Mar 28, 2024  
2006-2007 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2006-2007 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Curriculum and Teaching


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Associate Professor Kaufman, Chairperson

Areas of specialization are Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and programs in Fine Arts Education, Music and Business Education, all grades. These areas of specialization are academic co-majors within baccalaureate degrees.

Five-Year Option
Education students interested in completing both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees within a five-year period should see their academic adviser in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. Qualifying students interested in pursuing this possibility should seek appropriate advisement during their freshman year.

Elementary and Early Childhood Education (ELED)

Professor Koch
Associate Professors Brooks, Davey, Elijah,  Kaufman, Miletta
Assistant Professors Balantic, Fusco, Smith
Special Assistant Professor Libresco

Undergraduate Teacher Preparation for Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2)

Bachelor of Arts. The undergraduate early childhood education program leads toward New York state initial teacher certification in early childhood (birth-grade 2). The early childhood program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in fulltime student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of this program. The program conforms to the standards and guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the New York State Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education.

Program Requirements
Students select a B.A. degree program from an area of the liberal arts and sciences (excluding fine arts, dance, drama, music and speech-language-hearing sciences and selected majors in New College and the School of Communication). After completing 45 semester hours of college course work, students choose early childhood education as a co-major. This education program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in fulltime student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the programs. Hofstra’s undergraduate program in early childhood is a New York state registered program. Students who successfully complete the program and who obtain passing scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) will qualify for New York State Initial Teaching Certification.

Admission Criteria for the Early Childhood Education Program
After completing 45 semester hours of college course work, students may apply for admission to the School of Education and Allied Human Services through the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

  • A passing score on the Hofstra English Proficiency Exam.
  • An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher on overall course work and liberal arts and sciences course work.
  • Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession.
  • A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
  • An interview with the program director.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Students may consider applying even if they fail to meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

Undergraduate Teacher Preparation for Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)

The undergraduate elementary education program leads toward New York state initial teacher certification in childhood education (grades 1-6). The elementary education program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in full-time student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the program. The program conforms with the standards and guidelines of the Association for Childhood Education International and with the New York State Learning Standards for Childhood Education.

Program Requirements
Students select a B.A. degree program from an area of the liberal arts and sciences (excluding fine arts, dance, drama, music; speech-language-hearing sciences; and selected majors in New College and the School of Communication). After completing a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work, students choose elementary education as a co-major. Hofstra’s undergraduate program in elementary education is a New York state registered program. Students who successfully complete this program and who obtain passing scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) will qualify for New York State Initial Teacher Certification.

Admission Criteria for the Elementary Education Program
After completing a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work, students may apply for admission to the School of Education and Allied Human Services through the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. Admission into a B.A. degree program in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching is based
on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

  • A passing score on the Hofstra English Proficiency Exam or completion of the New College Writing Program.
  • An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in liberal arts and sciences course work.
  • Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession.
  • A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.

Secondary Education (SED)

Professors Murphy, Singer, Whitton
Associate Professors Hines, Torff
Assistant Professor Gordon, Stacki, Zwirn

Undergraduate Programs

Secondary Education programs administered under the Department of Curriculum and Teaching prepare teachers of the academic subjects normally taught in grades 7-12, as well as for the subjects of art, business and music. Students who plan to teach physical education or school health education should enroll in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences or Health Professions and Family Studies.

Students who plan to teach English, languages other than English, mathematics, science, or social studies at the secondary level (7-12) should select a B.A. degree program and a major in the same subject area. During the second semester of the sophomore year (a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work), students should choose an area of secondary education as a co-major. Students interested in teaching art or music should select a B.S. in Education degree program, specializing in the same subject area (see program requirements for these B.S. in Education degrees listed separately below).

Secondary education programs are designed to blend on campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings including high needs schools. Field work will culminate in full-time student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the programs. Hofstra’s undergraduate programs in secondary education are New York State registered programs. Students who successfully complete one of these programs and who obtain passing scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) will qualify for initial New York State Certification. See the School of Education and Allied Human Services for additional information regarding teacher certification.

Admission Criteria for Secondary Education Programs
During the second semester of the sophomore year (having completed a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work), students should apply for admission to the School of Education and Allied Human Services through the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. Admission into a B.A. degree program or a B.S. in Education degree program in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

  • A passing score on the Hofstra English Proficiency Exam.
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher on all course work.
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher in the subject area in which certification will be sought.
  • Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession.
  • A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
  • An interview, audition, and/or portfolio may be required in some programs (see academic advisers in the area in which certification will be sought).

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Students may consider applying even if they fail to meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

After being accepted into the School of Education and Allied Human Services, students must declare an education co-major by submitting a Change of Major Form to the Office of Academic Records. This form must be signed by program advisers for each major area.

Required Course Work for B.A. Degree Programs Within Secondary Education
In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students in B.A. degree programs with co-majors in secondary education must satisfactorily complete the Hofstra Distribution Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements. This must include at least 3 s.h. in a language other than English (or American Sign) or placement above level 4 (students completing B.S. in Education degrees to be certified fine arts, business education or music education should see specific requirements for these programs listed separately below). Additional requirements are listed in each certification area. Transfer students must plan their courses of study carefully with an academic adviser to ensure that their programs will both fulfill University and New York State Education Department requirements.

Areas to be Included in Satisfying the Hofstra Distribution:

  • Artistic Expression/Humanities (3 s.h.): AH 3-8, 74, 101;
  • DNCE 127; DRAM 1; MUS 3, 130, or 135.
  • Communication (3 s.h.): SPCM 1, Oral Communication, or SPCM 7, Public Speaking.
  • Information Retrieval (0-3 s.h.): CSC 5, Overview of Computer Science; a passing score on the Examination for Information Retrieval (EIR), or comparable course work.
  • Historical Concepts (3 s.h.): Any HIST course listed under the Social Sciences Division of the Hofstra Distribution.
  • Social Science Concepts (3 s.h.): Any course from the Social Sciences Division of the Hofstra Distribution, PSY 7, Fundamental Perspectives in Psychology, or PSY 1, highly recommended (prerequisite for SED 102).
  • Philosophy (3 s.h.): Any PHI course listed under the Social Science Division of the Hofstra Distribution. PHI 14, Introduction to Ethics I, recommended.
  • Language Other Than English (0-12 s.h.): Completion of level 4 in a language other than English, placement above level 4, or completion of the special language option.
  • Scientific Processes (3 s.h.): Any natural science course listed under the Natural Sciences, Mathematics/Computer Science Division of the Hofstra Distribution, BIO 4, Human Biology, highly recommended.
  • Mathematical Processes (3 s.h.): Any MATH course listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science Division of the Hofstra Distribution. MATH 30B, Explorations in Mathematics, highly recommended for non-mathematics and non-science majors.
  • Written Analysis and Expression (6 s.h.): ENGL 1 & 2, and a passing score on the Hofstra English Proficiency Exam.
  • Cross-Cultural Appreciation (3 s.h.): Any course listed under the Cross-Cultural Division of the Hofstra Distribution.

Transfer students must plan their courses of study carefully with an academic adviser to ensure that their programs will fulfill both University and New York State Education Department requirements.

Required Professional Education Courses:

Beyond the completion of all major requirements for the B.A. degree in the subject area in which certification will be sought, the co-major in an area of secondary education requires the completion of at least 31 semester hours in education course work. The following is the basic structure of secondary education programs specializing in the teaching of English, languages other than English, mathematics, science, social studies, or speech communication. (Students completing a B.S. in Education degree to be certified in the visual arts or music should see specific course requirements for those programs listed separately below.

  • Introductory Courses (10 s.h.):
    FDED 111, The American School or FDED 127, Introduction to Philosophy of Education, 3 s.h.
    SED 100, Educational Technology in Secondary and Middle Level Education, 1 s.h.
    *SED 102, Adolescent Development and Learning (PSY 7 or PSY 1 is prerequisite), 3 s.h.
    *SPED 102, Inclusion: Meeting Special Needs in PreK-12 Programs, 3 s.h.
  • General Methods Courses (6 s.h.):
    *SED 151, The Secondary School Teacher, 3 s.h.
    *LYST 101, Literacy for Middle/High School Teachers, 3 s.h.
  • Special Methods and Curriculum Courses (6 s.h.):
    *SED 152-160 content specialization teaching methods courses, 3 s.h.
    SED 163-167 content specialization curriculum courses, 3 s.h.
  • Student Teaching and Co-requisite Seminars (9 s.h.):
    SED 178, Reflective Practice and Classroom Analysis. (Requires completion of an electronic portfolio), 3 s.h.
    SED 179, Student Teaching, 6 s.h.

Students who have more credits than they need to fulfill the bachelor’s degree requirements may take secondary education graduate courses for graduate credit, up to 9 semester hours, with permission. (See Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduates)

Student Teaching Prerequisites
After completing at least 19 semester hours of professional education course work, including the special methods course(s), and an adviser audit of content area course work, students may apply for admission to student teaching. Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Field Placement and returned by October 1 for the spring semester and March 1 for the fall semester. Admission criteria are as follows:

  1. a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on overall course work or permission of adviser;
  2. ** no grades lower than C- or unresolved INCs in professional education course work; and
  3. a GPA of 2.5 or higher in course work in the major area in which certification will be sought.

Graduation Requirements for Secondary Education Programs
Graduation from an undergraduate secondary education program requires:

  1. completion of all graduation requirements for the appropriate bachelor’s degree in the major content area in which certification will be sought;
  2. completion of all course requirements for the co-major in the concentration area within secondary education (not applicable for B.S. in Education degrees);
  3. ** no grades lower than C- or unresolved INCs in professional education course work;
  4. a minimum GPA of 2.75 in overall course work;
  5. a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major area in which certification will be sought;
  6. an electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.

Teacher Certification Requirements
Upon the successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York State Certification. For Initial Certification, students are required to have passing scores on each of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE): The Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), The Assessment of Teaching Skills–Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Students not receiving passing scores on all three examinations will not be eligible for certification. Additional information pertaining to certification can be found in the School of Education and Allied Human Services.

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that students complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations prior to student teaching and the Assessment of Teaching Skills Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST) during student teaching. All three New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NTSTCE) should be completed prior to graduation.

*

* Participation/observation in secondary school are required in each of the following courses:

  • SED 102 - Field Placement-grades 7-9 (20 clock hours)
  • SED 151 - Field Placement-grades 7-12 (20 clock hours)
  • SED 152 - Field Placement-grades 7-12 (30 clock hours)
  • SPED 102 - Field Placement-grades 7-12 (20 clock hours)
  • LYST 101 - Field Placement-grades 7-12 (10 clock hours)

Students receiving a grade lower than C- in a professional education course must repeat the course and receive a grade of C or higher in order to remain in the program.

** Other courses may be required for certain specializations. Students receiving a grade lower than C- on a professional education course must retake the course and receive a grade of C or higher in order to remain in the program.

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