THIS IS A DELAWARE LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WITH CONTENT KNOWLEDGE AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS. Students taking courses to satisfy certification requirements are personally responsible for verifying with the Delaware Department of Education (or the appropriate licensure/certification authority in another state) that such course work is applicable and acceptable. Students are also responsible for meeting all state-mandated testing requirements and for applying for credentials. This program has also been reviewed and approved for operation and licensure/certification in the state of New Jersey. Wilmington University has not made determinations for licensure in states outside of Delaware and New Jersey. For state-by-state contact information for inquiring about individual state licensure requirements, please visit NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory.
Admission
In addition to general admissions requirements, admission to this degree 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 post-secondary education.
Admission to the Master of Education School Counseling degree program requires the candidate to complete 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 Wilmington University Office of Graduate Admissions. Please note that any graduate course(s) accepted for transfer into the program must have a letter grade of B or higher and be from a degree-granting, regionally-accredited institution. With official transcripts, submit a copy of your Immunization Records.
3. Schedule a program planning conference with the Program Chair.
After completing all of the above, register for MED 6102 (E-Folio), which is a prerequisite for all other courses in the program.
Content and Performance Assessment Requirements
This is a Delaware state-approved degree program which contributes to eligibility for licensure/certification as an educator in Delaware public schools. As such, all candidates must meet the content and performance assessment requirements described in DE Administrative Code.
By regulation, “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.”
“Where a performance assessment is applicable and available in an area appropriate to the Program in which a Candidate is enrolled, the Candidate shall achieve a passing score as a requirement to Exit the Program. The performance assessment may not be scored by any employees of the Educator Preparation Program or Unit, and shall be scored by Certified Reviewers.”
The instrument selected by Wilmington University as a required exit assessment for the M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling is ETS Praxis II exam #5422, Professional School Counselor. The minimum acceptable score is 159.
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.
It is essential for candidates to consult with the Program Chair to obtain the most current information about these requirements.
Program Purpose
The Master of Education in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program prepares school counselor candidates to address the academic, social/emotional, and career developmental needs of all students in the K-12 school setting. This graduate program is aligned with the philosophy and vision of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, the ASCA Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs, the ASCA School Counselor Competencies, and the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. These standards emphasize training in the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program promoting leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and systemic change to enhance student achievement and success.
The College of Education and Liberal Arts at Wilmington University reserves the right to change requirements to comply with any licensure/certification or program-approval regulations issued by the Professional Standards Board and/or the Delaware State Department of Education and/or the Delaware Legislature.
Outcomes Assessment
The assessment of outcomes involves multiple measures throughout the program. Grades on assignments and for courses are the first level of assessment. Course goals, learning outcomes, assignments, and assessments are designed to address program competencies as well as graduation competencies. Other measures may include observation of candidate performance in authentic or simulated settings, surveys, standardized tests, and performance assessments.
Counseling Dispositions and Skills
Counseling dispositions are assessed throughout the program to ensure candidates are acquiring the skill sets to be effective in working with children and youth in the school setting. MEC instructors assess candidates at the conclusion of each course based on five specific areas: academic performance, intrapersonal factors, interpersonal relationships, professional behavior, and overall evaluation. This evaluative practice allows candidates to be mentored and coached in areas needing work in an effort to promote success in the program. Assessment continues in the clinical portion of the program under the supervision of the clinical faculty mentor. See full description and details of the disposition evaluation process in the MEC Academic Advisement Packet.
Program Competencies
The program competencies are the School Counselor Competencies (American School Counselor Association, 2008) and the ASCA Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs, which can be accessed in their entirety through the ASCA website.
Program Design
The certification track of the Master of Education in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling (MEC) was designed to prepare school counselor candidates to meet the eligibility requirements for school counselor certification in the State of Delaware. The curriculum for the program is designed on a three-tiered system focusing on various competencies and skills. Level 1 courses provide content knowledge which establish the foundation for counseling skill development in Level 2 courses. Levels 1 and 2 provide the necessary competencies and skills to move to the capstone course and clinical experience at Level 3.
Candidates seeking Delaware state certification in school counseling are required to do the following:
700 Hours - Candidates who wish to pursue state certification as a school counselor are required to complete 700 hours of supervised fieldwork in order to satisfy Delaware certification requirements.
Candidates will complete 100 hours of practicum work during clinical cohort meetings and seminars. The remaining 600 hours are divided between two semesters in the following manner:
Fall Internship (300 hours):
Elementary (MEC 8004) or Secondary (MEC 8005) and
Mental Health Seminar (50 hours) (MEC 8015)
Spring Internship (300 hours):
Elementary (MEC 8006) or Secondary (MEC 8007) and
School Counselor Leadership Seminar (50 ours) (MEC 8017)
The school counselor certification process and application is the responsibility of the counselor candidate and is between the applicant and the Delaware Department of Education.
Program Requirements
Completion of the degree includes successful completion of the courses within Levels 1 and 2, the Capstone course, Praxis II (test code 5421), two internships, and two seminars. Level 1 courses must be completed prior to Level 2; Level 2 courses must be completed prior to Level 3 and within Level 3, the Capstone course must be completed prior to the internships.
Twenty one (21) semester credits in counseling theories, human behavior, college and career readiness, school counseling ethics, measurement and accountability, consultation, and working with special needs populations are required in Level 1. The minimum passing grade of a C or higher is expected for each Level 1 course; however, a candidate must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to gain access to Level 2 courses.
Twelve (12) semester credits in individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling strategies and techniques are required in Level 2. The minimum passing grade of a B or higher is expected for all Level 2 courses.
A Capstone course worth six (6) credits and passing the Praxis II: Professional School Counselor (test code 5421) are required before candidates move into the clinical portion of the program. Twelve (12) semester credits of internships and seminars are required to fulfill the clinical portion of the program. The minimum passing grade of a B or higher is expected for the Capstone course and all Level 3 clinical courses.
The clinical portion includes a formal application submitted for approval in TaskStream to the MEC Program Chair. The application includes, among other items, a Delaware state criminal background check, FBI clearance, child abuse clearance, signed confidentiality agreement, and a signed clinical agreement. All degree-seeking candidates in the MEC program are required to demonstrate graduation and program competencies as counselors by engaging in a prescribed variety of related counseling activities.
Candidates must work collaboratively with the MEC Program Chair to arrange to practice in either an elementary or secondary school (or both) according to the grade level at which they will be seeking state certification. Candidates work under the supervision of a school-based, state certified school counselor with at least three years of experience who is designated as the Cooperating Counselor. In addition, each candidate is assigned a Wilmington University Clinical Faculty Mentor who is responsible, in conjunction with the cooperating counselor, for monitoring the activities, interactions, and skill development of candidates. The clinical faculty mentor is responsible for final grade designation.
Candidates MUST have approval of the MEC Program Chair to begin their internship. Only approved candidates may register for a clinical course and ONLY registered internship candidates may participate in an internship to complete clinical hours.
Course Requirements
Candidates must complete the 11 academic courses below in appropriate sequence to meet prerequisite requirements as well as required supervised certification internships and seminars:
Level 1 Coursework
| MED 6102 | E-Folio | 0 |
| MEC 6400 | Introduction to School Counseling & Theories | 3 |
| MEC 6402 | Human Behavior and Child Development | 3 |
| MEC 6607 | Ethical Issues in School Counseling | 3 |
| MEC 7213 | College & Career Readiness K-12 | 3 |
| MEC 7502 | The Counselor as Consultant | 3 |
| MEC 7503 | Special Education Law and the School Counselor's Role | 3 |
| MEC 7701 | Testing, Measurements, and Research in School Counseling | 3 |
Level 2 Coursework
Level 3 Coursework and Clinical Experiences
| MEC 6511 | Principles & Practices of a School Counseling Program (Capstone course) | 6 |
Fall Internship
| MEC 8004 | Elementary School Counseling Fall Internship | 3 |
| OR | |
| MEC 8005 | Secondary School Counseling Fall Internship | 3 |
| AND | |
| MEC 8015 | Mental Health Seminar | 3 |
Spring Internship
| MEC 8006 | Elementary School Counseling Spring Internship | 3 |
| OR | |
| MEC 8007 | Secondary School Counseling Spring Internship | 3 |
| AND | |
| MEC 8017 | School Counselor Leadership Seminar | 3 |
To qualify for the Master of Education degree, a student must successfully complete all 51 credit hours, maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, and submit a passing score on the PRAXIS II: Professional School Counselor #5421. Praxis scores should be submitted to Wilmington University via ETS. The program must be completed within five years.