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Master of Education
This program is approved by the State of Delaware, and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). It contributes to eligibility for Delaware certification as a school counselor. Program competencies are based on the School Counselor Competencies established by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
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. This program has also been reviewed and approved for operation and licensure/certification in the state of New Jersey. Students seeking licensure in New Jersey are required to complete an additional six credits for a total of 57 credits per New Jersey Department of Education regulations. Wilmington University has not made determinations for licensure in states outside of Delaware and New Jersey. For state-by-state contact information for inquiring about individual state licensure requirements, please visit NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory.
This is a Delaware state-approved degree program which contributes to eligibility for licensure/certification as an educator in Delaware public schools. As such, all candidates must meet the content and performance assessment requirements described in DE Administrative Code.
The instrument selected by Wilmington University as a required exit assessment for the M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling is either ETS Praxis II exam #5421, Professional School Counselor with a minimum acceptable score of 156, or ETS Praxis II exam #5422, School Counselor, with a minimum acceptable score of 159.
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.
It is essential for candidates to consult with the Program Chair to obtain the most current information about these requirements.
Program Purpose
The Master of Education in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program prepares school counselor candidates to address the academic, social/emotional, and career developmental needs of all students in the K-12 school setting. This graduate program is aligned with the philosophy and vision of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, the ASCA Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs, the ASCA School Counselor Competencies, and the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. These standards emphasize training in the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program promoting leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and systemic change to enhance student achievement and success.
The College of Education and Liberal Arts at Wilmington University reserves the right to change requirements to comply with any licensure/certification or program-approval regulations issued by the Professional Standards Board and/or the Delaware State Department of Education and/or the Delaware Legislature.
Outcomes Assessment
The assessment of outcomes involves multiple measures throughout the program. Grades on assignments and for courses are the first level of assessment. Course goals, learning outcomes, assignments, and assessments are designed to address program competencies as well as graduation competencies. Other measures may include observation of candidate performance in authentic or simulated settings, surveys, standardized tests, and performance assessments.
Counseling Dispositions and Skills
Counseling dispositions are assessed throughout the program to ensure candidates are acquiring the skill sets to be effective in working with children and youth in the school setting. MEC instructors assess candidates at the conclusion of each course based on five specific areas: academic performance, intrapersonal factors, interpersonal relationships, professional behavior, and overall evaluation. This evaluative practice allows candidates to be mentored and coached in areas needing work in an effort to promote success in the program. Assessment continues in the clinical portion of the program under the supervision of the clinical faculty mentor. See full description and details of the disposition evaluation process in the MEC Academic Advisement Packet.
Program Competencies
The program competencies are the School Counselor Competencies (American School Counselor Association, 2008) and the ASCA Standards for School Counselor Preparation Programs, which can be accessed in their entirety through the ASCA website.
Program Design
The certification track of the Master of Education in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling (MEC) was designed to prepare school counselor candidates to meet the eligibility requirements for school counselor certification in the State of Delaware. The curriculum for the program is designed on a three-tiered system focusing on various competencies and skills. Level 1 courses provide content knowledge which establish the foundation for counseling skill development in Level 2 courses. Levels 1 and 2 provide the necessary competencies and skills to move to the capstone course and clinical experience at Level 3.
Candidates seeking Delaware state certification in school counseling are required to do the following:
700 Hours - Candidates who wish to pursue state certification as a school counselor are required to complete 700 hours of supervised fieldwork in order to satisfy Delaware certification requirements.
Candidates will complete 100 hours of practicum work during clinical cohort meetings and seminars. The remaining 600 hours are divided between two semesters in the following manner:
Fall Internship (300 hours):
Elementary (MEC 8004) or Secondary (MEC 8005) and
Mental Health Seminar (50 hours) (MEC 8015)
Spring Internship (300 hours):
Elementary (MEC 8006) or Secondary (MEC 8007) and
School Counselor Leadership Seminar (50 hours) (MEC 8017)
The school counselor certification process and application are the responsibility of the counselor candidate and are between the applicant and the Delaware Department of Education. Counselor candidates seeking certification in another state must contact their state department of education for application procedures and eligibility. This is the responsibility of the counselor candidate.
Completion of the degree includes successful completion of the courses within Levels 1 and 2, the Capstone course, Praxis II (test code 5421 of 5422), two internships, and two seminars. Level 1 courses must be completed prior to Level 2; Level 2 courses must be completed prior to Level 3 and within Level 3, the Capstone course must be completed prior to the internships.
Twenty one (21) semester credits in counseling theories, human behavior, college and career readiness, school counseling ethics, measurement and accountability, consultation, and working with special needs populations are required in Level 1. The minimum passing grade of a C or higher is expected for each Level 1 course; however, a candidate must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to gain access to Level 2 courses.
Twelve (12) semester credits in individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling strategies and techniques are required in Level 2. The minimum passing grade of a B or higher is expected for all Level 2 courses.
A Capstone course worth six (6) credits is required before candidates move into the clinical portion of the program. Passing the Praxis II: Professional School Counselor (test code 5421) or Praxis II: School Counselor (test code 5422) is required prior to the completion of the first internship. Twelve (12) semester credits of internships and seminars are required to fulfill the clinical portion of the program. The minimum passing grade of a B or higher is expected for the Capstone course and all Level 3 clinical courses.
The clinical portion includes a formal application submitted for approval in Watermark to the internship placement coordinator. The application includes, among other items, a Delaware state criminal background check, FBI clearance, child abuse clearance, TB results, signed confidentiality agreement, and a signed ethics agreement. All degree-seeking candidates in the MEC program are required to demonstrate graduation and program competencies as counselors by engaging in a prescribed variety of related counseling activities.
Candidates must work collaboratively with the internship placement coordinator to arrange to practice in either an elementary or secondary school (or both) according to the grade level at which they will be seeking state certification. Candidates work under the supervision of a school-based, state certified school counselor with at least three years of experience who is designated as the Cooperating Counselor. In addition, each candidate is assigned a Wilmington University Clinical Faculty Mentor who is responsible, in conjunction with the cooperating counselor, for monitoring the activities, interactions, and skill development of candidates. The clinical faculty mentor is responsible for final grade designation.
Candidates MUST have approval of the MEC Program Chair to begin their internship. Only approved candidates may register for a clinical course and ONLY registered internship candidates may participate in an internship to complete clinical hours.
Candidates must complete the 11 academic courses below in appropriate sequence to meet prerequisite requirements as well as required supervised certification internships and seminars:
MED 6102 E-Folio
MEC 6400 Introduction to School Counseling & Theories
MEC 6402 Human Behavior and Child Development
MEC 6607 Ethical Issues in School Counseling
MEC 7213 College & Career Readiness K-12
MEC 7502 The Counselor as Consultant
MEC 7503 Special Education Law and the School Counselor's Role
MEC 7701 Testing, Measurements, and Research in School Counseling
MEC 7202 Group Counseling
MEC 7500 Individual Counseling Skills and Strategies
MEC 7501 Family Counseling
MEC 6511 Principles & Practices of a School Counseling Program (Capstone course)
MEC 8004 Elementary School Counseling Fall Internship
OR
MEC 8005 Secondary School Counseling Fall Internship
AND
MEC 8015 Mental Health Seminar
MEC 8006 Elementary School Counseling Spring Internship
MEC 8007 Secondary School Counseling Spring Internship
MEC 8017 School Counselor Leadership Seminar
MEC 6901 Classification of Psychopathology
MEC 7806 Research Methods, Statistics, and Accountability in School Counseling
Qualifications for Degree
To qualify for the Master of Education degree, a student must successfully complete all 51 credit hours, maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, and submit a passing score on the PRAXIS II: Professional School Counselor #5421 or PRAXIS II: School Counselor #5422. Praxis scores should be submitted to Wilmington University via ETS. The program must be completed within five years.
*Students seeking licensure in New Jersey must complete six additional credits for a total of 57 credits per New Jersey Department of Education regulations.
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.
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