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Middle Level Education (Grades 6-8)

Bachelor of Science

This program is nationally recognized by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) and is accredited by CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation).

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. Wilmington University has not made determinations for licensure in states outside of Delaware. For state-by-state contact information for inquiring about individual state licensure requirements, please visit NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory.


Content and Performance Assessment Requirements

State-approved degree programs contribute to eligibility for licensure/certification as an educator in Delaware public schools. As such, all applicants for a Delaware Initial Teaching License must meet the content and performance assessment requirements described in DE Administrative Code .

Content Assessment 

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.”

The assessments and minimum test score requirements established by the Delaware Department of Education for this degree program are dependent on the candidate's area of concentration.

The required assessment is dependent on the candidate’s area of concentration. The exam choices are:

Test Score
ETS 5047 English Language Arts 164
ETS 5442 Science 152
ETS 5164 Mathematics 165
ETS 5089 Social Studies 164

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.

 

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 Requirements

Teacher candidates are expected to complete all requirements associated with the Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Middle Level Education 6-8, including all course work and clinical experiences. The College of Education and Liberal Arts sets a required minimum grade of “C-” for all Education core courses (ECE, EDU, RDG, and EPY), and an overall cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 3.0.

The Praxis II Content Knowledge test must be taken by EDU 391, Practicum II and passed prior to EDU 451, Student Teaching/Teaching Internship as a condition of entry into EDU 451.

Teacher candidates must designate Wilmington University and the Delaware Department of Education as score recipients at the time the tests are taken.

Fieldwork Requirements

Practicum Courses (Practicum I, II, III)

Each of these three courses require 60 hours of field experience in an approved school setting plus 30 hours of required seminars. Although Practicum courses only require candidates to register and pay for one (1) credit for each course, the courses are actually structured as three (3) credit courses. The reason for this approach is to keep the total credit hours required for the degree as low as possible and still meet state certification requirements. Otherwise, candidates would have to register and pay for an additional 6 credits. This benefit represents a tuition cost savings of more than $2,000.

All practicum placements are arranged by the Office of Clinical Studies in accordance with school district partnership agreements and placement protocols. Final placement decisions are made by school district officials. Candidates are not permitted to seek or make arrangements for their own placements.  The 60 hours of field experience required for each practicum will usually take place in the county where the candidate attends the seminars, although this may vary depending on availability of practicum placement classrooms.

To be considered for placement in a K-12 school setting, teacher candidates must complete the Practicum Fieldwork application in Taskstream/Watermark by the deadlines of February 1 for placement in Fall (September) and August 1 for placement in Spring (January).  At the time of application, a sealed Federal and Delaware CBC (Criminal Background Check) Report, a recent TB/PPD (less than a year old) and a completed CPR (Child Protection Registry Form) are required. Capstone Clinical Experience (Student Teaching/Internship)

 

Capstone Clinical Experience (Student Teaching/Internship)

The capstone clinical experience is a full-time, full-day, Monday through Friday placement of 80 school days in an approved setting and in a content area/grade level that corresponds to a candidate's program concentration. A full immersion, Yearlong Residency option may also be available. Check with a Program Advisor, Chair or Assistant Chair for more information.

 

Teacher candidates must apply to the Office of Clinical Studies for a Student Teaching/Internship placement for the Fall semester (September) by February 1 or for the Spring semester (January) by August 1. Student Teaching/Teaching Internship applications are to be submitted electronically in Taskstream/Watermark. Applications do NOT take the place of registering for Student Teaching/Internship. Registration and payment of all fees, including laboratory fees for Student Teaching/Internship, are still required. At the time of application, a new and sealed Federal and Delaware CBC (Criminal Background Check) Report, a new TB/PPD, a completed health form, and a completed CPR (Child Protection Registry Form) are required.

 

Placement and registration requirements include the following: Passing scores on the relevant PRAXIS II exam, a 3.0 grade point average, completion of all teacher preparation and content coursework, and a completed application in Taskstream/Watermark and all required clearance items.  All placements are arranged by placement specialists in the WilmU Office of Clinical Studies in accordance with school district partnership agreements and protocols. However, final placement decisions are made by school district officials and are based on school and district needs and the availability of school-based mentors who are rated as highly-qualified and effective. Candidates are not permitted to seek or make arrangements for their own placements.

 


Curriculum

Courses required of all Middle Level Education Candidates

General Education Requirements

(Math, English, Social Studies 31 credits) (Science 35 credits)

CTA 206 Computer Applications

OR

FYE 101 First Year Experience Seminar

ECO 105 Fundamentals of Economics

HIS 204 World History

PHI 100 Introduction to Critical Thinking

BIO 251 Biology I (with Lab)

ENG 121 English Composition I

ENG 122 English Composition II

ENG 320 Advanced Composition

HIS 381 Contemporary Global Issues

MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics

 

Science Majors must also take ENV 305 as part of their General Education Requirements:

ENV 305 Earth Science (with Lab)

Fine Arts Requirements (6 credits)

Select 2 courses from:

ART 101 Art Appreciation 1

ART 203 Non-Western Art

ART 210 Basic Design

ART 301 Drawing and Painting

ART 302 Drawing

ART 304 Painting

ART 315 Watercolor Painting

COM 431 Media and Society

DRA 105 Introduction to the Theater

DRA 110 Acting

DSN 110 Fundamentals of Drawing

DSN 210 Basic Photoshop

HIS 230 History of Art and Design

MUS 101 Music Appreciation

SPA 301 Practical Spanish I

TEC 215 Basic Photography

Social and Behavioral Science Courses (9 credits)

PSY 332 Adolescent Development

PSY 333 Psychology of the Exceptional Child

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology

Education Courses (33 credits)

EDU 102 E-Folio

EDU 203 Instructional Technology

EDU 204 Leadership and Collaboration

EDU 307 Instructional Strategies in Middle Level Education

EDU 308 Teaching in the Middle School

EDU 310 Applied Behavior Analysis and Classroom Culture

EDU 311 Assistive Technology

EDU 313 Classroom Culture and Student Behavior

EPY 201 Development and Implementation of IEPs

EPY 304 Advising and Mentoring in the Middle School

EPY 402 Learning Differences and Assessment of Exceptional Children

RDG 308 Diagnosis and Correction of Learning Differences in Reading

Content Area Courses

English/LA Content (27 credits)

EDU 407 Integrated Approaches to Teaching Middle Level Language Arts/Reading

COM 300 Communication Theory

COM 431 Media and Society

ENG 200 English Grammar

LIT 205 World/Non-Western Literature

LIT 302 Adolescent Literature

LIT 400 Multicultural Literature

LIT 410 Non-Fiction Literature

Mathematics Content (27 credits)

EDU 410 Integrated Approaches to Teaching Middle Math

MAT 200 Pre-Calculus

MAT 308 Inferential Statistics

MAT 310 Calculus I

MAT 311 Calculus II

MAT 320 Finite Mathematics

MAT 330 Discrete Math

MAT 331 Geometry

MAT 332 History of Mathematics

Science Content (24 credits)

EDU 409 Integrated Approaches to Teaching Middle School Science

MAT 200 Pre-Calculus

MAT 308 Inferential Statistics

BIO 252 Biology II (with Lab)

ENV 303 Climate Dynamics

SCI 312 Physics (with Lab)

SCI 315 Applied Chemistry (with Lab)

Social Studies Content (27 credits)

EDU 408 Integrated Approaches to Teaching Middle Level Social Science

HIS 300 World and Regional Geography

HIS 316 American History

HIS 324 Delaware History

POL 300 American Politics

POL 326 Public Policy and Social Issues

SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology

SOC 306 Cultural Anthropology

SOC 320 Society and Technology

Clinical Components (15 credits)

EDU 390 Practicum I

EDU 391 Practicum II

EDU 392 Practicum III

EDU 451 Student Teaching

EDU 452 Performance Assessment

EDU 452 must be taken in conjunction with EDU 451 Student Teaching

Transfer Credits: Accreditation requires our program to collect data on student performance in a variety of courses. For that reason, students will not be able to transfer in courses to cover the following coursework.

EDU 203, EDU 204, EDU 308, EDU 310, EDU 311 EDU 315, EDU 390, EDU 391, EDU 392, EDU 402, EDU 403, EDU 404, EDU 405, EDU 407, EDU 408, EDU 409, EDU 410, EDU 451, EDU 452, EPY 402, RDG 308


Certification

This is a state-approved degree program which contributes to eligibility for a State of Delaware Initial Teaching License and Certification as a classroom teacher in Grades 6-8 (EPY 201, EDU 310, EDU 311, EPY 402, and RDG 308).  The program also includes all the coursework necessary for Delaware certification as a Special Education teacher, Grades 6-8, in the content area(s) that correspond to a candidate’s content area major (English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science or Mathematics). To qualify for the additional certification in Special Education, candidates need to take and pass ETS Praxis II Exam #5354, Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications.  The minimum score requirement for Delaware is 151).  

It is highly recommended that candidates obtain certification in special education, as this is required by many schools and school districts.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2023-2024 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2022 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.