Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

Music Education, BSEd Major in


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Lauren Diaz, Music Education Coordinator, (516) 463-5495
Email: Lauren.J.Diaz@hofstra.edu

This program leads to initial certification as a teacher of music in all grades in New York State. The aim of the program is to provide prospective teachers with comprehensive knowledge and skills in music, which, together with fundamental courses in education, will lead to effective public school teaching. The program conforms with the National Standards for Arts Education and the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 129


After completing SED 111  and receiving a passing score on the Piano Proficiency Examination, students may apply for admission to the School of Education  through the Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology . This typically occurs during the student’s junior year. For program admission policies, see Admission Requirements for Teacher Education Programs .

The BSEd degree in music education requires the following:

1. The Successful Completion of 129 Semester Hours


The successful completion of 129 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or better in all course work.

2. Liberal Arts


At least 65 semester hours must be in the liberal arts and sciences with no fewer than 30 semester hours outside the Department of Music .

3. Residence Requirements


There are two requirements that ordinarily must be completed in residence at Hofstra: 30 semester hours of coursework in education, including student teaching, and the last 30 semester hours of coursework taken. (Education courses need not be included within the last 30 semester hours.)

4. The Following General and Major Requirements


a) WSC


WSC 001 and 002 and a passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam (see University Degree Requirements), 6 s.h.

b) History


History – any HIST course listed under the Social Sciences Division of the Hofstra Distribution, 3 s.h.

c) Social Sciences


3 semester hours of any BH or HP course listed under the Social Sciences category of the Hofstra Distribution. 

Philosophy – any PHI course listed under the social science division of the Hofstra Distribution  or FDED 127 .

FDED 127  is highly recommended.

d) World Language


Language other than English, 0-6 s.h.: completion of 6 s.h. in a college-level language other than English, or language placement equivalent to 6 s.h.

e) Scientific Processes


Scientific Processes–Any natural science course listed under the Natural Sciences, Mathematics/Computer Science Division of the Hofstra distribution  , 3 s.h.

f) Communication


g) Artistic Expression


Artistic Expression–Any MUS course listed under Music in Hofstra’s offerings, 3 s.h.

h) Information Retrieval


Information Retrieval–CSC 005 , a passing score on the Examination for Information Retrieval (EIR), or comparable course work, 0-3 s.h.

i) Mathematical Processes


Mathematical Processes – Any MATH course listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science subdivision of the Hofstra Distribution , 3 s.h. MATH 030B  highly recommended.

j) Music Course Work


Performance Requirements: 12 s.h.

Chamber Ensemble

Students must take the chamber ensemble course each term and complete three (3) semester hours. 

Major Organization

Students must take a major organization course each term and complete three (3) semester hours. 

Choral Participation

Candidates for the Music Education, BSEd Major in degree who are a band or orchestra instrumentalists are also required to participate for four semesters (either with or without credit) in one or more of the following choral organizations.

Private Instruction

Students must take P-Level private instruction for six (6) semesters and complete six (6) semester hours. 

Concert Attendance

Music  and Music Education majors are required to attend five (5) concerts per semester for a total of eight semesters.  See Music  Department for advisement.

8 s.h. as advised in:

Note

Students without previous keyboard experience should enroll in MUS 035A , 035B , 035C , during freshman and sophomore semesters. The Piano Proficiency Examination must be passed before applying for admission to the School of Education . Keyboard majors will take two semesters of Voice Class.

Footnotes


* Participation/observation in secondary school are required in each of the following courses:

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 professional education course work
  3. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in music 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 course work.
  3. An overall GPA of 2.75 or better in all course work.
  4. A GPA of 2.5 or better in music course work.
  5. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
  6. 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 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.

Recommended Program Sequence - Total Hours: 129


   

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