Admission
Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information. For full admission to the Master of Education in Instruction: Teacher and Learning degree program, applicants are expected to provide or complete the following:
- Complete and submit the Graduate Application for Admission, accompanied by a non-refundable application fee. The application can be downloaded here.
- Provide an official transcript or transcripts from a regionally accredited college, university, or other degree-granting institution, verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree. Transcripts and all application documents should be sent directly to Wilmington University Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Schedule a program planning conference with the Program Chair or Graduate Program Advisor.
After all of the above requirements have been completed, register for MED 6102 (E-Folio) and other appropriate course(s) in the degree program.
Program Purpose
The Master of Education in Instruction: Teaching and Learning degree program is designed for educators who are interested in developing skills to become leaders of teachers and in the scholarly study of teaching and learning. Candidates study research-based best practices and acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote the success of all students. Candidates explore their own professional practices and reflect upon ways to improve teaching and learning and effective means of providing collegial leadership. The program addresses best practices related to teaching-learning, instructional planning, student achievement and performance, curriculum development, culturally appropriate learning environments, and educational reform.
Program Competencies
The program competencies adopted for the Master of Education in Instruction: Teaching and Learning degree program are the Model Standards for Teacher Licensing, Assessment, and Development from the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) (2011) by the Council of Chief State School Officers. The M.Ed. in Instruction: Teaching and Learning degree program is designed to enable candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the following program competency standards:
Program Competency Standard 1. Learner Development
The teacher understands how children learn and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Program Competency Standard 2. Learning Differences
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that allow each learner to meet high standards.
Program Competency Standard 3. Learning Environments
The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
Program Competency Standard 4. Content Knowledge
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to ensure mastery of the content.
Program Competency Standard 5. Applications of Content
The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Program Competency Standard 6. Assessment
The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
Program Competency Standard 7. Planning for Instruction
The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Program Competency Standard 8. Instructional Strategies
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Program Competency Standard 9. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, and other professionals in the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Program Competency Standard 10. Leadership and Collaboration
The teacher seeks appropriate leaderships roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, and other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
Outcomes Assessment
Multiple assessments are used to determine candidate growth toward achievement of the knowledge and skills described in the Master of Education in Instruction: Teaching and Learning degree program competencies and the college-wide graduation competencies. Performance-based assessments are used to evaluate projects, assignments, and research papers. Goals, learning outcomes and activities, external assignments, and assessment strategies are linked directly to program and graduation competencies as stated on each course syllabus. Other assessment strategies may include mentoring sessions and observations of candidate performance in authentic settings.
Program Design
This 33-credit program consists of 21 credit hours of foundation courses that focus on teaching and learning and 12 credit hours of elective courses. The program requires that candidates be working in an educational setting or a training center to complete the program competency assignments. An effort is made to provide candidates with choices of course formats (traditional, hybrid or on-line) although this cannot be guaranteed. There is a non-credit E-Folio course requirement.
Course Requirements
Foundation Courses (21 credits)
MED 8804 is a 6 credit course offered in Fall and Spring semesters only.
Elective Courses (12 credits)
| EDT 6005 | Applications in Educational Technology | 3 |
| MED 7404 | Brain-Based Research Instructional Strategies | 3 |
| MED 7704 | Education for Equity and Social Justice | 3 |
| MED 7807 | Creativity and Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MED 7813 | Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| MED 7814 | Problem-based Learning | 3 |
| MED 7815 | Innovations in Teaching | 3 |
| MED 7816 | Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| MED 7817 | Professional Studies | 3 |
To qualify for the Master of Education in Instruction: Teaching and Learning degree, a candidate must successfully complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with a GPA of at least 3.0. The program must be completed within five years.
Since there is no relevant Delaware license or certificate, the completion of this degree does not qualify the recipient for a license or certification in Delaware, since there is no relevant Delaware license or certificate.