Secondary Teaching: Grades 7–12

Master of Arts in Teaching

About This Program | Program Requirements | Admission

About This Program

The Division of Education at Wilmington University reserves the right to change requirements to comply with any licensure/certification mandates by the Professional Standards Board and/or the Delaware State Department of Education.

As a result of a federal mandate, HOUSSE (Highly Objective Uniform State Standards of Evaluation), and each state's requirement to comply with this legislation, expectations for both beginning and veteran teachers were developed and implemented during the 2005-2006 school year. Very briefly summarized, the law indicates that all children must be taught by "highly qualified" teachers and that each state must define what "highly qualified" means and the appropriate steps needed to achieve that status.

The State of Delaware has essentially determined the components for "highly qualified" status of NEW teachers as someone with a degree in teacher preparation from an approved program and passing scores on the appropriate PRAXIS II test. Therefore, beginning with students who started in fall 2005, or later, the appropriate PRAXIS II test is required.

Program Purpose

The Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching program prepares teachers to meet the academic and social needs of students. The program is built on a model of the teacher as learner, researcher, and facilitator of knowledge. The program is based on the premises that teachers must be sensitive to varying social demands and expectations; must be able to diagnose and address the individual learning and developmental needs of students, including emotional, physical, social, and cognitive needs; must be able to use technology in all aspects of their profession; must make important decisions about how and what to teach in the face of an overwhelming knowledge explosion; and must reach out more effectively to parents and the community.

Program Competencies

Program Competencies 1-12 are based on the Delaware Professional Teaching Standards. All relate to the Division of Education Conceptual Framework. Teacher candidates will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions required to:

1. Create learning experiences that make content meaningful to students and reflect an understanding of the core concepts and structure of education.
2. Provide learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of students based on an understanding of childhood development and learning.
3. Adapt instruction for diverse learners based on an understanding of how students differ.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication.
5. Create a learning environment that fosters active engagement, self-motivation, and positive social interaction by understanding individual and group behavior.
6. Design instruction based upon knowledge of the disciplines, students, the community, and Delaware's student content standards to demonstrate knowledge of instructional planning.
7. Apply a variety of instructional approaches that promote student thinking, understanding, and application of knowledge.
8. Use multiple assessment strategies for the continuous development of students.
9. Pursue opportunities to improve teaching and thereby enhance professional growth.
10. Collaborate with colleagues, parents/guardians, and other members of the community to support student learning and well-being and demonstrate knowledge of the role of the school in the community.
11. Use educational technology as an instructional and management tool.
12. Understand and maintain standards of professional conduct guided by legal and ethical principles.
13. Exhibit enthusiasm, vigor, strength of inner self, humor, fairness, and concern for students.
14. Obtain and retain successful employment in the profession of education.

Outcomes Assessment

The assessment of outcomes consists of multiple measures. Grades on assignments and for courses are the first level of assessment. The course goals, learning outcomes, and assignments are designed to address measurement of the program competencies as well as the graduation competencies. Other assessment measures include observation of the application of knowledge in practical settings and alumni surveys that query such items as preparation levels for careers and life-long learning activities.

Program Design

The Master of Arts in Teaching Program is designed for individuals with bachelor's and/or master's degrees in major content areas taught in the middle level and high schools in our region. The program provides individuals with the professional preparation necessary for licensure and certification as "Highly-Qualified" teachers in the content area(s) of their previous degrees.

To be eligible for the program, a candidate must (1) hold a degree in a secondary content area from a regionally-accredited college or university and (2) provide passing scores on the PRAXIS I: PPST (or relevant exemption) tests. At entry, previous transcripts of candidates will be carefully reviewed to determine if they have completed the content area coursework required by NCATE Standards. Any gaps in such coursework must be completed before student teaching. Also prior to MAS 7801, Practicum/Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching in the Middle and High School, the teacher candidate must pass the appropriate PRAXIS II content area test(s). Additional content area coursework may be necessary for teacher candidates who have not met content requirements and have not been initially successful in completing the PRAXIS II test(s).

As is the current master's degree in Elementary Education (for elementary teachers), the MAT program is an attractive route into middle level and high school teaching for individuals coming into the field from other professions. In a relatively short period of time (1 1/2 to 2 years), the program will prepare candidates to teach middle level and high school students in the content area(s) of their previous majors. When they complete the program, successful candidates will enter or move forward in the teaching profession (and will be compensated) at the master's degree level. Through the program, candidates will be prepared to face the challenges of teaching in a middle or high school classroom and be better able to help students meet the more rigorous content standards required of them today.

Three kinds of candidates will be accommodated through the MAT program. The first will include individuals who are currently employed in middle level and high school teaching positions in the content area(s) of their previous majors and who need licensure and certification. The second will be individuals currently in the Elementary Studies Program and who desire to obtain secondary credentials. Finally, the third group of candidates will be individuals not employed as middle or high school teachers and who are seeking licensure and certification for eventual employment in the teaching profession.