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 all 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 language in which certification will be sought.
3. Completion of General Education Core for teacher education programs.
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. Consequently, candidates are welcome 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

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.
   1.     Artistic Expression/Humanities, 3 s.h.
   2.     Communication, 3 s.h.
   3.     Information Retrieval, (0-3 s.h.; can be satisfied with passing score on exam)
   4.    Historical and Social Science Concepts, 3 s.h.
   5.     Language other than English, (0-3 s.h.; depending on placement)
   6.     Scientific Processes, 3 s.h.
   7.     Mathematical Processes, 3 s.h.
   8.     Written Analysis and Expression, 6 s.h.

Please note that programs may have general education requirements that exceed the minimum registered with the state. Degrees will not be conferred unless all general education core deficiencies have been met.

Foreign Language Content Requirements

Students admitted to the M.S. in Education program in Foreign Language Education should possess a bachelor’s degree in French, Spanish, German or Russian, or a minimum of 36 s.h. in college-level course work above level four in the respective language, distributed over the following areas:

Culture and Civilization, 6 s.h.
Conversation, 3 s.h.
Grammar, 3 s.h.
Composition, 3 s.h.
Literature, 9 s.h.

Electives in the target language—additional course work in related areas (with advisement: advanced course work in the above areas or special topics such as phonetics, film or linguistics), 12 s.h.

If the candidate possesses an undergraduate degree in the target language but one or more of the above content areas were not included in the candidate’s undergraduate degree, those missing 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 the specific language, but who have succeeded in completing a majority of the required content courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher, may apply for admission to the M.S. in Education program. Upon matriculation in the program, candidates may continue to complete the required content courses while they are completing the requirements for a master’s program. Where academic subject matter deficiencies in the language 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 31 s.h. in residence at Hofstra. No more than 6 s.h. may be transferred into the program. Student Teaching may be used to meet the 31 s.h. residency.

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 a student must 1) be matriculated in the program; or 2) have written permission of the course instructor or departmental chairperson prior to the beginning of the course.

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. 

The major in foreign language education consists of a minimum of 37 s.h. of course work, including each of the following:

Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching

At least one field placement 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. A minimum of 100 clock hours of participation/observation is required prior to student teaching. 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 the following courses:

• LYST 209 - Language, Culture and Identity: Literacy Issues for Adolescents and Young Adults Semester Hours: 3

• 10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12

• LYST 215A - Language and Literacy in Middle Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3

• 10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12

• LYST 217A - Reading and Writing With Adolescents Semester Hours: 3

• 10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12

• SED 213 - Adolescent Development and Learning Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-9

• SED 264 - General Methods of Teaching Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in a high-needs district, grades 7-12

• SED 291 - Instructional Patterns for Foreign Languages Semester Hours: 3

• 30-hour field placement in varied setting, grades 10-12

• SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12

• SPED 264 - Inclusion in Today’s Schools Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12

Student Teaching Prerequisites

1. Completion of SED 200, 205, 213, 264, 291; LYST 209, 215A, 217A; and SPED 201, 264.
2. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.
3. A passing grade on the written and oral departmental proficiency examination. See individual departments for information. Exam is given twice a year.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all General Education Core requirements.
2. Completion of all foreign language content requirements.
3. Completion of the 37 s.h. course requirement in the M.S. in Education program with no fewer than 31 s.h. in residence.
4. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work. 
   
5. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
6. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.

Teacher Certification

Upon successful completion of a school-based program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. The state requires applicants 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 (CSTs). The state will not issue certification to individuals not receiving passing scores on all New York examinations. In addition to pedagogical studies, the Commissioner’s Regulations require that all school-based programs provide students with instruction for the purpose of  identification of child abuse and maltreatment; fire and arson prevention; prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse; School Violence Prevention and Intervention (SAVE); and highway and school safety/prevention of child abduction. No degrees will be conferred without the completion of all of these requirements. Please contact the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services for information regarding fingerprinting, examinations and seminars. 

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