Program Requirements: BS Dual Certification Program in Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education

Adjunct Instructor Fischbach, Adviser, 516-463-4799

Students who successfully complete the program and pass all New York State certification requirements will qualify for New York State initial teaching certification In Early Childhood Birth-grade 2 and Childhood grades 1-6

Admission Requirements

Provisional acceptance

Students entering Hofstra as incoming first-year students must have an overall high school GPA of 3.0. 

Final Acceptance

Applicants must also satisfy the following additional admission requirements:

1. A GPA of 3.0 in their first semester of liberal arts and education courses
2. An interview with the program director.
3. Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching field.
4. A written personal statement of professional intent.

Required Course Work (Bachelor of Science)

The designated courses within the following areas must be included in the BS degree program of the dual certification co-major.

At least 67 s.h. must be in liberal arts. Thirty nine to 45 s.h. of specific courses are required as indicated below; in addition, all students must complete 30 semester hours in a distinct concentration area in the liberal arts. Recommended concentrations are in Social Science or Humanities but please consult your adviser for a complete list of options.

Areas to be included in partial fulfillment of the Hofstra Distribution and New York State Education Department requirements:

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all liberal arts and education graduation requirements for the BS degree.
2. Successful completion of at least 127 semester hours. (Military Science courses may not be counted toward this total semester hour requirement.)
3. Completion of at least 67 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences coursework.
4. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall coursework.
5. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in liberal arts and sciences coursework.
6. Professional education coursework GPA of 3.0.
7. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education coursework and professional accomplishments.
8. 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 School of Education Dean’s Office 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 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:

• 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 School of Education Dean’s Office.  All 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.