Master of Science in Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship

at National Louis University - Illinois Campus USA

National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences (ABS) is a degree completion program designed for busy working adults who want to complete their undergraduate degree for professional advancement or personal accomplishment. Our courses equip you with the tools to effectively work with, and lead, groups of people. This interdisciplinary program combines psychology, sociology, communications and cultural and organizational studies to provide a framework for understanding human behavior, motivation and leadership. The program requires a minimum of 90 quarter hours of previous college credit for acceptance.

Program Highlights

Flexible Schedule

• Choose between fully online and campus-based class formats, including weekend and evening class options. Fit your degree around your busy schedule.

Learning Community

• Engage with your peers as you stay with the same cohort of fellow students throughout the entire program. Build connections through frequent roundtable discussions that will last beyond graduation.

Customized Degree

• Shape your degree to match your career interests and goals. Two independent study projects throughout the program allow you to explore topics interesting to you through self-guided research. You can further enhance your ABS degree with a minor or concentration, such as our new Entrepreneurship concentration.

Career Readiness

• Advance in your current position or transition to a new career with our flexible ABS degree. Human Resources, Social Work, Psychology and Non-Profit Management are just a few of the job fields you’ll be prepared for.

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 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.

Our four-year Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program is perfect for students with solutions-driven minds and the desire to contribute to small- and medium-sized businesses. We’ll provide you with the necessary tools to solve challenging business problems, build your confidence as an entrepreneur so you can start your own business, and give you the skill set to thrive within a variety of business-related roles.

Program Highlights

Flexible Classes

• Choose from both online and campus-based class formats, as well as weekday, evening, and weekend options, allowing you to customize your degree to your schedule and preferences.

Experienced Faculty

• Learn from faculty who are thought leaders in the industry and bring years of experience in the business world to the classroom. Their hands-on teaching practices ensure you’ll become a well-rounded business professional.

Career Preparation

• Gain real-world business experience through a required internship during your senior year, which will give you a leg up in the job market. Use our new Start-Up Incubator to grow your ideas into viable businesses under the guidance of faculty.

Practical Curriculum

• Acquire the tools necessary to solve challenging business problems through our curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning. Apply business theories and concepts to case studies and real-world situations.

Customizable Experience

• Select from a variety of different concentrations and minors to enhance your marketability, including our new Entrepreneurship Minor, which allows you to explore the unique strategies and challenges inherent in starting your own business.

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.

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.

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.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degree program prepares you to support the needs of individuals, families, and communities. You’ll develop the capacity to understand and assess the functioning of individuals and the dynamics of families, groups, and communities and train to be a successful employee in organizations that provide support, service, and other general human services related activities for individuals, families, and communities in need. The B.A. in Human Services offers an array of internship experiences that will give you a taste of working in the field, and the B.A. in Human Services/Psychology combines human services coursework with classes in behavioral sciences to give you a stronger understanding of human behavior and motivation. This degree prepares you for entry-level positions at social service agencies, community health centers, health clinics, and more.

Program Highlights

Real-World Internship Experience

• Explore what it’s like to work in the human services field with over 300 hours of internship experience built into your coursework, allowing you to hone your career interests and gain work expeirience in a professional setting.

Expert Faculty

• Learn from professors who have real-world experience in the human services field and bring their hands-on teaching practices to the classroom.

Customizable Degree

• Enhance your degree with a variety of concentrations and minors, including our Entrepreneurship Concentration, which will give you the knowledge and skills you need to start your own business or organization after you graduate.

Flexible Classes

• Choose from online, campus-based, and blended class formats, including evening class options, which allow you to fit your degree around your busy schedule.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree program prepares you to work with children from birth through grade 2. In this program, you will do coursework aligned to meet the new Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IL-PTS). Upon successful completion of all required coursework, you will earn a Professional Educator License (PEL) endorsed for early childhood and self-contained general education (birth to 2nd grade).

Program Highlights

In-Demand Credentials

• Not only will you achieve your Professional Educator License on the way to your degree, but you’ll also have the option to obtain Special Education and ELL endorsements, highly sought-after credentials in the job market.

Hands-On Experience

• Build your knowledge and expertise with two consecutive terms of student teaching in a primary school setting (grades K-2) under the guidance of an experienced teacher, totaling over 680 hours of field experience.

A History of Excellence

• Join a program with 130 years of experience preparing teachers to make a difference and that has graduated more Golden Apple Award winners than any other school in Illinois.

Flexible Class Schedule

• Choose from online, campus-based, and blended class formats that allow you to structure your degree around the demands of your everyday life.

Expert Faculty

• Learn from real-world practitioners who currently work as teachers, administrators, and leaders in early childhood education. They come to the classroom with a wealth of knowledge, contacts, and resources to shape the next generation of teachers.

National Louis University’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program prepares you to work in fields addressing the effects of criminality on individuals, communities and society. The program offers two concentrations: Criminal Justice Administration and Forensic Social Justice. Throughout the program, you’ll become equipped to serve in law enforcement, courts or corrections systems, or to work in related private industries.

Program Highlights

Real-World Expertise

• Directed by a former homicide detective, our program features faculty members with years of experience in criminal justice. Our program was designed in consultation with leaders in law enforcement, so you’ll be exposed to the most current techniques and theories in the field.

Hands-On Learning

• Expand your learning beyond the classroom through case studies, class trips, guest lectures, and internships. Learn how to apply theories and knowledge learned in class to the field.

Flexible Class Options

• Choose between fully online or on-campus course formats and fit your degree around your busy schedule.

Well-Rounded Curriculum

• Engage in a program that combines psychology, sociology, public policy, and organizational management, preparing you for a broad set of career options.

Customizable Degree

• Specialize your degree with concentrations in Criminal Justice Administration (focusing on how criminal justice agencies operate) or Forensic Social Justice (focusing on the role of human services and intervention in criminal justice). You can also select from a variety of minors to further enhance your degree.