Track I Requirements

• Completion of Health Prerequisites
• Completion of Master of Science in Health Education (33 s.h.)

Track II Requirements

• Completion of General Education Core
• Completion of Health Prerequisites
• Completion of Professional Education Core (10-12 s.h.)
• Completion of Master of Science in Health Education (33 s.h.)
• Completion of additional 50 hours of Field Experience (0-1.5 s.h.)
• Completion of Student Teaching (6 s.h.) 

NOTE

Explanation of all requirements for both Track I and Track II are detailed in the program description, which follows.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission to the Master of Science in Health Education programs in the Department of Specialized Programs in Education  is made to the Graduate Admission Office. Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive review of the following:

1. Completed application form.
2. Interview with the program director.
3. Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended with a minimum 2.75 grade point average. Upon the recommendation of the program director, students with a grade point average lower than 2.75 may be admitted by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
   1. Complete 12 probationary graduate credits maintaining a minimum of 3.0 grade point average.
   2. The GRE may be required of those students with lower than a 2.5 grade point average.
4. Candidates applying to Track I must provide proof of valid initial/professional New York state certification.
5. Written personal statement describing the candidate’s goals in the teaching profession and in Health Education.
6. Two letters of reference that address the candidate’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and graduate studies.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate’s potential for success in a graduate program. Consequently, candidates are welcome to apply if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience may compensate.

Track I (for candidates holding current New York state certification)

Track II (for candidates with no previous certification)

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon the successful completion of a Hofstra state-approved teacher education program, students are eligible for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. A request for recommendation must be submitted to the Office of Educational Support Services the semester in which the student is graduating. There will be opportunities to attend a certification workshop during the student’s final semester, to receive all the necessary information regarding applying for certification. Individuals who apply directly to New York state for certification are responsible for learning about and satisfying the certification requirements set by the state. It should be noted that such requirements may differ from those in Hofstra’s registered programs.

All prospective early childhood (birth-grade 2), childhood (grades 1-6), adolescent (grades 7-12) and special subject, students with disabilities, gifted, TESOL, bilingual, literacy, speech and language disabilities teachers, as well as school leadership candidates, are required to pass the New York State Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc., including the Educating All Students Test (EAS), Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST), Content Specialty Test(s) (CST) and the edTPA. Prospective School Leaders will be required to take the appropriate leadership exams. For more information regarding state testing, please contact the Office of Educational Support Services at 516-463-5747 or visit www.nystce.nesinc.com.

In addition to fulfilling the required courses of study, the Commissioner’s Regulations mandate that all prospective teachers, pupil personnel and education leaders receive instructions regarding:

1. Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment
2. Fire and Arson Prevention
3. School Violence Prevention and Intervention
4. Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Abuse
5. Highway and School Safety/Prevention of Child Abduction
6. Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

New York state legislation also requires all persons seeking certification in special education, speech and language disabilities or school administrators working in special education, to have training in the area of children with autism.

Hofstra University offers the above listed educational law seminars through the Office of Educational Support Services. All of these seminars must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification.

Forms for applying for certification can be found at the Office of Educational Support Services Web page under the certification tab.

Fingerprinting
Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, the Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE), requires that applicants for teaching and administrative and pupil services personnel certification and perspective employees of covered schools (school districts, charter schools and BOCES) must undergo fingerprint supported criminal history background check. However, many school districts and institutions across the metropolitan New York area are now requiring that all student teachers, observers, interns or externs receive fingerprint clearance before they are placed in educational settings that are required for this degree program. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for fingerprint clearance upon acceptance to the program. Fingerprint clearance is also required for New York state certification. For information on how to register to be fingerprinted, visit http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/colleges/soeahs/CESS/cess_requirements_fingerprints.html.

General Education Core Requirements

In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students must have completed undergraduate course work from each of the content areas below.

1. Artistic Expression/Humanities (3 s.h.)
2. Communication (3 s.h.)
3. Information Retrieval or placement exam (0-3 s.h.)
4. Concepts in History/Social Science (3 s.h.)
5. Language other than English (3 s.h.)
6. Scientific Processes (3 s.h.)
7. Mathematical Processes (3 s.h.)
8. Literature, Analysis and Written Expression (6 s.h.)
9. Foundations of Education (3 s.h.)
10. Literacy course (1-3 s.h.)
11. SPED course (3 s.h.)
12. Child/Adolescent Development (3 s.h.)

Course work for the general education core in the liberal arts and sciences must have a GPA of 2.75 or above with no grades below a C-.

Please note that programs may have general education requirements that exceed the minimum registered with the state. Degrees will not be conferred unless all general education core deficiencies have been met.