Mar 29, 2024  
2004-2005 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2004-2005 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

M.S.Ed in Social Studies Education


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Professor Singer, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5853, catajs@hofstra.edu

The Master of Science in Education program in Social Studies Education is a 37 s.h. program that requires an undergraduate major or equivalent (with a minimum of 30 s.h.) in either History or one of the social sciences (Economics, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, or Anthropology). The course of study leads to New York State Initial Teacher Certification, valid for adolescence education in social studies (grades 7-12). This program is designed to blend oncampus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in full-time student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the program. The program conforms with the New York State Learning Standards in Social Studies and with the recommendations for teacher preparation of the National Council for the Social Studies.

Admission Requirements


Applications for admission to a Master of Science in Education program in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students who do not meet the full admission requirements must complete prerequisite courses prior to the conferring of the master’s degree. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

  1. A completed application form to the master’s program.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 in each of two categories:
    1. Overall undergraduate course work,
    2. Course work in the content area in which certification is being sought.
  3. Completion of General Education Core requirements for teacher education programs (see below).
  4. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
  5. Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate’s potential for success in a graduate program. Candidates may wish to apply if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience may compensate.

General Education Core Requirements


Prospective teachers seeking New York State Initial Certification through Hofstra University must complete a specified set of General Education Core requirements. Typically, students satisfy these requirements while completing their undergraduate degree programs. However, if one or more of these requirements have not been met, they must be completed prior to conferral of the M.S. in Education degree.

General Education Core


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

  1. Artistic Expression/Humanities
  2. Communication
  3. Information Retrieval
  4. History/Social Sciences
  5. Philosophy
  6. Language other than English (6 s.h. minimum requirement; may include American Sign language)
  7. Scientific Processes
  8. Mathematics Processes
  9. Written Analysis and Expression (6 s.h. minimum requirement)
  10. Cross Cultural Appreciation

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 degree. See the Advisement and Certification Office for evaluation of this requirement.

Social Studies Content Requirements


Students admitted to the M.S. in Education program in Social Studies Education must have a minimum of 36 s.h. in history and social studies courses, including a minimum of 21 s.h. in history and geography. In addition, the Hofstra University program requires a distribution of history and social studies courses in different subject areas.

    minimum 6 s.h. European history (Western Civilization);
    minimum 6 s.h. United States history;
    minimum 3 s.h. Political Science (American Government);
    minimum 3 s.h. Economics;
    minimum 3 s.h. Geography; additional course work (with advisement) that demonstrates competency in non-Western (African, Asian, Latin American or Russian) History, Anthropology and Sociology.

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 M.S. in Education degree. Of these 36 s.h., six may be taken at the graduate level and counted toward the M.S. in Education degree under the Electives category.

Candidates who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in their certification area, but who have succeeded in completing a majority of the required content courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher, are eligible to apply for the M.S. in Education program. Upon matriculation in the program, candidates may continue to complete the required courses while they are completing the requirements for the master’s program. Where academic subject deficiencies in social studies are so great as to prevent completion of requisite work within the 37 s.h. master’s program, additional course work may be required. Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 28 s.h. in residence at Hofstra University. No more than 9 s.h. may be transferred into the program. Student teaching may be used to meet the 28 s.h. requirement.

A maximum of 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading toward the M.S. in Education degree may be completed prior to matriculation in the program. To register for courses in the program other than SED 205, 213, or 264, students must 1) be matriculated in the program, or 2) have written permission from their adviser or the Chairperson of Curriculum and Teaching prior to the beginning of the course. Students accepted to the program must meet with their adviser to determine any undergraduate content area deficiencies and to complete a plan of study (Graduate Student Advisement Record).

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 37


Students must maintain a minimum 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.

The M.S. in Education in Social Studies consists of 37 s.h. of course work, as follows:

Introductory Courses - Semester Hours: 10


Choose From - Semester Hours: 3


General Methods Classes - Semester Hours: 6


Special Methods and Curriculum Courses - Semester Hours: 6


Elective Courses, with Advisement, Supporting the Content Area of Certification - Semester Hours: 6


FDED courses, cross-cultural courses, and courses in urban and/or gender issues are especially recommended. In addition, students may choose from the following content area electives:

  • ISI 201 Cultural Diversity and Global Perspectives (New College), 3 s.h.

Student Teaching and Corequisite Seminars - Semester Hours: 9


Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching


A minimum of 100 clock hours of participation/observation is required prior to student teaching. At least one field placement (SED 264) 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:

Student Teaching Prerequisites


To qualify for admission to SED 217, Student Teaching or SED 218, Supervised Teaching, students must:

  1. Complete SED 200, 205, 213; 264, 294; SPED 201, 264; and LYST 209, 215A, 217A (earning a grade of B or higher) and,
  2. Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.

Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Field Placement. Applications are due on October 1 for the succeeding spring semester and March 1 for the succeeding fall semester.

Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of all General Education Core requirements;
  2. Completion of all social studies content requirements;
  3. Completion of the 37 s.h. course requirement in the M.S. in Education program with no fewer than 28 s.h. in residence;
  4. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate course work and no D grades in required courses;
  5. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments;
  6. All course work offered in satisfaction of the M.S. in Education degree requirements must be completed 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


*Course requires participation/observation in designated schools.

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