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

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.

Social Studies Content Requirements

Students admitted to the M.S. in Education in Social Studies Education program 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.

1. Minimum 6 s.h. European history (Western civilization)
2. minimum 6 s.h. United States history;
3. minimum 3 s.h. political science (American government);
4. minimum 3 s.h. economics;
5. 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 master of science in education degree. Of these 36 s.h., six may be taken at the graduate level and counted toward the master of science 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 master of science 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 master of science 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. 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:

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:

• 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 high-needs district, grades 7-12

• SED 294 - Instructional Patterns for Social Studies Semester Hours: 3

• 30-hour field placement in varied settings, 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

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.
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 master of science 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 master of science in education degree requirements must be completed within a 5-year period.

Footnotes