will prepare you for a three-month internship in fine-dining kitchens and a variety of foodservice operations that meet your career goals.

In your junior and senior years, you will chose between three different career concentrations to propel you in the industry. You will also learn hospitality and business skills and explore strategies for planning, building, promoting, and running a food business. Our students leave with marketable skills in change management, leadership, financial management awareness and professional development that will assist in advancing to managerial positions across the industry.

With Kendall’s strong general education foundation, you’ll also gain math, computer, language, communication and problem-solving skills that are vital to success in any career.

*Time to completion may vary and is dependent on the student's course load and successful completion of the courses.

What You Will Learn

Our rigorous curriculum prepares you to excel as a chef, restaurant owner, food innovator and more. Learning in our commercial-grade kitchens from professional chefs, restauranteurs and pastry chefs, you will perfect your craft by learning foundational skills and advanced techniques from recipes around the world; while applying them in real world environments.

• Culinary Skills
• Business and Management
• Innovation and Theory
• Culinary Wellness and Sanitation

Kendall College’s Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management prepares you to excel in the business and craft of managing restaurants, resorts, hotels and events. Your training will cover all aspects of culinary and hospitality management and prepare you to lead in this fast-paced industry. Located in Chicago, a world-class culinary and tourist destination, you’ll enjoy hands-on learning experiences, the guidance of industry experts and premier work opportunities.

After completing core coursework in hospitality, you’ll specialize in one of the following concentrations:

• Hotel & Lodging Management
• Event Planning
• Food & Beverage Management
• Tourism

Like the industry itself, Kendall boasts a diverse international population. About 35% of this program’s students are international. And you have the opportunity to study abroad at a variety of resorts and restaurants here and across the globe.

Program Highlights

Internship Experience

• Go beyond the classroom with two internship opportunities built into the program, totaling over 500 hours of work experience. Work at a local business under the guidance of industry mentors and faculty and gain real-world skills and knowledge to apply to your future career.

Customizable Degree

• Shape your degree to match your career interests and goals with four different concentrations and a variety of electives to mix and match. Enhance your degree by adding a minor or a second concentration, such as our new Entrepreneurship Concentration.

Professional Development

• Prepare yourself for the job market by taking advantage of career workshops, internships and guest speakers, as well as a culminating Senior Integrative Project, wherein you collaborate with students from across the college on a complex project within multidisciplinary teams.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

• Apply your classroom knowledge to real-world situations by hosting and serving multi-course meals in Kendal College’s fine dining restaurant, the Dining Room. Event Management students will plan baquets, business meetings and parties on campus, and students will also get to organize events and serve guests in our elegant Wine Room.

A Complete Education

• Gain comprehensive skills and knowledge that will serve you no matter which career you pursue after graduation. Receive training in financial management, marketing, leadership, technology, communication and more.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship graduate program prepares you to create your own entrepreneurial business opportunities or innovate from within an organization as a corporate entrepreneur. Focusing on women’s entrepreneurship, you’ll learn human-centered approaches to innovation that will encourage you to develop a deep understanding of users, think broadly about problems, and recognize the value in the contributions of others. You’ll cultivate your own unique leadership style and learn how to overcome barriers facing women entrepreneurs today, such as earning funding from investors. Additionally, you’ll grow your business network in Chicago, a city with the highest concentration of women-owned startups and women-focused investors in the country.

• Do you want to develop a deep understanding of users, think broadly about problems, and recognize the value in the contributions of others?
• Do you want to learn design thinking and business acumen to hone creative thinking, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills and build a viable opportunity for today's emerging markets?
• Do you want to learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing women entrepreneurs and how to overcome these common barriers?
• Do you value one-on-one guidance from a business mentor and opportunities to grow your business network and relationships with funders?
• Are you looking for a flexible degree program schedule in an executive format, meeting one Saturday a month?

Our Bachelor of Science in Health Care Leadership degree program will harness your passion for helping others and introduce you to work in the health care field. Whether you’re currently working in health care and want to advance your career or are looking to enter the health care industry for the first time, the B.S. in Health Care Leadership can help your define your interests and reach your career goals. We offer this degree at our Chicago and Florida campus locations, as well as in an online format.

Program Highlights

Flexible Class Options

• Fit your degree around your busy schedule by choosing from campus-based and online offerings, designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals.

Career Advancement

• Set yourself up for a promotion to a leadership role in a hospital, clinic, or private practice by distinguishing yourself from other candidates with a Health Care Leadership degree. Graduates also go on to pursue advanced degrees, such as an MBA or Master’s in Health Administration.

Expert Faculty

• Learn from professors who bring real-world experience in the health care industry to the classroom and are active scholars in the field. You’ll be exposed to the most current best practices in health care administration.

Hands-On Learning

• Take advantage of guest lectures, field trips, and case studies to learn what it’s really like to work in health care administration. You’ll also be mentored by a student in the Master’s of Health Administration program who’s currently employed in the health care industry.

A Customized Experience

• Enhance your degree by adding a minor or concentration, including our new Long Term Care concentration. Consisting of four courses in either online or blended format, this concentration will prepare you for licensing by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards and set you up for an in-demand career as a Long Term Care Administrator.

National Louis University’s Bachelor of Arts in Infant-Toddler Studies program is designed for students who want a well-rounded knowledge base and skill set for working as leaders in the field of infant and toddler care and education, but who do not wish to be licensed teachers.

Coursework includes advanced topics such as trauma-informed practice, ECE mental health and specialized focus on infant/toddler early brain development and responsive caregiving. All courses lead to the ECE and Infant/Toddler Gateways Credentials, with additional options to obtain the Illinois Director Level II and the Illinois Early Intervention/Developmental Therapy (EI/DT) Credentials.

Choose Our Infant-Toddler Studies Bachelor's Degree if You:

• Want to work in child care, infant/toddler care, early childhood social service or other settings that do not require state licensure.
• Want to obtain up to three statewide, widely-recognized Gateways to Professional Opportunity credentials, including the ECE Level5, Infant Toddler Care Level 5 and the Family Child Care Level 5, and/or the Illinois Director Credential Level II.
• Are looking for a well-established and highly regarded program with a history of preparing excellent education professionals.
• Would like to study with a group of students who will work together and support one another throughout the program.

National Louis has a 130-year-old reputation for its teacher training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In addition, this program is aligned with the standards determined by the State of Illinois’ Professional Development System, the Gateways to Opportunity Credentialing system, which is, in effect, aligned with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards, to foster the ongoing professional development of teachers.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree program prepares you to use psychological concepts and theories, and provides a foundation for working in community or business settings, as well as furthering your study in a graduate program. You'll gain an understanding of human thought and behavior while honing marketable skills, such as strong communication, the ability to think critically, analyze information, and the ability to be objective and flexible in thinking. Career paths include Substance Abuse Counselor, Psychiatric Technician, and Human Resources Advisor.

Program Highlights

A Foundation in Theory and Practice

• Learn about the workings of the human mind and human behavior with our innovative program that blends psychological theory with hands-on practice, preparing you for a broad range of careers and future graduate study.

Classes at Your Convenience

• Choose from both campus-based and online course offerings, as well as a variety of minors to compliment your marketability once you graduate.

Real-World Training

• Learn from expert faculty and industry professionals who have years of experience in the field. Get hands-on experience during your psychology internship, which will give you a leg-up when you enter the job market.

An Edge in the Business World

• Gain an understanding of interpersonal relationships and motivation, which you can use to effectively work with, or manage, peers and clients in the business world.

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.