Admission Requirements

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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. 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 will be sought.
3. Completion of General Education Core requirements 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.
6. A bachelor’s degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area of science education in which certification will be sought (for exceptions see Science Content Requirements on the following page).

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.

Science Content Requirements

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Students admitted to the master of science in education program in science education should possess a bachelor’s degree in the certification content area sought or a minimum of 36 s.h. in college-level course work in the content area of certification, distributed over specified categories (see below).

Candidates who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in their chosen science 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, may apply for admission to the master of science in education program. Upon matriculation in the program, candidates may continue to complete the required contend courses while they are completing the requirements for the master’s program. Prior to conferral of the master of science in education degree, transcripts must indicate successful completion of all required course work in the area in which certification will be sought.

The following sections delineate the science content requirements for those seeking certification in either biology, chemistry, or physics. Courses for certification in general science are required of all students in the science education program at Hofstra University.

General Science (required of all students seeking certification in any of the sciences) (24 s.h.):

general chemistry, 6 s.h.
general physics, 6 s.h.
geology (earth science), 6 s.h.
calculus based mathematics, 3 s.h.
statistics, 3 s.h.

Biology (required of all students seeking certification in Biology) (30 s.h.):

general biology, 6 s.h.
genetics, 3 s.h.
comparative anatomy, 3 s.h.
general ecology, 3 s.h.
invertebrate zoology, 3 s.h.
plant physiology, 3 s.h.
biology electives, course work in related content area (with advisement), 9 s.h. 

Chemistry (required of all students seeking certification in Chemistry (30 s.h.):

inorganic chemistry, 6 s.h.
organic chemistry, 6 s.h.
quantitative analysis, 3 s.h.
physical chemistry, 3 s.h.
chemistry electives, course work in related content area
(with advisement), 12 s.h. 

Geology (required of all students seeking certification in Earth Science) (30 s.h.):

physical geological science, 3 s.h.
historical geological science, 3 s.h.
earth science, 6 s.h.
geology electives, course work in related content area
(with advisement), 18 s.h. 

Physics (required of all students seeking certification in Physics) (30 s.h.):

general physics, 3 s.h.
electricity and magnetism, 3 s.h.
modern physics, 6 s.h.
optics, 3 s.h.
thermodynamics, 3 s.h.
mechanics, 3 s.h.
quantum mechanics, 3 s.h.
Physics electives, course work in related content areas (with advisement), 6 s.h.

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 M.S. in Education.

Where academic subject matter deficiencies in the candidate’s chosen science certification area 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. of the master of science in education program in residence at Hofstra. No more than 9 s.h. may be transferred into the program. Student Teaching may be used to meet the 28 s.h. residency.

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, 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

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The major in Science Education consists of at least 37 semester hours of education course work including each of the following:

Field Experience Prior to Student Teaching

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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 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, grade 7-12

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

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

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

• 10-hour field placement in varied settings, grade 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 293 - Instructional Patterns for Science Semester Hours: 3

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

• SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Semester Hours: 3

• 30-hour field placement in settings with special-needs studetns, grades 7-12

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

• 30-hour field placement in settings with special-needs studetns, grades 7-12

Student Teaching Prerequisites

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Students will qualify for admission to Student Teaching SED 217, or Supervised Teaching SED 218, when they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of SED 200, 205, 213, 264, 293; LYST 209/215A/217A; and SPED 201/264.
2. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work. SED 217 and 218 field assignments include placements on both middle- and high-school levels.

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

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1. Completion of all General Education Core requirements.
2. Completion of all science 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 GPA 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.

Footnotes

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*Course requires participation/observation in designated schools.

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.