Mar 28, 2024  
2004-2005 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2004-2005 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

M.A. in English Education


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Professor Murphy, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-6775, catmom@hofstra.edu

This program leads to Professional Certification for teachers who possess certification in English 7-12 or Initial Certification in English language arts. It provides advanced study in the curriculum, pedagogy, and content of English language arts. The program conforms with the New York State Learning Standards in English Language Arts and with the recommendations for teacher preparation of the National Council of Teachers of English.

Admission Requirements


Applications for admission to a Master of Arts (M.A.) program in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

  1. A completed application form to the M.A. program.
  2. New York State Initial Certification in English language arts in grades 7-12. (Applicants who have Provisional Certification rather than Initial Certification should see the appropriate graduate director for program alternatives.)
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 in each of two categories:
    1. Overall undergraduate course work;
    2. Course work in the content area in which certification will be sought. Students with GPAs between 2.5 and 2.75 may be accepted provisionally, subject to special conditions.
  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 the program. Candidates may wish to apply even if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience may compensate.

Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of the M.A. program in residence at Hofstra. No more than 9 s.h. may be transferred into the program. A maximum of 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading toward the M.A. degree may be completed prior to matriculation in the program.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 33


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. Students must receive grades of B or higher in all required (non-elective) courses in the program.

To be eligible for the Certification extension in Gifted Education and Bilingual Education students are required to have passing scores on the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). Please contact the Advisement and Certification Office for specific certification requirements.

The major in English Education consists of a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work, including each of the following:

Introductory Courses - Semester Hours: 6


Choose From - Semester Hours: 3


Content/Pedagogy Linkage - Semester Hours: 12


Cognate Area - Semester Hours: 9 to 15


Select one concentration area from the following categories:

A. The Arts and Humanities - Semester Hours: 9 to 15


Choose (with advisement) from:

  • SED 273 Teaching Writing in the Content Areas, 3 s.h.

Gifted Education - Semester Hours: 12


Completion of this cognate leads to a Certification Extension in Gifted Education.

Complete each of the following:

Bilingual Education - Semester Hours: 15


Completion of this cognate leads to a Certification Extension in Bilingual Education.

Complete each of the following:

Electives - Semester Hours: 0 to 6


(with advisement)

Graduate course work in ENGL, CT, ELED, FDED, LYST, MHAE, RES, SED, or SPED recommended.

Students seeking a Certification Extension in Middle Level Education (grades 5-6) should choose the following courses as electives:

Choose From - Semester Hours: 3


Capstone Activity - Semester Hours: 3


Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of the 33 s.h. course requirement in the M.A. program with no fewer than 24 s.h. in residence;
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work and no grades below B in required (non-elective) courses;
  3. Satisfactory completion of a Departmental approved curriculum project;
  4. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been 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. 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. Additionally all students who are recommended by Hofstra’s Advisement and Certification Office must either attend seminars in Child Abuse and Maltreatment, Substance Abuse, Fire and Arson and Safe Schools Against Violence (Project SAVE) or provide documentation from an agency providing State registered seminars. Please contact the Advisement and Certification Office for information regarding the fingerprinting requirement and any other specific requirements regarding certification.

Footnotes


*A minimum of 50 clock hours of college supervised field experience is required in this cognate area. Students are placed in the settings specific to the foci of their teaching certificate. All field experiences are incorporated into the course curricula. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Department policy is to place students in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attended.

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