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2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin
Early Childhood/Childhood Education (BS) and Early Childhood/Childhood Education: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) (MA), Dual Degree
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Certification Program in Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2), and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
The BS/MA program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, including full-time student teaching for the BS program and a practicum for the MA Program. 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.
Upon completion of at least 150 semester hours and all degree requirements, students will receive a BS/MA and be eligible for recommendation for New York State certification in Early Childhood B-2, Childhood 1-6 and will have met New York state educational requirements for STEM specialists in Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 6).
Students are prepared for the following teaching positions:
- Classroom teachers, pre-K-Grade 6;
- Classroom teachers with advanced preparation in STEM instruction;
- Elementary education STEM specialists; and
- Daycare/Preschool Teachers
This dual degree program can be completed in five years, including some January and Summer sessions, and requires successful completion of a minimum of 150 semester hours, including at least 118 s.h. at the undergraduate level and 32 s. h. at the graduate level. Students who are admitted to the MA in STEM portion of the dual degree program may replace up to 9 s.h. of undergraduate coursework for their bachelor’s degree with an equal number of s.h. of graduate-level coursework taken for the MA in Early Childhood/Childhood Ed: STEM.
Please note that the sequence of courses in this program differs significantly from that of the BA in Early Childhood/Childhood Education. Students currently in the BA program may only change to the BS program during the first semester of freshman year.
Students must apply for admission to the School of Education through the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Technology in Hagedorn Hall. For program admissions policies, see Admission Requirements for Teacher Education Programs.
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Direct admission to the dual degree program (BS and MA)
Provisional acceptance to Early Childhood/Childhood Education program:
Students at Hofstra may apply to the program after a discussion with the dual degree program advisor. They may apply to the program:
- Second semester of their first year, or,
- First semester of their second year.
Students entering Hofstra as incoming first-year students must have an overall high school GPA of 3.0.
Final acceptance to Early Childhood/Childhood Education program:
Applicants must also satisfy the following additional admission requirements:
- A GPA of 3.0 in their first year of liberal arts and education courses.
- An interview with the Early Childhood/Childhood program director.
- Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching field.
- A written personal statement of professional intent.
Students admitted directly to the dual-degree program as incoming freshmen/women will need to be transitioned into the graduate program before being allowed to take graduate courses as part of their undergraduate program and must fulfill the following requirements:
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 following completion of at least 89 s.h. of coursework toward their BS in Early Childhood/Childhood Education Dual Certification Program.
- An interview with the graduate program director.
- A written personal statement of professional intent.
- Completion of Dual Degree conditional acceptance form through the Office of Academic Records
- Completion of Dual Degree application waiver/substitution form
Admission to the dual degree program for current Hofstra students and qualified transfer students (BS and MA)
Qualified Hofstra students who have been following the curriculum for the BS in Early Childhood/ Childhood Education or qualified transfer students can apply for admission to the dual degree program upon completion of the second semester of their sophomore year of undergraduate work. In order to qualify for admission to the dual degree program, a student must attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application. Students admitted to the dual degree program should note that admission to the MA portion of the program requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application to the MA program.
Undergraduate students must apply and be accepted and/or transitioned into the graduate program before being allowed to take graduate courses as part of their undergraduate program, and must have fulfilled the following requirements:
- Completion of at least 89 s.h. toward their BS degree, with at least 30 s.h. completed in residence at Hofstra, before being permitted to take graduate courses for the MA program in Early Childhood/Childhood Education: STEM.
- An interview with the graduate program director.
- A written personal statement of professional intent.
- Completion of Dual Degree conditional acceptance form through the Office of Academic Records.
- Completion of Dual Degree application waiver/substitution form.
Program Requirements: BS/MA Dual Certification Program in Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education
Adjunct Instructor Fischbach, Adviser, 516-463-4799
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. In addition to the specific courses required below, all students must complete additional courses to fulfill the requirements of a distinct 30 semester hour concentration area in the liberal arts plus any additional free liberal arts electives to reach 67. Recommended concentrations are in Social Science or Humanities, but please consult your adviser for a complete list of appropriate options. Relevant courses taken for the liberal arts distribution may be applied to the concentration area.
Areas to be included in partial fulfillment of the Hofstra Distribution and New York State Education Department requirements:
Artistic Expression/Humanities - Semester Hours: 6
Any Literature course, English course (LT), and any Appreciation and Analysis (AA) listed under the Humanities Division of the Hofstra distribution .
Communication - Semester Hours: 3
Choose one of the following:
Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0-3
Historical/Social Science Concepts - Semester Hours: 9
Include at least one American History course (prerequisite to ELED 135), one other history course, and one social science course (BH, HP, CC) listed under the Social Science Division of the Hofstra distribution.
World Language - Semester Hours: 0-3
Completion of 3 s.h. in a language other than English, or placement at level 2 or above.
ASL 001 - (LA) American Sign Language I may be used to satisfy this requirement but does not carry liberal arts credit
Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 6
Any 2 NS course listed under the Natural Sciences Division of the Hofstra distribution ; one of which must include a lab.
Mathematical Processes - Semester Hours: 3
MATH 030A and one other MATH course listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science division of the Hofstra distribution
Written Analysis and Expression - Semester Hours: 6
WSC 001 , WSC 002 and a passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Examination (Students transferring from other institutions must pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam).
Liberal Arts– Semester Hours: 30
30 semester hours in a distinct concentration area in the liberal arts. Recommended concentrations are in Humanities or Social Science, but please consult your adviser for a complete list of appropriate options. Relevant courses taken for the liberal arts distribution may be applied to the concentration area.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must plan their courses of study carefully with an academic adviser to assess that their progress will fulfill both the University and the New York State Education Department requirements.
Education Required Courses – Semester Hours: 41-44
Students receiving a grade lower than C- in a professional education course must repeat the course and receive a grade of C- or higher in order to remain in the program.
Student Teaching – Semester Hours: 13
Student Teaching Prerequisites
All education course work must be completed prior to student teaching. Application forms for student teaching are available in the Office of Field Placement and are due by May 1 for the succeeding spring semester and February 15 for the succeeding fall semester. Admission criteria for student teaching are as follows:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on overall course work;
- GPA of 2.75 of higher in liberal arts and sciences course work;
- Grade of C- or higher in each ELED course completed;
- No unresolved INC grades in professional education course work.
BS/MA Graduate Required Courses - Semester Hours: 9
- ELED 232 - STEM Instruction in the Mathematics Curriculum Semester Hours: 3
- ELED 231 - STEM Instruction in the Sciences Semester Hours: 3
- ELED 235 - Intersections of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Curriculum Design Semester Hours: 3
Early Childhood/Childhood Education: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), MA
Professor Catalano, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-6468
The Master of Arts program with specialization in mathematics, science, and technology is designed for students enrolled in the BS/MA program, who are seeking New York state certification in Early Childhood and Childhood certification with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. Technology is defined as information technology, the integration of skills that require the use of computer applications to enhance student learning of mathematics and science as well as design technology, which encompasses the study of the technological world that inventors, engineers and other innovators have created. Both educational technology and design technology are applied to the study of elementary science and mathematics to further the development of meaningful understanding in these areas. Integration of these areas occurs within a broader understanding of the way in which society both reflects and shapes curriculum and pedagogy in schools.
Admission Criteria
Students must be currently enrolled in the Dual Degree Program – B.S. in Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)/ Childhood Education (Grades 1-6), and MA in Early Childhood/Childhood Education: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)and have met the criteria for transitioning into the graduate portion of the program.
Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 32 (9 s.h. completed within BS degree requirements)
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to remain in the program. Grades of D or lower will not be counted toward the graduate degree, but will be included in determining the grade point average. Students may repeat courses to meet grade point average requirements, but the semester hours for a course are only awarded once, and both grades are factored into the overall grade point average.
Curriculum and Teaching Core - Semester Hours: 3
- ELED 234 - Critical Perspectives on Curriculum and Teaching Semester Hours: 3
STEM Specialization - Semester Hours: 12
- ELED 231 - STEM Instruction in the Sciences Semester Hours: 3
- CT 239 - Children’s Engineering in the STEM Classroom Semester Hours: 3
- ELED 232 - STEM Instruction in the Mathematics Curriculum Semester Hours: 3
- ELED 235 - Intersections of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Curriculum Design Semester Hours: 3
Electives - Semester Hours: 9
(Advisement Required)
Electives may be chosen from any graduate-level science, technology, engineering or mathematics course, or any course offered in the School of Education . Course selection MUST have prior approval of the program adviser.
Culminating Thesis Course and Field Consultation - Semester Hours: 8
- ELED 250A - Techniques of STEM Classroom Research Semester Hours: 3
- ELED 250B - Research Into STEM Practice Semester Hours: 4
- ELED 253 - STEM Field Consultation Semester Hours: 1
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of all liberal arts and education graduation requirements for the BS/MA degree.
- Successful completion of at least 150 semester hours. (Military Science courses may not be counted toward this total semester hour requirement.)
- Completion of at least 67 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences course work
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall course work.
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 in liberal arts and sciences course work.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in professional education course work.
- An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments (during BS degree).
- Successful completion of the master’s thesis.
- 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 Office of Educational Support Services 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 the 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 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 is 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 perspective 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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