Admission
Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information.
Admission to the non-certification program in School Leadership requires the following:
1. Complete and submit the Graduate 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. With official transcripts, submit a copy of your Immunization Records.
3. Schedule a program planning conference with the Program Chair.
After all the above requirements have been completed, register for MED 6102 (EFolio - SL&L) along with other course(s) selected.
The Master of Education in School Leadership: Non-Certification is designed for students who hold Bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions and who are interested in careers in educational leadership for which there is no requirement for state licensure and certification. Such careers could include work in private or independent school settings, child care, youth recreational services, career services and other education-related social services. Students choosing this degree will work with a College of Education Program Advisor to plan an individualized program of studies to satisfy the student’s career interests in educational leadership.
Program Competencies are similar to those in the M.Ed. School Leadership degree program, and are based on the 2018 NELP (National Educational Leadership Preparation Program Building Level Standards as part of CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation ) accreditation. The M.Ed. School Leadership/Non-Certified program is for candidates who wish to gain advanced knowledge in areas related to school leadership theory and practice, but who do not need or want a state license or certificate.
Coursework is identical to the current M.Ed. School Leadership program except that Non-Certificate candidates do not complete the field-based requirements specified in Delaware Administrative Code, Title 14, Regulation 290, § 3.2.1.2: “Educator Preparation Programs for administrators must include Clinical Experiences totaling a minimum of two-hundred and forty (240) hours equitably distributed within the Program. The clinical hours must be completed under the mentorship of a currently employed administrator with an effective or highly effective summative rating under 14 DE Admin. Code 108.”
Admission to the M.Ed. School Leadership: Non-Certified program will not require applicants to take/pass standardized assessments necessary for program entry and/or exit.
Program Purpose
The School Leadership Master of Education - Non-Certified Degree addresses research, theory, and practice related to effective schools, teaching and learning, and school reform. Translating theory into practice is a primary emphasis.
This 30 credit program is designed to (a) develop aspiring school leaders’ knowledge, dispositions, and skills related to effective and sustainable school and school system leadership and renewal; (b) prepare school leaders who are committed to the centrality of teaching and learning and to the removal of barriers to student learning; (c) prepare school leaders who will engage all school stakeholders in the development of a shared vision of teaching and learning; (d) prepare school leaders who will manage school operations and resources in an efficient, equitable, and ethical manner, maintaining a constant focus on the improvement of student learning; and (e) prepare school leaders who are committed to professional growth and renewal.
Program Competencies
The School Leadership Master of Education program is designed to produce educational leaders who will:
- Facilitate the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community;
- Nurture and sustain a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth;
- Ensure management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment;
- Collaborate with families and community members, respond to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilize community resources;
- Act with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner;
- Understand, respond to, and influence the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context; and
- Demonstrate standards-based knowledge.
Outcomes Assessment
Multiple assessments are used to determine candidate growth toward achievement of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions described in School Leadership program competencies and college-wide graduation competencies. Rubrics-based evaluations of fieldwork, projects, assignments, research papers, and final grades for courses represent the first level of assessment. Goals, learning outcomes and activities, external assignments, and assessment strategies are linked directly to program and graduation competencies and are clearly stated on each course syllabus.
Program Design
Candidates are expected to satisfactorily complete all requirements associated with the School Leadership program. A total of 30 credit hours are required for program completion and certification. Field-based components are embedded in every course. The program is normally completed in two to three years, although accelerated options make it possible to complete the program in one year or less by combining regular courses, online learning courses, and/or hybrid courses.
Required Courses
MED 6102 is required for all candidates. E-Folio/SL&L is an electronic portfolio system used for documenting and tracking student mastery of program competencies.
Courses
| MED 6102 | E-Folio | 0 |
| MED 6490 | Education, Ethics, and the Law | 3 |
| MED 7201 | Fiscal Operations and Resources | 3 |
| MED 7503 | School and Community: Building a Shared Vision | 3 |
| MED 7590 | School Leadership: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| MED 7700 | The Evolving Role of a Principal: Innovative Leadership Prek-12 | 3 |
| MED 7701 | Supervisory Leadership: Staff Selection Appraisal, and Renewal | 3 |
| MED 7705 | Measurement, Accountability, and Student Learning | 3 |
| MED 7708 | Curriculum Leadership | 3 |
Elective Courses (choose two courses from below or as approved by the Program Chair)
| MED 7702 | Classroom and School Culture: Creating Environments for Learning | 3 |
| MED 7703 | Curriculum and Teaching: Research, Theory, and Practice | 3 |
| MED 7704 | Education for Equity and Social Justice | 3 |
| MED 7709 | Personnel Administration | 3 |
| MED 7710 | Technology and the School Environment | 3 |
| MED 7712 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| MED 7799 | Supervision and Curriculum Improvement | 3 |
Qualification for Degree
To qualify for the School Leadership Master of Education - Non-Certified degree, a candidate must successfully complete all eight courses plus six credits of approved elective courses for a minimum of 30 credit hours, with a GPA of at least 3.0. The program must be completed within five years.