College of Education and Liberal Arts
About the College of Education and Liberal Arts
The College of Education and Liberal Arts at Wilmington University is a major provider of educators for schools in Delaware and throughout the region.
Programs in the College of Education and Liberal Arts include state-approved and nationally accredited pathways to licensure/certification in elementary and middle school teaching, special education, secondary teaching, career and technical education, school counseling and educational leadership. The College also offers programs of study in a variety of specialized educational areas such as educational technology, instruction, reading, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. Candidates who do not seek or need state credentials can also choose from many programs that do not lead to state licensure or certification.
Vision
We believe that effective professional educators must also be learners—learners who want to share challenging ideas and successful practices with their colleagues. Educators prepared at Wilmington University believe in the importance of hard work and persistence, and in reflecting on and improving the quality of that work. They are committed to collaborating with parents, colleagues, and community stakeholders. They want to create teaching/learning environments that support personal, physical and emotional development; intellectual growth; and high levels of student achievement ... and which also encourage innovation, exploration, creativity and problem-solving. We try to maintain a climate of high expectations, caring, and respect for the worth of every individual. We view ourselves as “Professional Partners, Creating Environments for Learning.”
Mission
The College of Education and Liberal Arts at Wilmington University prepares educators to work successfully with children from birth through adolescence, and to work closely with all education stakeholders. Our programs prepare candidates to work effectively with students with a wide variety of learning needs and from many different cultural, socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds. An important goal of our programs is the translation of theory into practice. All programs are standards-driven. All programs emphasize the importance of data-based decision making, practical experiences in classrooms and schools, content knowledge, knowing and understanding learner needs, and the application of research-based best practices.
Conceptual Framework
The College of Education and Liberal Arts Conceptual Framework reflects the vision and mission of the University and articulates the College’s philosophy and goals. The Conceptual Framework is the fundamental theoretical architecture upon which all degree programs are based. The framework includes eight specific Program Attributes essential for the preparation of effective educators. These attributes appear on every course syllabus.
The complete Conceptual Framework can be found on the Wilmington University website.
Accreditation
Wilmington University is a private, non-profit institution that is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The College of Education and Liberal Arts is accredited by CAEP (the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). In addition, degree programs contributing to eligibility for state licensure and/or certification as educators are state-approved and many are nationally recognized. Consequently, the College of Education and Liberal Arts reserves the right to modify degree requirements to comply with any licensure/certification or regulatory changes mandated by the Delaware Professional Standards Board, the Delaware State Department of Education, or the Delaware General Assembly.
Background Checks
A Criminal Background Check (CBC) is required for all field placements associated with College of Education and Liberal Arts degrees (e.g., practicum, course-related fieldwork, student teaching, internships, residencies, etc.). This includes a background check by the FBI and the Delaware State Police, and clearance through the Delaware Child Protection Registry (DCPR). This process must be completed PRIOR to submitting applications for placements. No applications for clinical placements will be considered until all CBC and DCPR reports have been received. Details about this process are explained here.
General Knowledge Admission Requirements for Education Degrees Leading to Licensure and/or Certification
In addition to the General Admission Requirements listed for each degree program offered in the College of Education and Liberal Arts, applicants for admission to programs approved for state licensure and/or certification as an educator must meet Delaware’s minimum, state-mandated program-entry standards. Those standards include a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or have a GPA in the top 50th percentile for coursework completed during the most recent two years of the applicant’s general education, whether secondary or post-secondary.
Content and Performance Assessment Requirements for Education Degrees Leading to Licensure and/or Certification
Content Area Assessments
All candidates for state-approved educator preparation degrees must meet the content assessment requirements adopted by the Delaware Department of Education.
The regulation states, in part: “Where a content readiness exam is applicable and available in area, subject, or category of specialization sought, the Candidate shall achieve a passing score on an examination as established by the Professional Standards Board, in consultation with the Department and with concurrence of the State Board.”
For more information about ETS exams (including how to register), go to: www.ets.org/praxis/. Test takers should designate Wilmington University and the Delaware Department of Education as score recipients. This enables scores to be sent directly, confidentially, and electronically. Otherwise, candidates must provide original copies of all official score reports, including all sub-score reports.
Please note that admission to the University and to the College of Education and Liberal Arts (graduate and undergraduate) does not guarantee admission to a state-approved educator preparation program. All students are required to take the state-mandated Praxis II content assessment exam required for their intended teaching area(s) as stipulated in their program plans (see below).
Performance Assessments
Wilmington University requires candidates to take a performance assessment. The performance assessment may not be scored by any employees of the Educator Preparation Program or Unit. It is scored by Nationally Certified ETS Reviewers not associated with Wilmington University. The assessment used by Wilmington University is the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). Candidates must check with their program advisors or program chairs to obtain current and accurate information related to what assessments might be required.