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Office: Second Floor, Hagedorn Hall
Telephone: (516) 463-5740, Fax: (516) 463-6461,
E-mail: soeahs@hofstra.edu

Hofstra University prides itself in having an “all-University approach” to teacher education. Since 1935 our history has been one of a four-year liberal arts college that early on expanded to serve the needs of such future professionals as engineers, business people and professional educators. At the undergraduate level, students in the School of Education, Health and Human Services enjoy dual studies between liberal arts and sciences and professional studies. For those students whose initial professional education occurs on the graduate level we require the prior completion of a degree appropriate to the field of study and with an emphasis on a broad distribution of courses across the liberal arts and sciences. Thus, the task of achieving a general education with its breadth and depth has been achieved either at Hofstra or at another university. We assume this task has already been successfully completed and devote the bulk of our efforts to the professional education of the graduate student. Thus, for the graduate component of the initial programs, our goals include:

1. The education of a well-rounded individual in professional and general education.
2. The professional training of entry-level professionals who will serve the public and independent schools of the area and nation.
3. The development of analytic skills and sound judgments applied to content and also to professional issues; the ability to make warranted and thoughtful decisions about curriculum issues and student-related issues as well as issues relating to the conduct of the school/agency/organization and the profession.
4. To set the groundwork for continued learning throughout the student’s professional career. The goals of our advanced programs are given in greater detail in each department’s publications.

Departments in the School

• Curriculum and Teaching
• Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation
• Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies
• Health Professions and Family Studies
• Literacy Studies
• Physical Education and Sport Sciences

Mission

The faculty of the Hofstra University School of Education, Health and Human Services are dedicated to the preparation of reflective and knowledgeable professionals who use scholarship to inform their practice. Collectively, we strive towards a more just, open and democratic society as we collaborate with and learn from children, adolescents, and adults in diverse social and cultural settings.

We encourage and support the scholarship and practice of our colleagues and students in their professional lives; our endeavors include research that contributes to the knowledge base for both educators and health and human services professionals. Thus, it is our intent to establish the School of Education, Health and Human Services as a place which nurtures communication, collaboration, and leadership both at Hofstra and in community settings.

Graduate Programs

A program is a coherent sequence of course work and fieldwork designed to develop the professional competence of degree candidates. Programs offered by the School of Education, Health and Human Services are classified as either preprofessional or professional.

Preprofessional Programs

Preprofessional programs are for students seeking their first teaching certification whether at the undergraduate or the graduate level or are preparing for entry-level positions in selected allied human services fields (non-school based). With a few exceptions, our Master of Science in Education programs, in areas leading to certification as a classroom teacher, are for such students. Consult individual departments for advisement and specific program information. 

Professional Programs

Professional programs are designed for individuals already certified (provisional or initial) to teach and those experienced as teachers (e.g., in private schools) and who wish to pursue advanced studies in a specialized field of education, and those who wish to pursue advanced studies in a specialized field in selected allied human services. With a few exceptions, our Master of Arts programs, in areas leading to certification as a classroom teacher, are for such students. Consult individual departments for advisement and specific program information. 

Accreditation

Policy on Ethical and Professional Performance

Students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner according to the guidelines for student conduct and academic honesty at Hofstra University and to the professional standards identified in their respective programs in the School of Education, Health and Human Services. Satisfactory interpersonal behavior and professional performance in classes and meetings, student teaching, internships, and practica are expected. If a report is received concerning an ethics violation, or an incident of inappropriate behavior as defined by the Student Judicial Code, established University procedures will be followed to investigate the issue and determine the course of action.

It is our policy that if a student is dismissed from two schools/placements before and/or during the student teaching semester, that student will be considered for dismissal from the teacher education program and may be counseled out of the program. Certification requirements will not be met and the student will not be recommended for certification by Hofstra University.

Field Placements and Student Teaching

All field placements and student teaching are arranged by the Office of Field Placement in the School of Education, Health and Human Services. Preprofessional programs include at least 100 clock hours of field experiences related to course work, followed by student teaching. Candidates will be provided with experiences in a variety of communities, including high-needs schools as defined by the New York State Education Department, and opportunities to interact with each of the following populations: socioeconomically disadvantaged students, students who are English language learners, and students with disabilities. Experiences will be provided across the appropriate developmental levels of the certification.

Applications for student teaching are due by March 1 for fall student teaching and by October 1 for spring student teaching. Application seminars are scheduled each semester to guide students through the application process, and address questions and special needs. Student teaching is full-time, full semester. All student teachers will have two student teaching placements across two levels of the certification. Weekly seminars are held for student teachers and their university supervisors. All seminars mandated by the New York State Education Department will be scheduled during the student teaching semester, including child abuse and maltreatment; school violence prevention; safety education; and fire and arson prevention.

In professional programs, candidates who are seeking an additional certification are required to complete at least 50 clock hours of field experiences and at least 20 days of student teaching with students across the range of developmental levels of the certification. See your program adviser for specific details.

Internships

Students enrolled in a human service program have a combined learning  experience. Hofstra has affiliation with numerous agencies, hospitals, schools and rehabilitation centers on Long Island and the New York metropolitan area. Each program, in accordance with the guidelines of its profession, sets up fieldwork and internships and provides supervised clinical practice in either school or non-school based settings. Students are advised by faculty in their program as to which site location will provide an optimal learning experience.

Certification

Students who successfully complete a New York state-registered program at Hofstra University will be recommended to the state for certification. Completion of  the registered program includes all prerequisite course work,  education law seminars, general education core, content courses and graduate studies at the required grade point average.

Students 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.

Graduation and Degree Conferral Requirements

Recommendations

Upon successful completion of a Hofstra state-approved school-based program, students are eligible for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. Requests for recommendations must be submitted to the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services the semester in which the student is graduating. Students 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. Certification information seminars are held each semester. Verification of certification status can be viewed by the applicant at the state’s Web site at TEACH Online,
www.Highered.nysed.gov/tcert.

Substitute Teaching

The Office provides students with a Letter of Eligibility to Substitute Teach. Students must meet certain criteria, as defined by the Commissioner’s regulations. Please contact the Office of Certification  and Educational Support Services for more information.

Required Seminars

Upon successful completion of the educational program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. 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

New York State legislation also requires all persons seeking certification as special education teachers or school administrators working in special education to have training in the area of children with autism. All of these requirements must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification.

Examinations

All prospective early childhood (Birth-Grade 2), elementary (Grades 1-6), secondary (Grades 7-12), special subject and special education teachers are required to pass the New York State Teachers Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) administered by the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. in order to obtain certification from the State Education Department. These tests include the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), Assessment of Teaching Skills Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Students should consult with  the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services regarding the appropriate examinations for their area of study. Hofstra University has maintained an overall passing rate of 98% on these examinations for 2005-2006.

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. Fingerprinting can be completed through the fingerprinting sessions arranged by the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services each semester. Contact the office at (516) 463-5747. Additional sites include the local police stations, and Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES). Fingerprint clearance is also required for New York state certification.

Reciprocal Agreement

Some states, not part of the interstate reciprocity program, offer either full or partial reciprocity privileges to persons who are graduates of  NCATE accredited institutions. States not participating in either of the above reciprocity systems will accept certification applications and evaluate them on an individual basis.

As a part of the continuing effort to improve teacher preparation, the New York State Board of Regents adopted amendments to the Commissioner’s Regulations which directly relate to teacher education program requirements, as well as changes in teacher certification titles effective February 2, 2004.

Students may obtain detailed and current information about program and certification requirements for various educational specializations from the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services.

School-Based Employment Opportunities

Hofstra University and faculty in the School of Education, Health and Human Services are committed both to attracting excellent candidates to our programs, as well as assisting them in locating employment upon graduation. Teaching candidates are strongly encouraged before enrolling in a given program to review the employment prospects in their chosen field. Such opportunities, of course, differ among teaching areas and within regions of the country. Data about the profession, including supply and demand by region and certification area, are routinely available and updated regularly on such Web sites as www.highered.nysed.gov, www.bls.gov/oco or www.vault.com (accessible via the Hofstra Career Center website). Additionally, The Hofstra Career Center provides students with complimentary copies of the American Association for Employment in Education’s Job Search Handbook which, contains a wide array of resources including a supply and demand feature.
 
Potential candidates for teaching careers, as well as those nearing graduation, should visit the Hofstra Career Center in the M. Robert Lowe Hall on the Hofstra campus. A wide range of services are available to future educators. Such services include: career counseling in job hunting, assistance with résumé building, mock interviews, lists of school districts across the nation, an on-campus interview program, and a on-line job/internship posting and credential file service. Most students, especially those hoping to gain employment with area and out-of-state school districts, use the Hofstra Career Center to focus their search and coordinate initial interviews.
 
The Hofstra Career Center’s web site www.hofstra.edu/career contains an array of resources and information for students enrolled in an education program. Additionally, the site refers students to our own Pride-Career Management System where both local and national employers post employment opportunities, and outside web sites such as, the New York State Education Department, New York City Department of Education, the National Association of Independent Schools, and many more dedicated employment sites. At Hofstra, education majors find an excellent and dedicated faculty, outstanding career support services, and extensive electronic links to education career information and employment opportunities. 

General Education Core

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.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS  

Upon successful completion of a school-based program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. The state requires applicants 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 (CSTs). The state will not issue certification to individuals not receiving passing scores on all New York examinations.

In addition to fulfilling the required courses of study, the Commissioners 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
New York State legislation also requires all persons seeking certification as special education teachers or school administrators working in special education to have training in the area of children with autism. All of these requirements must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification. Candidates for certification in New York state must also demonstrate satisfactory performance on the requisite state assessment. No degrees will be conferred without the completion of all of these requirements. Please contact the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services for information regarding fingerprinting, examinations and seminars.

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