Curriculum and Teaching

Professor Fromberg, Chairperson, 128 Hagedorn Hall,
Doris.P.Fromberg@hofstra.edu

Assistant Professor Gordon, Assistant Chairperson
Professors Koch, Murphy, Singer, Whitton
Associate Professors Brooks, Davey, Elijah, Gordon, Hines, Kaufman, Miletta, Stacki, Torff
Assistant Professors Fusco, Joseph, Smith, Zwirn
Special Assistant Professor Libresco
Instructor Marlene Munn-Joseph

Elementary and Early Childhood Education (ELED)

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Elementary Education
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Early Childhood Education
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Dual Certification Program in Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
Master of Arts: Elementary Education
Master of Arts: Elementary Education—Mathematics, Science, and Technology
Master of Arts: Early Childhood Education
Advanced Certificate: Middle School Extension

General Information

Programs in elementary and early childhood education at the master’s level are designed to serve qualified graduate students who seek certification as teachers in the elementary schools of New York state or advanced work in curriculum and instruction, having obtained certification as classroom teachers.

Two master’s degree programs in elementary education—the Master of Science in Education for the noncertified person and the Master of Arts for the certified — have been designed to serve these separate purposes. In subsequent paragraphs the standard requirements and options in the two degree programs are outlined. Substitutions will be permitted with advisement where, in light of the student’s background and purposes, other courses are seen to be more appropriate.

Consideration for admission to a master’s program requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with at least 60 semester hours in liberal arts course work and a minimum of 21 semester hours in a concentration in humanities, natural science or social science. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

A completed application to the master’s program.
A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 in each of two categories:
1. overall course work;
2. liberal arts and sciences course work.
A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.
An interview (a requirement in some programs).

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.

Applicants for admission to graduate programs in elementary and early childhood education are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students who have not met the full admission requirements may be advised to complete prerequisite courses under a planned program before becoming eligible for full acceptance. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination will be used as an ancillary means of evaluation in some cases.

Prerequisites for Non-Certified Graduate Students

Admission of noncertified graduate students to the Master of Science in Education program is contingent upon the completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Prerequisites for Certified Graduate Students

Admission of permanently or provisionally certified graduate students to the master of arts program is contingent upon the following: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; evidence of certification in New York state (or equivalent status in terms of professional preparation and experience). Note: students who are not provisionally/ initially certified are eligible to become candidates for the M.S. in Education (Elementary Education) degree. Provisionally/initially or permanently/professionally certified graduate students and others with equivalent status will enroll in the M.A. program.

Secondary Education (SED)

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Business Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): English Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Fine Arts Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Foreign Language Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Mathematics Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Music Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Science Education
M.A./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Social Studies Education
Adv. Cert./Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.): Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)
Adv. Cert./Master of Arts: Bilingual Education
Master of Arts: Wind Conducting
Adv. Cert.: Middle Childhood Extension (Grades 5-12)
Adv. Cert.: Middle Childhood Extension (Grades 7-9)
Adv. Cert.: Bilingual Extension For Education
Intensive Non-Degree Certification Program: Fine Arts or Music Education
Intensive Non-Degree Certification Program: Secondary Education

General Information

The graduate programs in secondary education are offered by the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. They are designed to serve qualified students who seek either certification as teachers in the secondary schools of New York state or advanced work in curriculum and instruction of a particular subject after obtaining certification or experience as classroom teachers.

Two degree programs in secondary education—the Master of Science in Education for the noncertified person, and the Master of Arts for the certified—have been designed to serve these separate purposes. In subsequent paragraphs the standard requirements and options in these two degree programs are outlined. Substitutions will be permitted with advisement where, in the light of the student’s background and purposes, other courses are seen by the department to be more appropriate. No substitution is finally authorized until it is entered upon the Graduate Student Advisement Record (GSAR).

Applications for admission to graduate programs in secondary education are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students who have not met the full admission requirements may be advised to complete prerequisite courses under a planned program before becoming eligible for acceptance. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination or a standardized test to be specified by the department chairperson may be used as one ancillary means of evaluation in some cases

Admission to a master’s program is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

A completed application form to the master’s program.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 in each of two categories: 1) undergraduate liberal arts course work, 2) course work in the area(s) in which certification is sought. Applicants with GPAs between 2.50 and 2.75 may be accepted provisionally, subject to special conditions.
A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale. Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.
An interview, audition, and/or portfolio (requirements in some programs.)
A bachelor’s degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area in which certification will be sought. (See specific program descriptions for alternative routes.)

Students in either master’s degree program who have not student taught or who are not scheduled to student teach as part of their degree program will be required to enroll in SED 217 or 218 as part of their degree programs.

Foreign language majors must submit satisfactory scores on the departmental proficiency examination or equivalent in the language for which certification is sought.

The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations are required for initial and professional certification in academic subjects (English, language other than English, mathematics, science and social studies). For special subjects (art, business, music and speech) required tests, see your adviser.

Before completion of the first 12 s.h. of the master’s program, students are required to complete the liberal arts component of the teacher certification examinations.

Teaching Certificate and Bilingual Extension for the M.A. in Speech-Language-Pathology, see those programs for information.

Pass/Fail option for matriculated graduate students

Students matriculated in a master’s degree program in secondary education may designate 3 semester hours of course work to be taken on a Pass/Fail basis, subject to the following conditions:

Completion of 12 s.h. of the planned program prior to the semester in which they first exercise this option;
approval by their academic adviser;
designated courses for Pass/Fail basis shall not include SED 201, 205, 213, or special matter-specific methods courses.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York State 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 appropriate Content Specialty Tests (CST’s). Students not receiving passing scores on all New York State required examinations will not be eligible for certification. In addition to fulfilling educational requirements, the New York State Education Department requires that all prospective teachers being recommended for teacher education programs receive instruction for the purpose of preventing child abuse, maltreatment and child abduction and preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse. In addition, a seminar on SAVE legislation, and a seminar on safety education and fire and arson prevention are required in accordance with the Education Laws. No student is recommended for certification without the completion of all of these requirements. Please contact the Advisement and Certification Office for information regarding the fingerprinting requirement and any other specific requirements regarding certification.

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