Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Science Education, BA Major in


Professor Catalano, Adviser, 516-463-6468

The degree program followed is the Bachelor of Arts. Courses in the science education program, taken in combination with the appropriate liberal arts and sciences major, lead toward New York state initial teacher certification in biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics (grades 7-12). Regardless of the certification area in science that is selected, the program provides necessary coursework for additional certification in general science, as well. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the programs. This program conforms with the New York State Learning Standards in Mathematics, Science, and Technology and with the recommendations of the National Science Teachers’ Association.

Program Requirements


Students select a major in one of the following areas of science: biology, chemistry, geology, or physics. Students interested in obtaining teaching certification in earth science should major in geology. During the second semester of the sophomore year (after completing a minimum of 45 semester hours of college coursework), the student should apply for admission to the School of Education through the Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology  and choose Science Education as a co-major. For program admission policies, see Admission Requirements for Teacher Education Programs .

In addition to meeting all the course requirements for the BA degree in the selected science major (biology; chemistry, geology; or physics), prospective teachers of science must include within their overall undergraduate program of study at least six (6) semester hours in each of the following areas: biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. In addition, all such majors must include at least three (3) semester hours of calculus-based mathematics and an additional three (3) semester hours of statistics or other advanced mathematics. Students who are preparing to teach earth science are required to take GEOL 007  in addition to their other major requirements.

Students who are preparing to teach biology should follow the secondary education study track as listed in the BA in Biology  requirements.

The co-major in Science Education consists of at least 31 semester hours of education coursework, including each of the following:

Introductory Courses - Semester Hours: 9


 The co-major in science education consists of a minimum of 31 semester hours of professional education work, including each of the following:

General Methods Courses - Semester Hours: 6


Special Methods and Curriculum Courses - Semester Hours: 7


Student Teaching and Corequisite Seminar - Semester Hours: 9


Footnotes


* Participation/observation in middle and secondary schools are required in each of the following courses:

Students receiving a grade lower than C- in a required science or professional education course must repeat the course and receive a grade of C or higher in order to remain in the program.

Student Teaching Prerequisites


After completing at least 19 semester hours of professional education course work and an adviser audit of content area course work, students may apply for admission to student teaching. Application forms may be obtained in the Office of Field Placement. Admission criteria are as follows:

  1. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better on overall course work or permission of adviser
  2. No grades lower than C- and no unresolved INC grades in required science or professional education course work
  3. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in science content courses

Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of criteria listed in 1-4 above.
  2. No grades lower than C- and no unresolved INC grades in professional education coursework.
  3. An overall GPA of 2.75 or better in all coursework.
  4. A GPA of 2.5 or better in science coursework.
  5. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education coursework and professional accomplishments.
  6. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.

General Education Core Requirements


NY State Requirement Recommended courses that fulfill both the NY State Requirements and Hofstra’s BA Degree Requirements Semester Hours
Written Analysis & Expression WSC 001  and WSC 002   6
World Language Completion of 3 s.h. in a language other than English, or placement at level 2 or above 3
Artistic Expression/Humanities Any AA distribution course   3
Communication Skills RHET 001  or 007   3
Mathematical Processes Any MA distribution course   3
Scientific Processes Any NS distribution course    3
Information Retrieval  Any  CS distribution course   or LIBR 001 , or satisfactory completion of Information Retrieval Exam (EIR) 0-3
Concepts in Historical & Social Sciences Any HIST course  in the HP distribution and any BH distribution course 6

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 School of Education Dean’s Office during 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) and Content Specialty Test(s) (CST). Prospective School Leaders will be required to take the appropriate leadership exams. For more information regarding state testing, please contact the School of Education 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 School of Education Dean’s Office. All of these seminars must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification.

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.

Complete BA Requirements


BA Requirements  in HCLAS.