Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Health Education, MS


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Associate Professor Ludwig, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-5885

This program is an initial/professional certification program in health education that includes two tracks: (1) for candidates who have a teaching certificate in another discipline, or (2) for candidates who do not have a teaching certificate. In both tracks, students will be recommended for initial/professional certification in health education upon successful completion of the course work in the track in which they are enrolled. This graduate program prepares students to teach health education at all grade levels in public and private schools and leads to New York state teacher certification. The curriculum integrates technology and issues of diversity in all course work. This program meets both the New York State Learning Standards for Health Education as well as the standards of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE). 

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


Applications for admission to this Master of Science program in the Department of Specialized Programs in Education  are made to the Graduate Admission Office. Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria. 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 GPA or testing criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate. All individual cases will be reviewed by an Admissions Counselor before being referred to the graduate program for further review.

  1. Completed application form.
  2. Interview with the program director.
  3. A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate course work, or its equivalent (e.g., a 3.0 in a completed graduate program). We encourage you to submit all transcripts from your undergraduate work and any graduate work for consideration.
  4. Candidates applying to Track I must provide proof of valid initial/professional New York state certification.
  5. Submission of scores on a nationally-normed graduate admission test (GRE or Praxis). Recent SAT/ACT exams may be accepted if verifiable by the test provider.
  6. Written personal statement describing the candidate’s goals in the teaching profession and in health education.
  7. Two letters of reference that address the candidate’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and graduate studies.

*Certified teachers who hold a master’s degree from an accredited college or university are exempt from standardized testing.

 

 

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


Health Prerequisites


Students are required to have a minimum of 12 credits in health-related content, including:

  • One course in human biology or anatomy and physiology.
  • One course (or certificate) in safety and first aid including CPR.
  • One or more courses in one of the following: general psychology, child psychology, adolescent psychology, sociology, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, measurement and evaluation or another equivalent course.  

These courses can be met by courses completed at the undergraduate or graduate level at any approved institution of higher education. The student will have met these health-related content courses with a minimum grade of B. This requirement will be determined at the initial interview with the department adviser.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 33


The program is an initial/professional certification program in health education for all grades, for students with prior certification in another discipline. Students with no prior teaching certification must follow Track II requirements, and must meet the liberal arts and sciences requirements, health prerequisites, and professional education core requirements. Total semester hours will be determined following transcript evaluation by the Hofstra Office of Educational Support Services.

These represent the requirements of the Master of Science in Health Education and do not include any prerequisites or corequisites described above.

Exit Requirement - Semester Hours: 3


Following completion of 27 s.h.

Graduation Requirements - Track I


  1. Completion of the 33 s.h. course requirements for the Master of Science in Health Education.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work with no grade below B- in required courses.
  3. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.

Track II (for candidates with no previous certification)


General Education Prerequisites


Prospective teachers in health education without a prior teaching certification must satisfy all undergraduate liberal arts and sciences general education core requirements. Each student’s academic record will be evaluated at the time of admission. Students with deficiencies in liberal arts and sciences may, upon matriculation in the program, complete the required course work in liberal arts and sciences while they are completing the requirements for the master’s degree. Students with a previous initial New York state teaching certification should follow Track I.

Health Prerequisites


Students are required to have a minimum of 12 credits in health-related content, including:

  • One course in human biology or anatomy and physiology.
  • One course (or certificate) in safety and first aid including CPR.
  • One or more courses in one of the following: general psychology, child psychology, adolescent psychology, sociology, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, measurement and evaluation or another equivalent course.  

These courses can be met by courses completed at the undergraduate or graduate level at any approved institution of higher education. The student will have met these health-related content courses with a minimum grade of B. This requirement will be determined at the initial interview with the department adviser.

Professional Education Core (Prerequisites and Corequisites) - Semester Hours: 10-12


Students with no previous teacher certification or licensure will be required to take the following courses unless able to document previous course work in education. The courses will include: foundations of education, literacy studies, inclusion, and child and adolescent development. Students who hold a valid New York state teaching certificate in another discipline will have met these requirements. However, a determination will be made at the initial interview regarding any education courses needed. These courses are not part of the Master of Science in Health Education degree and can be taken at either the graduate or undergraduate level.     

One course in human development which focuses on the entire birth-grade 12 range - Semester Hours: 3


Recommended course (includes a 20-hour field experience):  

One course in secondary education or foundations of education - Semester Hours: 3


Recommended courses include:

One course in literacy studies - Semester Hours: 1-3


Recommended courses include (all 3 s.h. courses include a 10-hour field experience/observation):   

One course in inclusion/special education - Semester Hours: 3


Recommended courses include (both require a 20-hour field experience):   

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 33


These represent the requirements of the Master of Science in Health Education and do not include any prerequisites or corequisites described above.

Additional Requirements beyond the 33 s.h. program - Semester Hours: 6-7.5


Additional Fieldwork - Semester Hours: 1.5


This section is ONLY for those who need to accrue 100 hours of observation. The program provides 50 hours for all students and most will get the additional 50 hours, if needed, in the Professional Education Core — unless they took these required courses at an institution besides Hofstra.

Note:


HED 263 (if needed), 230A and 230B are in addition to the 33 program credits and are required for certification. Student teaching is taken after all other program requirements have been completed with the approval of the program director. Students will apply for student teaching the semester prior to graduation. A weekly reflective seminar with the university supervisor and other student teachers is a significant part of the student teaching experience.

Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching - for Track II Students


A minimum of 100 clock hours of observation is required of those with no previous teaching certificate. In most cases, this requirement will be met by required observation hours in the professional education course work. A minimum of 50 clock hours is required of those seeking a second certification. Those seeking a second certification are not required to student teach. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement.

Graduation Requirements - Track II


  1. Completion of all General Education Core requirements.
  2. Completion of all program prerequisites and corequisites.
  3. Completion of the 33 s.h. course requirements for the Master of Science in Health Education.
  4. Completion of HED 263 if needed.
  5. Completion of Student Teaching (6 s.h.)
  6. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work with no grade below B- in required courses.
  7. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.

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), 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 prospective 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.

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