M.S.Ed in Early Childhood Education

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Professor Fromberg, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5768, catdpf@hofstra.edu

The master’s program in early childhood education is offered by the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. This integrated program leads toward the New York State Initial Certificate to teach Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2). The program blends on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of early childhood settings, including high-needs schools, culminating in full-time student teaching. This program is registered with the New York State Education Department.

Admission Critera for the Early Childhood Education Program

Admission to the M.S. in Education program in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching is contingent upon the following:

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a liberal arts and sciences concentration.
A minimum GPA of 2.75 in each of two categories:
1. Overall undergraduate course work;
2. Course work in the liberal arts and sciences.
3. Students with a GPA of 2.5-2.75 may be accepted provisionally, subject to special conditions;
General Education Core prerequisites for teacher education programs (see below);
A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale;
Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and graduate course work;
An interview with the program director.

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 but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

General Education Core

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

Artistic Expression/Humanities
Communication
Information Retrieval
History
Social Science Concepts
Philosophy
Language other than English
Scientific Processes
Mathematical Processes
Written Analysis and Expression
Cross-Cultural Appreciation

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 38

Early Childhood Education Major Requirements

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. Grades lower than B do not confer credit in required (non-elective) courses in the program. Students may repeat courses to meet grade point average requirements.

Phase 1 - Semester Hours: 7

Admission to the M.S. in Education Early Childhood Education Program

Foundations of Education graduate-level elective selected from the following: 3 s.h.

ELED 211A - Young Children’s Movement, Rhythmic Activities, Music and Play Credits: 1 s.h.
FDED 200 - Philosophy of Education Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 210 - Contemporary Educational Movements Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 211 - The School and Society Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 230 - History of Education in the United States Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 231 - Childhood and Adolescence in Historical Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 240 - Urban Education Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 244 - Seminar: Alternative Education Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 248 - Multicultural Education in the Metropolitan Area Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 251 - Theory of Knowledge and Education Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 252 - Ethics for Educators Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 255 - Seminar: Social Foundations of Education Credits: 3 s.h.
or equivalent
(including history and philosophy of education in sociocultural community contexts)
SPED 210 - The Creative Arts in Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)

Phase 2 - Semester Hours: 22

ELED 202 - Teaching Reading, Writing, and Language Arts: PreK-Grade 3 Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)
ELED 208 - Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Teaching Mathematics and Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Curriculum Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)
ELED 215 - Methods for Study of and Research With Young Children Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)
ELED 216 - Early Childhood Curriculum Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)
ELED 217 - Developing and Evaluating Innovation in Early Childhood Curriculum Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)
ELED 243 - Multicultural Perspectives on Early Childhood Development Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)
ELED 258 - Introduction to Information Technology in Education Credits: 1 s.h.
ELED 275 - Literacy in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3 s.h.
(See footnote *)

Phase 3 - Semester Hours: 9

Admission to Student Teaching

ELED 222A - Supervised Teaching Credits: 3 s.h.
or ELED 261 - Student Teaching: Early Childhood
and
ELED 222B - Summer Supervised Student Teaching Extension Credits: 3 s.h.
ELED 261 - Student Teaching: Early Childhood Credits: 6 s.h.
or ELED 222A - Supervised Teaching
ELED 262 - Classroom Perspectives and Issues: Early Childhood Credits: 3 s.h.

Field Experiences Before Student Teaching

Prospective teachers in the early childhood education program complete a minimum of 120 clock hours (15 clock hours in each designated course) as participant observers in designated schools prior to student teaching. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. At least one placement in a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten will be spent in a high-need site recognized by the New York State Education Department. Students in SPED 210 will participate on-site with special needs Birth-Grade 2 children. Field experiences before student teaching with children in each of the three early childhood groups, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1-2 are integrated with the following courses:

Student Teaching Prerequisites

Program Phase 2 and General Education Core must be completed prior to student teaching.
Application forms for student teaching are available in the Office of Field Placement and are accepted by October 1 or March 1 for the succeeding semester.
Students must have a cumulative minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in graduate course work.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of General Education Core requirements.
Completion of all course requirements for the Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education with an overall GPA of 3.0;
Completion of the 38 s.h. course requirements in the M.S. in Education in Early Childhood Education program with no fewer than 32 s.h. in residence at Hofstra University;
An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments;
A passing score on the departmental comprehensive examination or departmentally authorized equivalent (no degree credit);
The completion of the master’s degree within a 5-year period.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York State Certification. For Initial Certification, students are required to have passing scores on each of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE): the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the appropriate Content Specialty Tests (CST’s). Students not receiving passing scores on all New York State required examinations will not be eligible for certification. In addition, all students who are recommended by Hofstra’s Advisement and Certification Office must attend seminars in Child Abuse and Maltreatment, Substance Abuse, Fire and Arson and Safe Schools Against Violence (Project SAVE). It is strongly recommended that students complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) prior to student teaching and the ATS-W and the appropriate CST during student teaching. Please contact the Advisement and Certification Office for information regarding the fingerprinting requirement and any other specific requirements regarding certification.

Footnotes

*Fifteen clock hours of field work required in each designated course.

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