M.S. in Physical Education

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Associate Professor Halliday, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5808, hprneh@hofstra.edu

This program is designed to prepare individuals without previous professional education to meet New York State Initial Teacher Certification in grades preschool through twelve physical education. This is a comprehensive program providing course work and field experiences across a variety of school settings. Graduates from this program are eligible for professional certification after two years of successful teaching experience and an approved mentoring relationship as described by the New York State Education Department Regulations.

Program Philosohpy, Goals and Objectives

The mission of the Master of Science in Physical Education is to prepare scholarly and innovative practitioners specializing in preschool through the secondary level physical education. Attention is focused on the development and implementation of physical activity content through theory and field-based experiences. Individuals are provided with the means and understandings necessary to effectively teach basic movement, motor, rhythm, and sport skills for increased physical activity. Lectures and course work promote an understanding of teaching and learning philosophies, implementation strategies, and the means used to assess lesson outcomes for different populations of students, including those living in low economic situations and having disabilities or special needs. Importance is also placed in theories and learning experiences that promote cooperation, respect for diversity, and social responsibility within the school environment and local community. Technological applications for teaching and learning are applied throughout the program.

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to the Master of Science (M.S.) in Physical Education Program in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution.
Undergraduate grade point average of 2.75.
Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate work.
A brief typed statement indicating the applicant’s interest in the program, and identifying any previous physical education teaching experience or sport involvement.
Interview with Graduate Program Director.

The faculty of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences recognize that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate’s potential for success in a graduate program and in the teaching profession. Accordingly, candidates are welcome to apply if they do not meet one of the criteria but believe that other aspects of their experience may compensate.

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.

Artistic Expression/Humanities
Communication
Information Retrieval
Historical and Social Science Concepts
Philosophy
Language other than English (6 s.h. minimum requirement; may include American Sign language)
Scientific Processes
Mathematics Processes
Written, Analysis and Expression (6 s.h. minimum requirement)
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. Successful completion of the General Education Core in the liberal arts and sciences as identified by New York State Teacher Certification guidelines.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 36 to 39

Successful completion of a total of 30 semester hours of Physical Education content course work, as follows; 15 credits of this content is satisfied in the Master of Science Degree Program:

MSPE 248 Contemporary Dance, Rhythms, and Educational Gymnastics, 3 s.h.
Team Sports, Individual Sports, Leisure or Outdoor Sports, Fitness Activity, 3 s.h.
Motor Learning/Motor Development or equivalent, 3 s.h.
Exercise Physiology or equivalent, 3 s.h.
Kinesiology or equivalent, 3 s.h.
One course in Human Development (PreK-12) and one course in Foundations of Education.
One course in Statistics, Measurement and Evaluation, Research Methods, Epidemiology, or another equivalent course (statistics may also meet mathematics requirement).
Completion of a certificate in First Aid and CPR.
Completion of 36-39 credits of the Master of Science Degree Program.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average while taking the graduate level course work or be placed on probationary status for one semester while completing the following courses:

Field Experiences Prior to Student Training

A total of 100 hours of field assignments are required for Teacher Certification by the New York State Education Department before student teaching. The following courses include field assignments involving observation and interaction with students in preschool through grade 12:

MSPE 256 - Historical and Sociocultural Perspectives in Physical Activity and Sport Credits: 3 s.h.
(placement in high-needs schools with English Language learners) (25 hours in grades 7-12)
MSPE 258 - Planning and Implementing Preschool and Elementary Physical Education Experiences Credits: 3 s.h.
(25 hours in grades PreK-6)
MSPE 260 - Planning and Implementing Secondary Physical Education Experiences Credits: 3 s.h.
(25 hours in grades 7-12)
MSPE 262 - Inclusion for Physical Education Special Needs Populations Credits: 3 s.h.
(20 hours in grades PreK-12)
MSPE 264 - Innovative Instructional Strategies, Curriculum, and Assessment Techniques in Physical Education Credits: 3 s.h.
(5 hours in grades 7-12)

Student Teaching and Supervised Teaching Prerequisites

To qualify for admission to Student Teaching (MSPE 272A, 272B) students must complete all content and pedagogical core course work. To qualify for Supervised Teaching (MSPE 273), students must first complete MSPE 258, 260, 262, and 264.

All individuals must successfully complete New York State Teacher Certification required workshops or courses. These can be taken during MSPE 272A, 272B or during MSPE 273. Application forms for Student Teaching and Supervised Teaching (MSPE 272A, 272B and MSPE 273) may be obtained from the Office of Field Placement. Applications must be submitted by October 1 for admission to Student Teaching in the Spring semester and by March 1 for admission to Student Teaching in the Fall semester.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 while in the program. Students receiving a grade lower than C- in a content core course or pedagogical core course must repeat the course and receive a grade of B or higher in order to remain in the program. Grades below C- will not be counted toward the graduate degree but will be included in determining the grade point average.

Transfer Credits

Up to 9 credits of comparable courses from other accredited institutions may be transferred to Hofstra University to meet content, pedagogical, and field requirements.

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of the General Education Core in the liberal arts and sciences.
Completion of all content and pedagogical core courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Completion of MSPE 272A and MSPE 272B or MSPE 273, and
The completion of MSPE 270, Electronic Portfolio Development, identifying samples of exemplary work that reflect the individual’s ability to plan and implement dynamic physical education programs for a wide range of populations and age levels.
Successful completion of 36-39 s.h. of the Master of Science degree course work. All course work offered to satisfy degree requirements must be completed within a five-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.

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