American Studies (AM ST)

Professor of Political Science Landis and Professor of English Couser, Co-Chairpersons, American Studies Advisory Committee

Educationally distinctive, American Studies is both intensive, in having America as its unvarying concern, and extensive, in relying upon different disciplines. For the students and teachers involved, American Studies means joining in a shared effort with persons whose concerns are partly, or even largely, at variance with one’s own. Such an approach offers a special opportunity to integrate knowledge of American literature, history, politics, economics, art and philosophy into a complex but meaningful whole.

Taking a minor or a major in American Studies permits the student to see a single subject, America, in different ways with the help of various academic departments and disciplines. Such minor and major programs are readily adapted, with advisement, to the needs, abilities and preferences of the individual student.

American Studies is an interdisciplinary alternative for undergraduates looking forward to graduate work and careers in public service, law, higher education, and other fields associated with the social sciences and humanities.

International Affairs

Professor Landis, Chairperson

Assistant Professor Green of Political Science, Adviser

Legal Education Accelerated Program

Professor Mark Landis, Chair

Legal Education Accelerated Program (LEAP). Also known as the 3+3 Program, this program permits a specially selected group of newly admitted first year students to complete the requirements for both the bachelor of arts and juris doctor degrees in just six years. The students selected for this program normally rank in the top 15% of their high school’s graduating class and have a combined SAT score of at least 1200. Matriculation in the Hofstra University School of Law takes place at the end of the junior year, and the B.A.degree is granted upon satisfactory completion of 29 semester hours during the first year of law school. To maintain eligibility for law school matriculation at the end of the junior year, students admitted to this program must complete:

1. a minimum of 95 semester hours in HCLAS (at least 94 of them in liberal arts courses);
2. all University requirements, including English 1 & 2, the English Proficiency Exam, and the Math Proficiency Exam;
3. all HCLAS distribution course requirements and language requirements, and all requirements for the specific academic major chosen by the student. Students may select any undergraduate major so long as they meet the liberal arts requirements, as stated above.

Students who have met the above requirements for the B.A. will normally be permitted to enroll in the Hofstra University School of Law after their junior year, if they have achieved an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 and received a score of at least 153 on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

A joint committee, made up of representatives from Hofstra College, the Hofstra University School of Law, and the Office of Admissions, will select the students to be admitted to the Legal Education Acceleration Program. Administration of the program will be by the Department of Political Science, under the supervision of the dean of Hofstra College.

Political Science (PSC)

Professor Landis, Chairperson

Associate Professor Feldman, Himelfarb, Perotti;
Assistant Professors Dudek, Green, Kanatsu.

Public Affairs

Professor Landis, Chairperson

Associate Professor of Political Science Himelfarb, Adviser