Watson College
of Education
The Watson College of Education is
an exciting place to learn to teach
and work with teachers and students! We have many different programs –something for everyone, no matter what age or grade you are interested in teaching. Become a part of the Watson College of Education team and come learn and grow with us.
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Aerial view of the Watson College of Education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
WCE students interact with elementary students at the Watson College of Education.
WCE students interact with elementary school students at the Watson College of Education.
WCE intern Jennifer Watkins works with students at Wrightsboro Elementary School.
WCE student and elementary school students learn through dance.
WCE graduate Lauren Applewhite watches her student work at the SMARTboard screen at Murrayville Elementary.
WCE worked with middle schools to study the effects of educational video games on mathematical achievement.
WCE worked with middle schools to study the effects of educational video games on mathematical achievement.
Master of Instructional Technology graduate Chip Bobbert wears a GoPro camera to graduation!
Newly graduated WCE students take photos in Legacy Hall, a series of nine niches depicting multiple facets of education in North Carolina.
Students make connections with collegues across the world in South Africa in one of our distance learning room.
A student takes a break at the "School Desks" niche in Legacy Hall in the Education Building.
A student relaxes on the Monumental Staircase during class change in the Education Building.
Isaac Bear Early College students do experiments with Probeware on the UNCW campus.
View of the "One Room Schoolhouse" niche in Legacy Hall in the Education Building.
View of the atrium in the Watson College of Education Building.
WCE student tutors students from the Betty Stike Education Laboratory near the
"One Room Schoolhouse" niche in Legacy Hall.
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Why Watson?
The Watson College of Education is the fourth largest producer of teachers at the undergraduate level in the state of North Carolina and has been rated "exemplary" by the State Board of Education. Only 7 out of 47 North Carolina teacher education programs received this honor. We also received the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which honors leadership and innovation in teacher education. At Watson, we have excellent partnerships with businesses, school systems and community colleges in our region.
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WCE student Liz Lancaster chats with a Bradley Creek Elementary school third grader
as the PASSPORT program visited the school. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Students work beside 3rd grade students and teachers from Bradley Creek Elementary school during the PASSPORT project. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
WCE intern Jennifer Watkins works with students at Wrightsboro Elementary School.
Dr. Robert Smith lectures a class for Secondary Education students.
WCE student and elementary school students learn through dance.
Watson College of Education graduates always have the best mortar boards at graduation!
View of the "ABC" glass etching in the atrium of the Education Building.
WCE science student in Dr. Rich Huber's class experiments with local middle school students using Probeware.
View of several niches in Legacy Hall in the Education Building, a series of nine niches depicting
multiple facets of education in North Carolina.
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We offer undergraduate programs in:
• Elementary (K-6)
• Middle Grades (6-9)
• Secondary (9-12)
• Allied Areas (K-12)
• Education of Young Children (B-K)
• Special Education (K-12)
UNCW is among the top-ranked public, master's-focused universities in the South. In addition, UNCW offers a terminal degree for Ed.D. in educational leadership. We offer Master's degrees in Elementary, Specialty Studies, Curriculum/Instruction & Supervision, Higher Education, Middle Level, Language & Literacy, and
Secondary Education, as well as School Administration and Instructional Technology. We also offer a doctoral program in Educational Leadership with three areas of concentration.
Already have your bachelors or masters degree? We have add-on licensure programs available for:
• Curriculum/Instruction & Supervision
• School Administration
• Education of Young Children, Elementary,
Middle Level & Secondary
• Special Subjects
• Special Education
• Academically/Intellectually Gifted
• English as a Second Language
• Reading Specialist
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Already a Teacher?
You are never finished learning! You can
gain additional expertise in several different capacities and add-on licensure areas to enable you to serve in different roles in your school or district! Check out our certification-only options for Curriculum/Instruction & Supervision, Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG), English as a Second Language (ESL), Language and Literacy, School Administration, and Instructional Technology!
Course Delivery
At Watson College, courses are offered both on campus and online, allowing students to earn their degrees and/or certificates by taking on-campus courses, online courses, or a combination of both types. We offer flexible course delivery systems including fully web-enhance, fully online, weekend and night classes.
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Love of Place
The University of North Carolina is part of a consortium of 17 schools across the state. We are a coastal university, located just five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Wilmington, also known as The Port City, is a historic community, rich in history, with ties to the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II. Once home to the largest cotton exchange in the world, Wilmington now prides itself as a prime tourist destination, boasting beautiful beaches, the Cape Fear Riverfront, and temperate weather throughout most of the year.
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Looking through the azalea's in the back courtyard of the Education Building.
UNCW student enjoys the campus beauty and flowers in the spring. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Potential students and their families tour the College of Education. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Judson Brock enjoys surf at Topsail Island during Tropical Storm Isaac. UNCW/Katherine Freshwater
The sun sets over a calm Wrightsville Beach in early March. UNCW/Lydia Shippen
View of the RiverWalk and downtown Wilmington from the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
UNCW is located about 10 minutes away from Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. UNCW/Katherine Freshwater
UNCW is located about 10 minutes away from Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. UNCW/Katherine Freshwater
Students make their way along Chancellor's Walk at UNC Wilmington. UNCW / Jamie Moncrief
UNCW is known for its beautiful campus, lush greenry and abundant azaleas. UNCW / Jamie Moncrief
Emily Snider takes to the trees on a warm spring afternoon on the UNC Wilmington campus. UNCW / Lydia Shippen
UNCW students relax at the Seahawk Landing pool area. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Downtown Wilmington's Riverwalk, old markets, gothic churches, art galleries and museums. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Sunrise at Jonnie Mercer's pier in Wrightsville Beach. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
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UNCW teaching assistant Jennifer Watkins works with fifth-graders. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Middle school students participate in the Junior Seahawk Academy over the summer and study websites associated with automobile efficiency. UNCW/Katherine Freshwater
The Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CESTEM) proudly sponsors the Southeast Regional Science Fair on UNCW's campus.
Lauren Applewhite watches as her Murrayville Elementary student Matt Weaver works with the latest interactive technology for the classroom - an ActivBoard. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Dr. Heidi Higgins, UNCW's Watson School of Education, watches as middle school students use a computer program to navigate through a three-dimension world as part of an ongoing research project. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
WCE students tutor elementary school children from the community at the Betty Stike Educational Laboratory.
WCE students practice the methods they are learning in their courses by tutoring a child in a one-on-one
setting at the Betty Stike Educational Laboratory.
Sitting in front of the "One Room Schoolhouse" niche, WCE student tutors a child from
the Betty Stike Educational Laboratory.
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Live and Learn
We strive to make high quality placements for candidates in a variety of supportive, professional settings during their education program. This process includes a commitment to making diverse internship placements with outstanding, experienced partnership teachers, administrators, and business leaders who support and guide interns in a professional and productive manner. Our continuing goal is to provide professional experiences which foster the development of competent professionals to serve in leadership positions.
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Dr. Susan Catapano takes a plunge in Belize.
Students participate in an internship in cultural exchange in Belize.
Student interns teaching a full classroom in Belize.
WCE student poses under a huge plant in Costa Rica while participating in an immersion program.
WCE students look at education through the eyes of Japanese educators in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, Japan.
WCE students look at education through the eyes of Japanese educators in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, Japan.
WCE students participate in a tea ceremony while studying in Japan.
Students travel to Kuwait to student teach at the American Creative Academy in Kuwait City.
Making new friends in Kuwait while taking a break from student teaching.
WCE students and Dr. Michele Parker strike the Seahawk pose in Belize.
Local children from the township in South Africa, where WCE students can complete their internships.
12. Beautiful sites and animals in South Africa.
WCE students teach in township schools during their internship in South Africa.
Beautiful sites in South Africa.
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Explore the World
Did you know that if you come to the Watson College of Education, you will have the chance to explore educational systems all around the world? Currently, we have opportunities for 5-week internships in Belize, Kuwait, and South Africa. We have other opportunities for teaching and observing in China, Costa Rica, Japan, and Great Britain. Come explore the world with Watson! You’ll be glad you did.
Admission into the Watson College of Education is a two-step process. You must first be admitted or enrolled at UNC Wilmington. Visit the UNCW Admissions website if you are not currently enrolled.
To learn more about admissions requirements for Watson, please visit our admissions website. We can't wait for you to become a member of the Watson College family!
Apply Now
