Direct admission to the dual-degree program (B.S. and M.S.Ed.)

Students entering Hofstra as incoming freshmen/women can 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 3.0 and must also submit scores on a nationally-normed admission test such as the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB.   Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements for Hofstra University bachelor’s degree.

Students admitted directly to the dual-degree program as incoming freshmen 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:

1. A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 following completion of at least 89 s.h. of course work toward their BS degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education Dual Certification Program.
2. An interview with the program director.
3. Completion of Dual-degree conditional acceptance form through the Office of Academic Records.
4. Completion of Dual-Degree application waiver/substitution form.

Artistic Expression/Humanities - Semester Hours: 6

Any Literature course, English course (LT) and any Appreciation and Analysis (AA) or Creative Participation (CP) course listed under the Humanities Division of the Hofstra distribution.

Communication - Semester Hours: 3

• RHET 001 - (CP) Oral Communication Semester Hours: 3
• RHET 004 - Interpersonal Communication Semester Hours: 3
• RHET 007 - (CP) Public Speaking Semester Hours: 3
• RHET 011 - Voice and Diction Semester Hours: 3

Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0-3

A passing score on the Examination for Information Retrieval (EIR) or comparable course work.

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: 0-12

Completion of 12 s.h. in a language other than English, or placement above Level 4.

Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 7

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: 6

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, 002 and a passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Examination (Students transferring from other institutions must pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam).

Behavioral Social Sciences (BH) – Semester Hours: 3

PSY 001, PSY 003, or PSY 007.

Liberal Arts (H) – Semester Hours: 12

Any four liberal arts courses that fulfill the Humanities Distribution. 

Please note: Students must have a minimum of 30 total credits from the Humanities distribution, with at least one course in AA/CP and 12 credits in a foreign language.

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.

All students are required to have a minimum of 30 credits in the humanities, with at least 12 credits in Foreign Language.

Education Required Courses: 41-44 sh

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.

• ELED 041 - Mathematics Concepts for Elementary School Teachers Semester Hours: 3

Students may use a passing score on the departmental Mathematics Proficiency Exam to satisfy this requirement. (The Mathematics Proficiency Exam may only be taken once. Students who earn a failing grade in their initial registration for ELED 041 may enroll in the course only one additional time.)

• ELED 111B - Young Children’s Movement, Music, Rhythmic Activities and Play for the Classroom Semester Hours: 1
• ELED 122 - Art in the Elementary School Semester Hours: 1
• ELED 124 - Art and the Young Child Semester Hours: 2
• FDED 127 - Introduction to Philosophy of Education Semester Hours: 3
• SPED 101 - Inclusion: Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and K-6 Children Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 113 - Human Development Birth–Grade 2 Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 114 - Human Development Grades 3-6 Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 116 - English-Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 128A - Integrated Teaching of Mathematics in Early and Childhood Education Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 129A - Integrated Teaching of Science in Early and Childhood Education Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 130 - Language Arts—Social Studies Internship Semester Hours: 2
• ELED 131 - Mathematics-Science Internship Semester Hours: 2
• ELED 132 - Assessment in Early Childhood and Childhood Classrooms Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 133 - Integrated Teaching of Reading, Writing and Children’s Literature (Birth-Grade 6)Semester Hours: 6
• ELED 135 - Interdisciplinary Teaching of Social Studies: Early Childhood Semester Hours: 3

Student Teaching: 13 sh

• ELED 141A - Student Teaching Internship and Seminar (Birth-K) Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 141B - Student Teaching Internship and Seminar (Grades 1-2) Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 141C - Student Teaching Internship and Seminar (Grades 4-6) Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 138A - Reflective Inquiry and Issues in Early Childhood and Elementary Curriculum Design and Development Semester Hours: 4

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:

1. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on overall course work;
2. GPA of 2.75 of higher in liberal arts and sciences course work;
3. Grade of C- or higher in each ELED course completed;
4. No unresolved INC grades in professional education course work.

BS/MSED Graduate Required Courses - Semester Hours: 9

• CT 229 Development and Learning in Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3  
• LYST 213 - Bilingual and Biliteracy Learning and Teaching in Multilingual Settings 3    
• Graduate Elective in Society and Culture (with advisement) Semester Hours: 3

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 course work
4. Completion of 30 semester hours in the area of humanities, with at least 12 s.h. in foreign language.
5. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall course work.
6. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in liberal arts and sciences course work.
7. Professional education course work GPA of 3.0.
8. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
9. 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), Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST), 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 Dean’s Office 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 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.

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 M.S. Ed. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 31 (9 completed during BS program)

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 while 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.

Area One: Introductory Courses - Semester Hours: 7

• CT 229 - Development and Learning in Childhood and Adolescence   
• CT 266 - Immigrant Children in the U.S. School   
• SED 200 - Information Technology for Teachers   

Area Two: Linguistic Component - Semester Hours: 9

• CT 266 - Immigrant Children in the U.S. School   
• ENGL 203 - Approaches to English Grammar  
• LING 210 - Second Language Acquisition  

Area Three: Society and Culture - Semester Hours: 3*

• FDED 242 - Foundational Perspectives in Multicultural Education  
• FDED 232 - Cross-Cultural Education: Comparative Perspectives  

Area Four: Methodological Component - Semester Hours: 9

• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language in the Elementary Classroom  
• SED 267 - Teaching English to Adolescent Speakers of Other Languages  
• * LYST 213 - Bilingual and Biliteracy Learning and Teaching in Multilingual Settings  

*completed during BS program 

Area Five: Practicum/Student Teaching - Semester Hours: 3

Students will qualify for admission to practicum or student teaching (CT 268 ) after they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of   ELED 225; SED 267; with a grade of B or higher; and

2. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.

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. *See note below regarding teacher certification examination.

• CT 268 - Practicum: Teachers of Non-English Speaking Students  

Field Experience Prior to Student Teaching

A minimum of 60 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. 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 schools are required in each of the following courses:

• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language in the Elementary Classroom Semester Hours: 3

• 25 hours in settings with English Language Learners (grades PreK-6).

• LYST 213 - Bilingual and Biliteracy Learning and Teaching in Multilingual Settings Semester Hours: 3

• 10 hours in settings with English Language Learners (grades PreK-12)

• SED 267 - Teaching English to Adolescent Speakers of Other Languages Semester Hours: 3

• 25 hours in settings with English Languages Learners (grades 7-12).

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all course work for the MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages with an overall GPA of 3.0.
2. Completion of the 31 s.h. course requirements in the MSEd program with no fewer than 24 s.h. in-residence.
3. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s educational course work and professional accomplishments.
4. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
5. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of degree requirements, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. Contact the School of Education Dean’s Office, for information regarding any required Educational Law seminars and other certification requirements. 

To be eligible for certification in TESOL, students are required to have passing scores on the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). Please contact the School of Education Dean’s Office for specific certification requirements.