Work With Children and Families: The B.A. in Applied Educational Studies
Earn an education-centered bachelor's degree for roles like family specialist, home visitor, and community educator, without the classroom teaching license requirements. Graduate eligible for the Gateways Family Specialist Credential and national CFLE certification.
- Gateways Level 5 Credentials Available
- CFLE National Certification Pathway
- Online or Blended
- No Teaching License Required
Request More Information
Program at a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Apply child development and family systems knowledge in real settings
- Support families experiencing stress and connect them to services
- Communicate across diverse cultures and communities
- Coordinate human services programs for children and families
- Practice ethically and advocate for children and families
- Qualify for the Gateways Family Specialist Credential and CFLE certification
Full Course List
Next start: January 18, 2027 — seats filling fast.
Admissions Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent (no application fee)
- Online application at nl.edu
- Transfer students: prior coursework reviewed for accelerated completion
- No teaching license or prior education coursework required for the base track
- An advisor helps you choose the right track and concentration
Built for people who want to work with children and families in non-classroom roles. The B.A. prepares you for family services, home visiting, and community education without Illinois PEL requirements.
Graduate eligible for the Illinois Gateways Level 5 Family Specialist Credential and the national CFLE certification, a dual pathway few undergraduate programs offer.
The AES 470 internship places you in a real educational or social services setting, with field hours throughout the program, so you graduate with experience employers value.
Where Will Your Degree Take You?
NLU’s Applied Educational Studies graduates work at the intersection of education and community services, supporting children, families, and educational communities in roles that do not require a classroom teaching license: family specialist, home visitor, child and family life educator, and program administrator.
The degree’s two credential outcomes, the Illinois Gateways Level 5 Family Specialist Credential and the national CFLE certification, position graduates for recognized professional roles. Preschool teaching, one common pathway, is projected to grow 4 percent through 2034 with about 65,500 openings a year (BLS, May 2024).
How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps
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Request Information
Submit the form above. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to talk through your goals.
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Connect With an Advisor
Your advisor helps you choose the right track and concentration, walks through the Gateways and CFLE credential pathways, and explains how this degree differs from NLU's teaching-license programs.
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Apply and Start Classes
Submit your application at nl.edu with no application fee. Next start: January 18, 2027. Your advisor guides you through every step.
Take the First Step
No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to help you map your path to working with children and families.
Take the First Step- Gateways Level 5 Credentials Available
- CFLE National Certification Pathway
- Online or Blended
- No Teaching License Required
*Salary and job outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Preschool Teachers, May 2024 and 2024 to 2034 projections.
**Tuition: National Louis University undergraduate tuition, first-time freshman rate, 2025 to 2026.
***Credentials and curriculum: SmartCatalog, National Louis University, Applied Educational Studies B.A. (nl.smartcatalogiq.com, current catalog).