Bachelor of Arts, Major in Early Childhood Education

at Northeastern Illinois University USA

The Department of Counselor Education offers a 60 credit-hour program leading to the Master of Arts in School Counseling for licensed teachers. Additional coursework is required for students without a teacher license.  The School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Find out more information at Counselor Education accreditation, licensures, and credentialing.

Counselor Education also offers a Non-Degree School Counselor Endorsement leading to licensure as a school counselor for individuals with an advanced degree in counseling or related fields.

The Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT) Department, as suggested by its name, includes three distinct, creative and demanding disciplines that are linked with their foundation in the study of communication in a variety of contexts. Students majoring in these areas will learn to become more proficient in the theory and practice of communication, media and theatre arts, while developing an appreciation of differing values and perceptions of the world in which they live.

The Art Education program provides a foundation of studio art and art history for students pursuing a career in art education.
Completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Art Education will satisfy all standards for teacher licensure as required by the Illinois State Board of Education. Northeastern Illinois University has not made a determination as to whether this education degree program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in any of the other 54 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Specific requirements for licensure or certification in states other than Illinois vary from state-to-state. In some cases, you may need to take additional coursework or exams to meet individual state requirements and/or you may need to complete background checks.

The Master’s Degree in Computer Science has three concentrations: one for individuals who want to enter careers in industry, one for individuals who want to pursue a Ph.D., and one for high school teachers who want to obtain an endorsement to teach computer science. The program is designed especially for the convenience of the part-time student; courses are scheduled in the evening and on Saturday.

The Music Department at NEIU offers a Master of Arts in Music degree in Applied Pedagogy. Pedagogy is defined as the art of teaching. This degree prepares students who already have a Bachelor's degree in music for successful 1) college level teaching, 2) in-service elementary and secondary public or private school teaching, 3) or for continuing into doctoral degree work.

The Music Department at Northeastern offers a Master of Arts in Applied Music Pedagogy. Pedagogy is defined as the art of teaching. This degree prepares students who already have a bachelor's degree in music for successful:

• College-level teaching;
• In-service elementary and secondary public or private school teaching; or
• Continuation into doctoral degree work.

Northeastern is one of the only universities in the region to offer a degree in pedagogy.

Political Science is central to an understanding of all basic social issues and is one of the most popular liberal arts majors. A political science education gives people the ability to understand the workings of politics and the way it impacts the lives of all of us. A major in this field helps students develop skills of understanding and analysis, and builds competence in oral and written expression. Graduates go on to careers in law, business, journalism, teaching, and government.

The M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science is designed as a multidisciplinary study of human movement and performance across the lifespan. Through classroom, laboratory, and field based experiences, our graduates learn about human performance and disease prevention from childhood to older adulthood. Students use skills to identify, analyze and explain physiological, structural and functional dynamics that influence fitness, health and performance in the sport and exercise settings. Students learn about the integrations of human physiology, movement, and cognition through both clinical and applied coursework.

Students can elect one of two concentrations in the program:

• Exercise Science
• Physical Education, Sport and Recreation

Environmental Studies is an applied major designed to give students knowledge of and the ability to develop solutions to environmental problems. Students can focus on one of two areas:

• Environmental policy and planning, or
• Environmental interpretation / education.

Students in option 1 investigate the causes, results, and solutions to environmental problems from a policy perspective. They study regulations influencing environmental protection and degradation; they also gain practical skills useful in the field.

Students in option 2 specialize in community interaction and will qualify for careers as naturalists with parks and other outdoor agencies and as environmental educators in schools and non-profit organizations.

The program culminates with an internship experience in which the student applies knowledge, gains practical experience; it often constitutes a first job in an environmental career. To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, students must complete 24 credit hours of core requirements and 18 credit hours of approved electives. Up to nine hours of credit from other relevant fields may be accepted toward the major, with advisor approval.

Anthropology uniquely incorporates both cultural and biological perspectives in its study of the diversity of past and present humans, and the ecology and behavior of our closest primate relatives. With a strong commitment to teaching excellence, the Department of Anthropology offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts. The Anthropology Department provides a challenging curriculum in the sub-disciplines of cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology that encourages field-based learning, data-oriented research, and a solid grounding in the theoretical constructs and ethics of the discipline. Students taking courses in Anthropology develop a multifaceted understanding of human diversity steeped in time, multicultural ethnographic comparisons, and the science of our physical form. This enriching perspective is not only well suited for subsequent graduate studies and professional careers in anthropology, but also for fostering the acceptance of others and negotiating the many facets of our modern global society.

We have developed many individualized and field learning opportunities for our majors that take advantage of the many resources in Chicago and beyond. These include the Field Museum Internship, Archaeological Field School, Lincoln Park Zoo Research, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian Internship, Fieldwork in Anthropology, and Independent Study in Anthropology. These experiences allow students to apply their anthropological knowledge and perspective outside of the classroom and learn about different careers and graduate study in anthropology.  Most of these individualized and field experience courses require a minimum GPA, a proposal, departmental and College level approval. See an anthropology advisor for more information.

If you are a first year student interested in learning more about Anthropology, consider taking one of our First Year Experience classes: ANTH 109b - Skeletons in Chicago Closets or ANTH 109c - Skin of Chicago. Both of these courses count towards General Education Natural Science credit.

The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program provides students with a broad knowledge base in the area of business and management that will prepare them for mid- and upper-level positions in both the private and public sectors, including the manufacturing, service, financial, institutional and government fields. The M.B.A. program offers a challenging and practical orientation to the complexities of modern business management and to the tools necessary for business decision-making. It consists of curricular studies in the Business Core and Elective Curriculum.