Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2010 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2009-2010 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Intensive Non-Degree Program in Secondary Education


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Professor Singer, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5853, Alan.J.Singer@hofstra.edu

This program is for those who already possess a graduate degree with a major in a content area taught in secondary schools and who are eligible for the New York State Transitional C Certificate. The program leads to professional certification for teaching English, languages other than English, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, mathematics, social studies, in grades 7-12 and business and marketing all grades.

Admission Criteria



Applications for admission to the Intensive Non-Degree Certification 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 Intensive Non-Degree Certification Program.
  2. Evidence documenting that the applicant meets the requirement for the New York State’s Transitional C Certificate.
  3. A written agreement with a school district for a teaching position for three years, two of which will be mentored by a support team including:
    1. A college faculty member of the program,
    2. The school principal or designee,
    3. An experienced New York state-certified teacher, and
    4. A school curriculum supervisor or specialist. The agreement shall specify that daily mentoring shall be provided by the experienced certified teacher during at least the first 20 days of the applicant’s teaching.
  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.
  6. A graduate degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area of the certificate.

Program Requirements



The program consists of three major components:

  1. Content requirements.
  2. 19 s.h. of professional education course work.
  3. Mentored teaching and seminars.

Content Requirements


Students should possess a graduate degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area of the certificate. Students who do not hold a major in the content area of the certificate must be able to demonstrate completion of at least 36 s.h. of appropriate content, distributed over specific categories. Those students should consult their program coordinators for specific course requirements within the content area of the certificate.

Professional Education Requirements - Semester Hours: 19


The student must present evidence of holding the Transitional C Certificate prior to the commencement of mentored teaching.

No more than 3 s.h. may be transferred into the program or exempted through testing or portfolio review. Courses transferred into the program must be graduate courses (excluding SED 260A, B, C, D), no more than five years old from the date of the awarding of the degree received. Student must have received grades of B or higher in the course. Such course must be deemed equivalent to program courses by the appropriate academic adviser and department chairperson.

Choose From - Semester Hours: 3


Choose one special education course from the following:

Choose From - Semester Hours: 3


Choose one special methods or curriculum course in the related content area of certification from:
  • SED 230 Series
  • SED 290 Series

Competency in Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0


Required passing score on the University’s Examination on Information Retrieval (EIR) (University Technology Seminars available at no cost)

The following courses must be completed in sequence over a two-year period:


Graduation Requirements



  1. Successful completion of the 19 s.h. program requirement.
  2. Completion of the child abuse, violence prevention, substance abuse and other related seminars.
  3. All course work taken in satisfaction of program requirements must have been completed within a  three-year period.

Criteria for the New York State Transitional C Certificate


The New York State Education Department awards the Transitional C Certificate to those individuals who meet the following criteria:

  1. Possession of a graduate degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area in which certification will be sought.
  2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in graduate course work.
  3. A written agreement with a school district for a teaching position for three years, two of which will be mentored by a support team including:
    1. A college faculty member of the program.
    2. The school principal or designee.
    3. An experienced New York state-certified teacher.
    4. A school curriculum supervisor or specialist. The agreement shall specify that daily mentoring shall be provided by the experienced certified teacher during at least the first 20 days of the applicant’s teaching.
  4. Passing scores on the following two New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and the Content Specialty Test (CST in the content area of the certificate).
  5. Completion of all required seminars.

Teacher Certification Requirements


Please contact the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services for information regarding the fingerprinting requirement and any other specific certification requirements.

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