Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to this advanced certificate program in middle childhood education in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology  must be in the process of completing or possess initial or professional certification in childhood education (Grades 1-6) and demonstrated completion of at least 30 semester hours of college course work in the subject area to be taught. This course work leads to the extension of teaching of a subject in grades 7-9. Applicable subject areas, each requiring completion of 30 s.h. in the content area (with advisement):

• English: (undergraduate or graduate) beyond freshman composition.
• Language other than English (undergraduate or graduate course work) beyond intermediate level in: French, German, Russian and Spanish. (Italian at the undergraduate level only.)
• Mathematics: (undergraduate or graduate) including 18 semester hours of non-introductory course work including calculus I and II, probability and statistics, finite/discrete mathematics, higher geometry, linear algebra.
• Social Studies: (undergraduate or graduate course work) non-Western history, United States history, European history/Western civilization, economics and sociology.
• Biology: (undergraduate or graduate course work).
• Chemistry: (undergraduate or graduate course work).
• Geology: (undergraduate or graduate course work).
• Physics: (undergraduate or graduate course work).

Applicants must submit a completed application form obtained from the Office of Graduate Admission; possess a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; 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. An interview with the middle childhood education program director may be required. All individual cases will be reviewed by an Admissions Counselor before being referred to the graduate program for further review.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 6

• CT 221 - Middle Childhood Philosophy and Teaching Semester Hours: 3

• or

• SED 221 - Middle Childhood Philosophy and Teaching Semester Hours: 3

•  

• CT 248A - Middle Childhood Curriculum: 7-9 Semester Hours: 3

• or

• a methods course in the primary area of certification, specific to middle grade levels. (See adviser.)

Graduation Requirements

1. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall graduate work.
2. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
3. All course work taken in satisfaction of this certificate must have been taken within a five-year period.

Please note: If a student wants to receive 7-9 NYS certification, he or she must pass the appropriate New York State Certification Examination (NYSTCE).  A passing score is not required in order to graduate from the Hofstra program.  Please contact the Office of Educational Support Services for specific certification requirements. 

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of degree requirements, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. Contact the Office of Educational Support Services, 233 Hagedorn Hall, for information regarding any required Educational Law seminars* and other certification requirements. Forms for applying for certification can be found at the Office of Educational Support Services Web page under the certification tab.

*Please note, as of December 31, 2013, the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education now require a new six-hour seminar for Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention, required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA): http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/news/newsitem05162013.html.