ARTC programs are state-approved alternative routes to teacher licensure and certification. Alternative routes provide special pathways that can enable students to be hired as salaried, full-time public school teachers even though they might not have an education degree or might not have satisfied all the academic and fieldwork requirements required for standard licenses and/or certification. These pathways are primarily designed to fill teaching positions commonly referred to by the state as “critical needs” areas, where there are often serious teacher shortages. Examples include mathematics and science teachers, teachers of English language learners, and teachers of students with exceptional needs.
WilmU is approved to offer ARTC Special Education programs that enable graduates from regionally accredited institutions of higher education to earn an advanced degree (master’s) and/or licensure/certification in one or more of the following areas: (1) teachers of preschool exceptional children, (2) teachers of K-12 students with disabilities, or (3) teachers of students with autism and/or severe disabilities.
Since ARTC program plans can be different for each individual student (depending on academic backgrounds and experience) and have a number of different components and options, those interested in enrolling must talk with an ARTC Program Chair, the ARTC Coordinator, or a Graduate Advisor in order to determine eligibility and to decide if the program is a good “fit.”
Once admitted, candidates have several program options, including the M.Ed. in Special Education, specialized certification for already licensed teachers, and a pathway for current and future para-educators to obtain positions and credentials as full-time teachers.
Admission
In addition to general admission requirements, admission to this program requires applicants to have 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.
Admission to the Paraeducator to Teacher (ARTC) program requires the following:
1. Complete and submit the Application for Admission, accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.
2. Submit an official transcript or transcripts verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Transcripts and all application documents should be sent to the Wilmington University Office of Graduate Admissions. Please note that any course(s) accepted for transfer into the program must have a letter grade of B or better and be from a degree-granting, regionally-accredited institution. With official transcripts, submit a copy of your Immunization Records.
3.Those seeking initial licensure in a secondary content area must have completed 24 content area credits in the selected content area prior to entry into ARTC.
4. Complete a program planning conference with the ARTC Program Chair. At this point eligible candidates will receive a Wilmington University Eligibility Letter. Candidates must have this letter in order to seek a teacher of record position in a Delaware public school.
5. The ARTC concentration requires a candidate to be employed as a special education teacher of record in a Delaware public school. Once employed as the teacher of record, Wilmington University may send a Welcome Letter verifying ARTC admission.
Candidates should make sure to register for MED 6102 (E-Folio).
Program Requirements
Candidates must meet one of the following Options prior to receiving an Eligibility Letter.
- Option I - Pass Praxis II on an ETS PRAXIS II content knowledge exam, or
- Option II - Earn 24 content area credits with an earned GPA of 3.0 or above.
Once issued, the Eligibility Letter provides the candidate with the opportunity to seek employment as a full-time special education Teacher of Record (TOR) in the identified content area. Upon hire and at the discretion of the Program Chair, the candidate may receive an official Welcome Letter that will allow him/her to enroll into the ARTC program.
As a program requirement, candidates must pass by achieving minimum scores set by the DE Professional Standards Board on ETS Praxis II #5354: Special Education Core Knowledge and Applications prior to completion.
Please note that state-mandated licensure/certification exams and minimum score requirements are subject to change by the Delaware Department of Education. Any changes mandated by the Department of Education will be implemented as required by state regulation.
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 to the University and to the DE Department of Education.
NOTE: Wilmington University is obligated to modify educator preparation program requirements to comply with any regulatory mandates/changes of the Delaware Department of Education.
Performance Assessment
The College of Education and Liberal Arts at Wilmington University requires students pursuing teacher preparation degrees to take the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) in order to qualify for program completion and degree conferral. The performance assessment is not scored by any employees of the University. It is scored by Nationally Certified ETS Reviewers not associated with Wilmington University. Completing this assessment is a student teaching requirement. Candidates must check with their supervisors, program advisors or program chairs to obtain current and accurate information related score expectations.
Program Competencies
The degree program is built around standards developed by the Council for Exceptional Children, in addition to the Delaware Professional Teaching Standards/InTASC Model Teaching Standards, and reflects the College of Education and Liberal Arts Program Attributes and Conceptual Framework. Those standards can be accessed below:
CEC STANDARDS
INTASC STANDARDS
ATTRIBUTES AND FRAMEWORK
Outcomes Assessment
The assessment of content knowledge, pedagogy, learning theory, and performance competencies is accomplished through satisfactory attainment of specific course objectives; satisfactory performance on tests of general and content-related knowledge, performance assessments, successful completion of assignments linked to program competencies and graduation competencies; fieldwork evaluations from advisors and post-graduation surveys.
E-Folio
Teacher candidates must register for and activate MED 6102, E-Folio as the initial course in the program as this course will allow them to document various course requirements needed to satisfy individual program competencies.
Minimum Grades
The College of Education and Liberal Arts sets a required minimum grade of “C” for all education core courses as well as courses needed to satisfy the content major, and an overall GPA of 3.0 is required for program completion.
Course Requirements
Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher (ARTC)
| MED 6102 | E-Folio | 0 |
| MSE 8001 | Seminar I | 3 |
| MSE 7100 | Foundations of Special Education: Historical, Legal, and Theoretical Perspectives | 3 |
| MSE 7604 | Technology for Instruction | 3 |
| MSE 8002 | Seminar II | 3 |
| MSE 7403 | Diagnosis/Assessment/IEP Development for Exceptionalities | 3 |
| MSE 7402 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| MEE 7632 | Language and Literacy | 3 |
| OR | |
| MAS 7652 | Reading in Content Areas | 3 |
| MSE 8003 | Seminar III | 3 |
| MSE 7901 | Diagnosis/Assessment of Reading Difficulties for Non-Reading/Literacy Majors | 3 |
| MSE 7405 | Curriculum in Special Education | 3 |
| MSE 8004 | Seminar IV | 3 |
| MSE 8102 | Legislation and Implementation of Policy and Procedure | 3 |
| MED 6801 | Building a Responsive Classroom | 3 |
| OR | |
| MAS 7801 | Practicum/Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching in the Middle and High School | 4 |
| MSE 8805 | Performance Assessment | 3 |
| MSE 8005 | Professional Growth Portfolio | 0 |
Program Content Requisites (Early Childhood)
| MSE 7502 | Educating Preschoolers with Special Needs | 3 |
| MSE 7603 | Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| MSE 7605 | Differentiation of Instruction for Young Children | 3 |
| MSE 7607 | Emergent Literacy for Young Children | 3 |
| MSE 7407 | Teaming/Collaboration with Families & Communities | 3 |
Program Content Requisites (Elementary)
(12-13 credits of Prerequisites)
| MEE 7603 | Instructional Strategies in Elementary Education | 3 |
| MEE 7631 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| MEE 7633 | Integrated Methods to Teaching Elementary Language Arts/Reading | 3 |
| MEE 7637 | Integrated Methods for Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 |
Program Content Requisites (Secondary)
(12-13 credits of Prerequisites)
| MAS 7603 | Instructional Strategies in Secondary Education | 3 |
| MAS 7651 | Adolescent Growth and Development | 3 |
| MAS 7701 | Classroom Culture and Student Behavior | 3 |
| MED 6801 | Building a Responsive Classroom | 3 |
MSE 8005 Professional Growth Portfolio is a non credit bearing course that enables M.Ed. Special Education Alternative Route to Teacher Certification (ARTC) Teachers who have completed their degree requirements but still remain under the state ARTC classification, pending completion of their final Delaware Teacher Evaluation cycle, to receive support and coaching from WilmU ARTC program.