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Hofstra University offers the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Education.
Students who have not decided on a field of specialization (i.e., major) when they enter as first-year students will be advised on academic planning by the Center for University Advising. Students must choose their field of specialization by no later than the completion of 60 student semester hours. After meeting with a staff member at the Center for University Advising, students should apply to the chairperson of the department of specialization and submit the appropriate documentation to the Office of Academic Records. Students can change their major at any time. However, the timing of that change might affect a student’s graduation date and scholarship awards. In order to facilitate orientation and advisement of a student to his or her new major, students must report any change in their major, minor, specialization, concentration, or degree on the official Change of Study form to the Office of Academic Records. Any change requires a signature from the new department indicating that the student has notified the new department and has been made aware of all requirements. Students are not required to obtain a signature from the program or major they are leaving.
For students interested in teaching in elementary and secondary schools, see Undergraduate Preprofessional Programs . Students who think they may wish to pursue a preprofessional program other than education (premedical, prelaw, etc.) should consult with the preprofessional adviser in the University Advising Office early in their college career.
Evening students will normally choose their major field after completing 12 semester hours. They will be given an appointment with a divisional adviser at the Center for University Advising.
Programs are listed under the degree type offered. Click here for information on all teaching fields (e.g., early childhood, elementary or secondary).
Dual Majors and Dual Degrees (Undergraduate)
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It may be possible for a student to complete two majors as part of one degree. Students interested in this option must register with the University Advising Office where they will be advised and given specific information on dual major requirements.
In rare instances it may be possible for a student to complete two undergraduate degrees simultaneously. The work for the two degrees must be in distinctly different programs (e.g., a simultaneous BS in Philosophy and a BA in Philosophy would not be permitted; a simultaneous BS in Philosophy and a BA in Sociology could be permitted). Students interested in this option must register with the University Advising Office where they will be advised and given specific information on the requirements for each degree.
Students who already hold a bachelor´s degree may earn a second one by satisfying the following requirements:
- The student must apply and be accepted in a program of study toward a second degree by the Office of Admission;
- The work for a second degree must be completed in a major or program distinctly different from the one in the first degree;
- The work in the major area of concentration must be completed in accordance with the requirements listed in this Bulletin;
- All University and degree requirements not met on admission must be completed;
- At least 30 credits over and above any used to satisfy the first bachelor’s degree must be completed at Hofstra. A minimum of 15 of these 30 credits must be in the new major field of concentration;
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned in the courses taken at Hofstra for the second degree.
University Degree Requirements
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To obtain a degree, each student successfully completes the following three distinct sets of requirements:
| I. |
The general University requirements, which must be fulfilled by all students working for a baccalaureate degree: |
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A. |
The completion of the total number of semester hours and the specific degree requirements as specified by the major or school; |
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B. |
The completion of the number of semester hours in liberal arts courses as required by the major or school; |
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C. |
At least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in work completed at Hofstra and required for the major as specified by the major department; |
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D. |
All students must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation. (For the only exceptions, see E. 3 and 5, below.) |
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E. |
1. |
The satisfactory completion of Writing Studies and Composition WSC 001 and WSC 002 , which includes the Writing Proficiency Exam. Passing this test is a requirement for graduation. The Writing Proficiency Exam is administered during the final period of WSC 002. All students who do not pass the exam are advised to take WSC 002A to receive individualized tutoring; they must retake the Writing Proficiency Exam at the end of WSC 002A. Students must take the Writing Proficiency Exam prior to the semester in which they are scheduled to graduate. The Writing Proficiency Exam is offered once in the fall and spring semesters and by appointment with the department of Writing Studies and Rhetoric . |
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WSC 001 and WSC 002 , whether taken at Hofstra or at any other institution, must be completed with a minimum grade of C- in each course. These courses may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis. |
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Students entering Hofstra University with no credit in composition must, under advisement, register for WSC 001 and WSC 002 or the appropriate course immediately and continue until the WSC 001 and WSC 002 requirement is completed. There is an exception for students with outstanding ability in English (SAT Verbal scores of 660 or above) who may qualify for exemption from WSC 001 & WSC 002 if they demonstrate exceptional ability in the Writing Studies and Composition Department’s Writing Assessment before the end of their second week of classes at Hofstra. Students who perform satisfactorily on the Writing Assessment are not required to take the Writing Proficiency Exam. |
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Students entering Hofstra with full credit for WSC 001 and WSC 002 must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation. Such students are strongly encouraged to take the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam during their first semester at Hofstra. Students must take the Writing Proficiency Exam prior to the semester in which they are scheduled to graduate. The Writing Proficiency Exam is offered once in the fall and spring semesters and by appointment with the department of Writing Studies and Composition. NOTE: Transfer students may receive credit for WSC 001 and WSC 002 on the basis of equivalent courses taken at other institutions. See the criteria for accepting transfer credit section of this Bulletin. |
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Students who entered New College for Interdisciplinary Studies or transferred into it from another Hofstra program or another college or university prior to fall 2006 must complete all requirements as stipulated in the Bulletin of first registration and for WSB 6 (Aspect 1) and WSA 2A and WSA 2B (Aspect 2) of the New College Writing Requirement. See New College Addendum to the General Bulletin. |
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The following is for students who entered New College for Interdisciplinary Studies prior to fall 2006 and transfer from New College for Interdisciplinary Studies to another school/college of the University: |
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a.) |
Students who were placed in and successfully completed CSWA 1 have fulfilled the Expository Writing Requirement and have completed the equivalent of WSC 001 . Otherwise, students must take WSC 001 and WSC 002 . |
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b.) |
Students seeking credit for the equivalent of WSC 2 must see a representative from the Office of the Vice Dean. |
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Students entering with partial credit for WSC 001 and WSC 002 (fewer than four semester hours of Advanced Placement, CLEP or transfer credit, see these sections of this Bulletin) must complete the requirement and pass the Writing Proficiency Exam. Students must take the Writing Proficiency Exam prior to the semester in which they are scheduled to graduate. The Writing Proficiency Exam is offered once in the fall and spring semesters and by appointment with the department of Writing Studies and Composition. |
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F. |
A minimum of 6 semester hours each in humanities, natural science/mathematics and social science. Many particular degree programs require that some or all of the courses in these required areas be distribution courses; distribution courses may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis, except for courses given only on that basis. (See Pass/D+/D/Fail in the “Academic Policies and Procedures ” section of this Bulletin; Distribution Courses can be found in the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this Bulletin.) |
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G. |
A maximum of 8 credits of physical education skills courses may be applied toward the total number of required degree credits for nonphysical education majors. (See the listing of skills courses in the School of Education section of this Bulletin.) |
| II. |
A grade of C- or better is required in a course prerequisite, except for the Frank G. Zarb School of Business , where a grade of D or better is required.
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| III. |
Only grades of C- or better in subjects required in the major or minor area of specialization will count toward the total semester hour credit needed for completion of that specialization unless approved in writing by the chairperson of the major or minor department and the Dean who is the administrator of the major or minor department.
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Once matriculated, current students may not take courses at other educational institutions. Only in rare cases and for exceptional and extenuating circumstances will a request to attend another educational institution be considered. To request a waiver from this policy, please contact the appropriate Dean’s Office who must approve any waiver in advance. Please note that documentation of the extenuating circumstance(s) may be required.
Study Abroad courses taken at other institutions are the exception. Students studying abroad either directly at foreign institutions or under the auspices of other U.S. institutions may still arrange to have their credits counted toward the completion of Hofstra degree requirements. It is important to remember, however, to get permission from the Office of Study Abroad Programs to transfer those credits BEFORE going abroad.
Students with junior or senior standing (60 or more hours) are not permitted to enroll for courses at junior or community colleges offering two-year terminal programs. (See Transfer Credit Policy for complete requirements.)
Completion of Baccalaureate Degrees - Residency Requirement
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Most programs leading to a bachelor’s degree require distribution courses. Students who receive transfer credit for courses that are equivalent to those that satisfy distribution requirements may apply these courses to fulfill some or all of their distribution requirements. No student may satisfy distribution requirements at another institution once that student has matriculated at Hofstra University with the exception of students participating in an accredited study abroad program at another institution; with permission of the department offering the distribution course, such students may receive credit for one, and only one, distribution course upon successful completion of the course and the study abroad program. In acknowledgment of the experiential component of study abroad courses, it is recognized that distribution courses taken while participating in study abroad programs may not be exact equivalents to Hofstra courses that satisfy distribution requirements. A waiver and substitution form signed by the chairperson of the department offering the distribution course and the dean of the unit of the student’s major is required.
For the BBA distribution course requirements , see the Frank G. Zarb School of Business section of this online Bulletin.
Transfer students who expect to earn Hofstra degrees must meet the University residency requirements. All students must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering: At least 15 semester hours in the major field of study and the last 30 hours must be completed at Hofstra; the 15 hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.
Bachelor of Science in Education: The last 30 semester hours must be completed at Hofstra, and the residency requirement for the education major, which includes student teaching, is as follows: art (at least 29 hours), music (at least 30 hours), physical education (at least 25 hours).
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Normally requires the last 6 semesters of full-time study be taken at Hofstra.
NOTE: Students majoring in the Department of Radio, Television, Film must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours in the major in residence. Students majoring in the Department of Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours in the major in residence if pursuing the BA in Journalism and 30 semester hours in the major in residence if pursuing the BA in Mass Media Studies or Public Relations . The semester hours in residence for the major need not be included within the last 30 hours.
For active-duty servicemembers, Hofstra University limits academic residency to no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the degree requirements for all undergraduate degrees. Academic residency can be completed at any time while active-duty servicemembers are enrolled. Reservists and National Guardsmen on active-duty are covered in the same manner.
For information on student characteristics and outcomes, including retention and graduation rates, visit the Consumer Information and Student Right to Know page.
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