Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6)

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) program at Wilmington University is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This program is designed to prepare students for a career in elementary education and leads to eligibility for a State of Delaware Initial Teaching License and Certification as an elementary teacher, Grades K-6.

Program Overview

This program 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 coursework is applicable and acceptable.

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: Prior to placement for student teaching/internship in elementary education, candidates must meet Praxis II requirements for the degree program.
  • Complete passage of the following ETS Praxis II Content Knowledge Examinations for licensure/certification:
    • #5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary | 159
    • #7813 Mathematics Subtest | 143
    • #7814 Science Subtest | 144
    • #7815 Social Studies Subtest | 153
  • OR: Possible application of Multiple Measures - Candidates must pass exam #5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary and must pass two out of the three subtests listed above for licensure/certification as an elementary teacher (grades K-6).

Program Requirements

• Teacher candidates must register for EDU 102 E-Folio and EDU 203 Instructional Technology as the first courses in the program.
• Teacher candidates must complete all requirements associated with the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education K-6, including all coursework 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 or higher.

Fieldwork Requirements

• All fieldwork placements are arranged by the Office of Clinical Studies in accordance with school district partnership agreements and placement protocols.
• Practicum Courses (Practicum I, II, III): Each of these three courses requires 60 hours of field experience in an approved school setting plus 30 hours of required seminars.

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.

Curriculum

Praxis Preparation Courses (Optional)

These zero-credit courses are designed to provide teacher candidates with individualized preparation for the Praxis Elementary Exam.

• EDU 326 Praxis Preparation in Reading/Language Arts
• EDU 327 Praxis Preparation in Science
• EDU 328 Praxis Preparation in Social Sciences
• EDU 329 Praxis Preparation Mathematics

General Education Requirements (48 credits)

• CTA 206 Computer Applications
• OR FYE 101 First Year Experience Seminar
• ECO 105 Fundamentals of Economics
• MAT 201 Mathematics for Teachers I
• MAT 202 Mathematics for Teachers II
• MAT 304 Mathematics for Teachers III
• PHI 100 Introduction to Critical Thinking
• BIO 251 Biology I (with Lab)
• ENV 305 Earth Science (with Lab)
• SCI 307 Physical Science (with Lab)
• ENG 121 English Composition I
• ENG 122 English Composition II
• ENG 320 Advanced Composition
• HIS 302 Social Studies for Elementary Teachers
• HIS 316 American History
• POL 300 American Politics

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 210 Basic Photoshop
• DSN 110 Fundamentals of Drawing
• HIS 230 History of Art and Design
• MUS 101 Music Appreciation
• SPA 301 Practical Spanish I
• TEC 215 Basic Photography

Behavioral Science Core (6 credits)

• PSY 333 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
• PSY 336 Child Development

Education Core (48 credits)

• EDU 102 E-Folio
• EDU 203 Instructional Technology
• ECE 214 Creating Environments for Learning
• EDU 304 Health and Physical Education
• EDU 310 Applied Behavior Analysis and Classroom Culture
• EDU 311 Assistive Technology
• EDU 204 Leadership and Collaboration
• EDU 314 Instructional Strategies in Elementary Education
• EDU 315 Learner Development and Numeracy
• EPY 201 Development and Implementation of IEPs
• EPY 402 Learning Differences and Assessment of Exceptional Children
• RDG 203 Learner Development and Early Literacy
• RDG 308 Diagnosis and Correction of Learning Differences in Reading
• EDU 402 Integrated Methods to Teaching Elementary Language Arts/Reading
• EDU 403 Integrated Methods to Teaching Elementary Social Studies
• EDU 404 Integrated Methods to Teaching Elementary Science
• EDU 405 Integrated Methods to Teaching Elementary Math

Clinical Components (15 credits)

• EDU 390 Practicum I
• EDU 391 Practicum II
• EDU 392 Practicum III
• EDU 451 Student Teaching
• EDU 452 Performance Assessment

Certification

This program includes all the coursework necessary for Delaware certification as a Special Education teacher in all subjects Grades K-6. Candidates must also pass ETS Praxis II Exam #5355, Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications, with a minimum score requirement of 145 for Delaware. It is highly recommended that candidates obtain certification in special education, as this is required by many schools and school districts.