Admission Requirements

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Applications for admission to this Master of Science in Education program in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology  are made to the Graduate Admission Office. Students who do not meet the full admission requirements must complete all required courses, including general education core and content courses, prior to conferring of the degree. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria.  The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Students may consider applying even if they fail to meet one of the criteria listed below but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate. All individual cases will be reviewed by an Admissions Counselor before being referred to the graduate program for further review.

1. A completed application form to the master’s program.
2. A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate course work, or its equivalent (e.g., a 3.0 in a completed graduate program). We encourage you to submit all transcripts from your undergraduate work and any graduate work for consideration.
3. A minimum GPA of 2.75 on course work in music.
4. Completion of General Education Core requirements for teacher education programs (see below).
5. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
6. Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.

General Education Core Requirements

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In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students must have completed undergraduate coursework from each of the content areas below.

1. Concepts in History/Social Science (3 s.h.)
2. World Language (3 s.h.)
3. Scientific Processes (3 s.h.)
4. Mathematical Processes (3 s.h.)
5. Literature, Analysis, and Written Expression (6 s.h.)

Coursework for the general education core in the liberal arts and sciences must have a GPA of 2.75 or above with no grades below a C-.

Please note that programs may have general education requirements that exceed the minimum registered with the state. Degrees will not be conferred unless all general education core deficiencies have been met.

Music Content Requirements

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Students admitted to the MSEd program in Music Education should possess a bachelor’s degree in music or have a minimum of 36 s.h. in college-level music course work distributed over the following content areas:

• Music Theory, 11 s.h.
  Music History and Literature, 6 s.h.
  Applied Music, 4 s.h.
  Conducting, 3 s.h.
  Secondary Applied, 5 s.h.
  Performance, 3 s.h.
  Other courses related to music, 4 s.h.

If one or more of the above content areas are missing from any student’s transcript, those content areas must be completed prior to completion of the MSEd degree. Of these 36 s.h., six may be taken at the graduate level and counted toward the MSEd degree under the Electives category.

Candidates who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in music, but who have succeeded in completing a majority of the required content courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher, may apply for admission to the MSEd program. Upon matriculation in the program, candidates may continue to complete the required content courses while they are completing the requirements for the master’s program. Where academic subject matter deficiencies in music are so great as to prevent completion of requisite work within the 38 s.h. master’s program, additional course work may be required. Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 29 s.h. of the MSEd program in residence at Hofstra. No more than 9 s.h. may be transferred into the program. Student Teaching may be used to meet the 29 s.h. residency.

A maximum of 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading toward the MSEd degree may be completed prior to matriculation in the program. To register for courses in the program other than SED 205 , 264 , or CT 227  a student must 1) be matriculated in the program, or 2) have written permission of the course instructor or departmental chairperson prior to the beginning of the course.

Program Requirement - Semester Hours: 38

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The graduate director will review the academic standing of all graduate students at the end of each semester.  A student must maintain a 3.0 average to be considered in good standing.  Students who do not maintain a 3.0 average will be placed on academic probation.  Students who earn more than one C-, C, or C+ per semester, accumulate more than two C-, C, or C+ grades in their graduate coursework, or receive a D or an F in any course will be dismissed from the program.  In addition to the required GPA, students must demonstrate adequate competence and professionalism throughout all coursework and fieldwork.  If the director or program faculty determines that a student has failed to demonstrate this standard, they will be dismissed from the program.  Students may petition for readmission by following the School of Education Appeal policy.

The major in Music Education consists of a minimum of 38 semester hours of course work, including each of the following:

Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching

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A minimum of 100 clock hours of participation/observation is required 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. 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:

• CT 229 - Development and Learning in Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, PreK-12

• CT 299A - Developing Creative Music Strategies Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, grades PreK-6 Choral and General Music settings

• CT 299B - Perspectives on Instrumental Music Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 10-12 Instrumental settings

• SED 264 - General Methods of Teaching Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in a high-needs district, grades 7-12

• SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12

• 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

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Students may apply for admission to Student Teaching, CT 227 when they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of SED 200 or 200M, 205, 213, 227A, 264; CT 229, 299A, 299B; LYST 202; and SPED 201, 264 with a grade of B or better.
2. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate coursework.
3. Completion of all music content coursework. 

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

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1. Completion of all General Education Core requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
2. Completion of all music content with a minimum GPA of 2.75, with no grades lower than C- accepted as fulfilling this requirement.
3. Completion of the 38 s.h. course requirement in the MS in Education program with no fewer than 29 s.h. in-residence.
4. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work, and no grades below B in required courses.
5. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
6. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
7. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five year period.

Footnotes

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*Course requires participation/observation in designated schools

Teacher Certification Requirements

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Upon successfully completing 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 Dean’s Office 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 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 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 now require that all student teachers, observers, interns, or externs receive fingerprint clearance before being placed in educational settings that are required for this degree program. Therefore, we recommend 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.