Undergraduate Teacher Preparation for Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
The undergraduate dual certification program in early childhood education and childhood education leads toward New York state initial teacher certification, valid for early childhood education (birth-grade 2) and childhood education (grades 1-6). Students combine major study in a liberal arts or sciences area with a co-major in early childhood education and childhood education. The program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in full-time student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the program. The program conforms to the standards and guidelines of the New York State Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education.
Required Course Work
The Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology strongly recommends emphasis on course work dealing with multicultural issues and social contexts of education. In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students in the BA degree programs with co-majors in the dual certification program must complete course work from each of the content areas below. When programs are planned carefully, these requirements may be satisfied while completing the Hofstra Distribution. Specific courses and minimum credits required for prospective teachers are indicated.
Whereas satisfaction of the Hofstra Distribution may require more credits in the indicated areas than those stipulated below, the designated courses within the following areas must be included in the BA degree program of the dual certification co-major.
Areas to be included in partial fulfillment of the Hofstra Distribution and New York State Education Department requirements:
Artistic Expression/Humanities - Semester Hours: 3
Any LT or AA course listed under the Humanities Division of the Hofstra distribution .
Communication - Semester Hours: 3
Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0-3
Historical/Social Science Concepts - Semester Hours: 6
Include at least one HIST course listed under the Social Science Division of the Hofstra distribution (prerequisite to ELED 126A ).
Language Other Than English - Semester Hours: 0-9
Completion of 3 s.h. in a language other than English, or placement at level 2 or above. American Sign Language, ASL 001 , may be used to satisfy this requirement but does not carry liberal arts credit.
Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 3
Any NS course listed under the Natural Sciences Division of the Hofstra distribution.
Mathematical Processes - Semester Hours: 3
Any MATH courses listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science division of the Hofstra distribution .
Written Analysis and Expression - Semester Hours: 6
WSC 001 , 002 and a passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Examination (Students transferring from other institutions must pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam).
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:
- Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment
- Fire and Arson Prevention
- School Violence Prevention and Intervention
- Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Abuse
- Highway and School Safety/Prevention of Child Abduction
- 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.