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2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin
Mathematics (BA) and Mathematics Education with STEM Integration (MSEd), Dual-degree Program
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This program leads to the completion of both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in a five-year period. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in mathematics may be completed in the first four years. Upon completion of undergraduate studies, students will be awarded the BA in Mathematics. With one additional year of study, students may complete a Master of Science in Education (MSEd) degree in Mathematics Education with STEM Integration. This master’s program leads to New York state initial certification in the teaching of secondary mathematics (grades 7-12), which includes methodologies for integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) into the school curriculum. A primary focus of the program will be on methods for implementing the New York State Common Core Learning Standards for Mathematics in grades 7-12.
This dual-degree program requires the successful completion of a minimum of 149 semester hours of college course work. At the bachelor’s level, students will complete 124 semester hours, 12 semester hours of which may be taken at the graduate level that will be double-counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. In the fifth year of study, a minimum of 25 additional semester hours will be required at the graduate level for a total of 37 semester hours to complete the MSEd program.
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Direct admission to the dual-degree program (BA and MSEd)
Students entering Hofstra as incoming freshmen may apply for direct admission to the dual-degree program. In order to be considered for admission, applicants must have an overall high school GPA of 3.5 and must also submit scores on a nationally-normed admission test such as the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB. A 1240 or better on the critical reading and mathematics sections of the SAT (or an ACT score of 25) is recommended. Students admitted directly to the dual-degree program as incoming first-year students will be admitted automatically to MSEd program in Mathematics Education with STEM Integration at the end of their junior year, provided they fulfill the following requirements:
- A minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 2.75 or higher in mathematics course work with no mathematics grades lower than C-.
- An application to the dual-degree program.
- Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.
- A personal essay outlining professional goals and objectives.
- An interview with program director.
Students who were admitted as freshmen to the dual-degree program, but whose GPA falls below the minimum GPA requirements (stated above) will be dropped from the dual-degree program and lose their guaranteed slot in the MSEd program. However, they may reapply to the dual-degree program as juniors or they may apply to the MSEd program through the regular graduate admissions process.
Admission to the dual-degree program for current Hofstra students
Eligible Hofstra undergraduate mathematics majors may apply for admission to the dual-degree program after they have completed 90 semester hours of the BA program in mathematics. The following requirements must be met:
- Submission of an application to the dual-degree program.
- Completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of undergraduate course work in-residence at Hofstra.
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and a mathematics GPA of 2.75 or higher, with no mathematics grades lower than C-.
- Submission of scores on a nationally normed admission test (such as the SAT or ACT).
- Two professional letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.
- A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
- An interview with the program director.
After acceptance into the dual-degree program in Mathematics (BA) and Mathematics Education with STEM Integration (MSEd), students must complete the Dual-Degree Conditional Acceptance form, found at www.hofstra.edu/ARforms, and submit it to the Office of Academics Records/Registrar for processing.
Following admission to the dual-degree program, undergraduates should continue taking the required undergraduate courses for the BA degree. They may also complete up to 12 semester hours of graduate education courses (with advisement from the program director). Undergraduate students will receive graduate credit for these graduate courses, which can also be counted toward the minimum 124 semester hours required for graduation with the BA degree in Mathematics.
Undergraduate Program Requirements
Undergraduate students must complete all of the program requirements for the BA in mathematics, plus 6 semester hours in either information technology or computer science (CSC 015 highly recommended).
Required mathematics content courses for the BA in Mathematics within the dual-degree program
Undergraduate students must complete at least 41 s.h. in mathematics to include the following:
General Education courses required in the dual-degree program
Since the dual-degree program is intended to provide all of the prerequisites for New York state initial certification in mathematics (grades 7-12), specific General Education courses must be completed while satisfying Hofstra’s Distribution courses and graduation requirements. These General Education course requirements for the dual-degree program are embedded in the list of BA Graduation Requirements below and designated by the symbol*.
BA Graduation Requirements
In addition to the major mathematics content requirements for the mathematics major, the following criteria are required for graduation with a BA degree from Hofstra. (See BA Degree Requirements .)
- *6 s.h. WSC 001 and 002
- 9 s.h. Humanities distribution, to include at least:
- 9 s.h. Social Science distribution, to include at least:
- 3 s.h. Cross Cultural distribution (CC)
- 3 s.h. Interdisciplinary Studies distribution (IS)
- *Level 3 of a language or special language option
- *The Mathematics/Natural Science distribution requirement will be satisfied by the requirements for the mathematics major.
- *PHYS 011A and 011B are required for the Mathematics major. A computer programming course at the level of CSC 015 or above is highly recommended.
- *An additional 3 s.h. in Computer Science or Information Technology is required for the dual-degree program (total of 6 s.h.)
- Total of 124 s.h. is required for the BA degree, to include 79 s.h. in non-mathematics course work.
- 94 s.h. in liberal arts and sciences course work, to include 49 s.h. in non-mathematics course work.
- 41 s.h. in mathematics course work for the Mathematics major (See listing of BA Mathematics Program Requirements above), 30 s.h. of which must be completed at Hofstra University with no grades less than C-. Note: The dual-degree program requires a GPA of 2.75 or higher in all mathematics course work.
- Cumulative GPA ≥ 2.00 in work completed at Hofstra University. Note: The dual-degree program requires a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.00 for the BA in Mathematics.
Graduate education courses which may be taken by undergraduates in the dual-degree program
- SED 213 - Adolescent Development and Learning Semester Hours: 3
- SED 234 - Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics: STEM Semester Hours: 3
- SED 264 - General Methods of Teaching Semester Hours: 3
(includes 20-hour field placement in a high-needs STEM classroom in a designated school)
Choose one course from the following (includes 10-hour field placement in a designated school):
- LYST 209 - Language, Culture and Identity: Literacy Issues for Adolescents and Young Adults Semester Hours: 3
- LYST 215A - Language and Literacy in Middle Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3
- LYST 217A - Reading and Writing With Adolescents Semester Hours: 3
After graduating with a BA in Mathematics, students who have been admitted to the dual-degree program will be automatically entered into the MSEd program in Mathematics Education with STEM Integration. In addition to the graduate course work taken as undergraduates (up to 12 s.h.), these students must complete the remaining courses in the 37 s.h. graduate program to obtain an MSEd degree.
Graduate Program Requirements
Teaching Methods/Curriculum and Elective courses - Semester Hours: 28
Introductory Courses - Semester Hours: 9
- SED 205 - Perspectives on Educational Practice Semester Hours: 3
- SED 213 - Adolescent Development and Learning Semester Hours: 3
Choose one course from the following (includes 10-hour field placement in a designated school):
- LYST 209 - Language, Culture and Identity: Literacy Issues for Adolescents and Young Adults Semester Hours: 3
- LYST 215A - Language and Literacy in Middle Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3
- LYST 217A - Reading and Writing With Adolescents Semester Hours: 3
General and Special Methods courses - Semester Hours: 13
- SED 264 - General Methods of Teaching Semester Hours: 3
(includes 20-hour field placement)
- SED 292 - Instructional Patterns for Mathematics: STEM Semester Hours: 3
and corequisite course:
- SED 292L - Internship in Secondary Mathematics Semester Hours: 1
(includes 50-hour field placement)
- SED 234 - Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics: STEM Semester Hours: 3
- CT 278 - Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the School Curriculum, Grades 5-12 Semester Hours: 3
Choose one Special Education course from the following - Semester Hours: 3
- SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Semester Hours: 3
- SPED 264 - Inclusion in Today’s Schools Semester Hours: 3
(Both courses include a 20-hour field placement in a special-needs setting, grades 7-12.)
Elective courses - Semester Hours: 3
Choose one elective graduate course from the following: mathematics courses, sciences courses, information technology or computer science courses or professional education courses from the following categories: CT, FDED, LYST, SED or SPED. Students are highly encouraged to select from the middle-level extension courses, SED 221 and CT 247A, which lead to an extension of the initial certification in mathematics down to grades 5-6.
Student Teaching and Corequisite course - Semester Hours: 9
- SED 217 - Student Teaching Semester Hours: 6
[full-time teaching in mathematics classroom(s), grades 7-12]
and the corequisite course:
- SED 201 - Reflective Practice and Classroom Analysis Semester Hours: 3
Field Experience Prior to Student Teaching
At least one field placement must be in a district identified as high-needs by the New York State Education Department. All field experiences are incorporated into course curricula. Students enrolled in SPED 201/264 are placed in educational settings to work with students who have special needs or disabilities. A minimum of 100 clock hours of participation/observation is required prior to student teaching. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Departmental policy is to place prospective teachers in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attended.
Participation/observation field experiences in designated secondary schools are required in each of the following courses:
- LYST 209 - Language, Culture and Identity: Literacy Issues for Adolescents and Young Adults Semester Hours: 3
(10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12) OR
- LYST 215A - Language and Literacy in Middle Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3
(10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12) OR
- LYST 217A - Reading and Writing With Adolescents Semester Hours: 3
(10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12)
- SED 264 - General Methods of Teaching Semester Hours: 3
(20-hour field placement in a high-needs district, preferably in a classroom with STEM integration, grades 7-12)
- SED 292L - Internship in Secondary Mathematics Semester Hours: 1
(50-hour field placement, grades 7-12)
- SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Semester Hours: 3
(20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12) OR
- SPED 264 - Inclusion in Today’s Schools Semester Hours: 3
(20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12)
Student Teaching Prerequisites
Students will qualify for admission to Student Teaching, SED 217, or Supervised Teaching, SED 218, when they have satisfied the following requirements:
- Completion of SED 205, 213, 264, 292; CT 278; LYST 215/217/225; SPED 201/264; with a grade of B or better.
- A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.
- A grade point average of 2.75 or higher in mathematics course work with no grades lower than C-.
Application forms are available from the Office of Field Placement. Applications are due on May 1 for the succeeding spring semester and February 15 for the succeeding fall semester.
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of all General Education requirements.
- Completion of all mathematics content requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.75, with no grades lower than C- accepted as fulfilling this requirement.
- Completion of the 37 s.h. course requirement in the MSEd program with no fewer than 28 s.h. in-residence.
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work, and no grades below B in required courses.
- An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s competency in planning instruction, teaching performance and student assessment.
- Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
- All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.
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:
- 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 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.
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