M.S.Ed in Literacy Studies (Birth-Grade 6) and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Grade 2)

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Associate Professor Cohen, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5789, Barbara.J.Cohen@hofstra.edu

Associate Professor Schwartz, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5778, Diane.C.Schwartz@hofstra.edu

Program Overview

The dual master’s program in Literacy Studies and Early Childhood Special Education is designed for certified teachers who seek to meet New York State educational requirements for certification as literacy teachers (Birth through Grade 6) and teachers of special education, Early Childhood (Birth-2). Graduates of this program are certified for the following teaching positions:

Classroom teachers with advanced preparation in literacy instruction, birth to grade 6.
Literacy specialists with advanced preparation in one-on-one and small group instruction in literacy processes, birth to grade 6.
Literacy specialists prepared to work collaboratively with classroom teachers in designing and implementing effective literacy instruction in inclusive environments, birth to grade 6.
Teachers of special education with advanced preparation in literacy instruction in early childhood.
Teachers of special education at the early childhood developmental level.

The following principles, which are consistent with New York State Education Department principles of articulation and collaboration, underlie this dual master’s program:

A commitment in all of our courses to include instruction on current New York State Standards for Literacy and the Language Arts, and the means to implement these standards in classrooms and schools.
A commitment to address the new certification requirements articulated by New York State, including the preparation of separate course requirements and fieldwork requirements for students in Literacy Studies (Birth through Grade 6), as well as provision for the Early Childhood developmental level in Special Education. The certification requirements for Special Education are met within course work and fieldwork in Early Childhood and conform to the standards and guidelines of the Council for Exceptional Children.
Revision of all our programs to include the latest pedagogical understandings and practices in literacy instruction and special education.
A commitment to social justice and equity, and to broadening the definition of literacy practices beyond traditional school-based literacy in order to address issues of equity, access, and opportunity that are involved in literacy acquisition in communities that are as economically, linguistically, and ethnically diverse as those found in New York State.

Admission Requirements

B.A. or B.S. degree, with minimum GPA of 3.0.
Two letters of recommendation.
Possession of a New York State Initial or Provisional Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood, Childhood, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education (see note (b) and (e) below).
Interview with faculty members in Literacy Studies and Special Education.

Notes

Admission to graduate study requires a baccalaureate degree with a general core in the liberal arts and sciences in order to meet New York State certification requirements.
Students who enter the dual program must have taken the New York State LAST examination prior to admission.
Graduate students who enter a program of study on a nonmatriculated basis are limited to a maximum of 12 semester hours of course work.
A maximum of 9 semester hours of advanced standing may be accepted for relevant graduate course work taken elsewhere.
Students who have initial/provisional certification in an area of study other than those listed above in #3 should speak to the department adviser for requirements for admissions.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 47-50

Students take 47-50 s.h. for the dual certification in Literacy Studies (Birth to Grade 6) and Special Education (Birth- Grade 2): 26 s.h. in Literacy Studies and 21-24 s.h. in Special Education. Phase I courses must be completed before entering Phase II. LYST 240 and 241 are prerequisites for LYST 242. LYST 300 must be taken as part of the first 12 s.h. of study. It is recommended that students take courses in Literacy Studies and Special Education concurrently as listed in the table below.

Phase I - Semester Hours: 28

LYST 200A - Introduction to Literacy Studies Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 208 - Language and Literacy in Urban Settings Credits: 3 s.h.
or
LYST 212 - Family, Community, and School Literacies: Cultural Perspectives Credits: 3 s.h.
or
LYST 213 - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for Children and Adolescents Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 216 - Literacy Learning at Home and in School: Social Contexts of Young Children Learning to Read and Write Credits: 3 s.h.
or
LYST 218 - Reading and Writing Practices in Early Childhood and Childhood Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 220 - Literature in the Lives of Young Children Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 300 - Introduction to Portfolio Preparation Credits: 1 s.h.
SPED 207 - Introduction to Young Children with Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 208 - Educational Intervention for Young Children with Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 209 - Early Intervention: Infant Stimulation Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 210 - The Creative Arts in Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 216 - Assessment and Diagnosis in Early Childhood Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.

Phase II - Semester Hours: 19 to 22

LYST 240 - Assessment and Evaluation of Reading and Writing Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 241 - Miscue Analysis and Retrospective Miscue Analysis Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 242 - Literacy Practicum: Assessing the Complexity of Student Learning (Birth through Grade 6) Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 245 - Revaluing Readers and Writers Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 301 - Portfolio Advisement and Presentation Credits: 1 s.h.
SPED 226 - Early Intervention and Related Services in Early Childhood Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.

Choose One Under Advisement From:

Select one of the following with the advisement of the Special Education coordinator:

SPED 237 - Teaching Students with Disabilities Credits: 6 s.h.
or
SPED 237A - Teaching Students with Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of a minimum of 26 semester hours in prescribed Literacy Studies courses and a minimum of 21-24 semester hours in Special Education with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all courses.
Completion of a minimum of a 50 hour practicum in Literacy Studies and 100 hours of supervised student teaching in Special Education under advisement of the Special Education coordinator.
Successful presentation of a learning portfolio to faculty and peers in Literacy Studies and successful completion of a comprehensive examination in Special Education.

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 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.

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