Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to a master of arts program in the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership 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 of arts program.
2. New York state initial certification for teaching social studies 7-12. Applicants who have provisional certification should contact the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership for the correct program.
3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) 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.
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 even if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience may compensate.

Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of the master of arts program in residence at Hofstra. No more than 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading toward the master of arts degree may be completed prior to matriculation in the program.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 33

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 Social Studies Education consists of a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work, including each of the following:

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of the 33 s.h. course requirement in the M.A. program with no fewer than 24 s.h. in residence.
2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work.
3. Satisfactory completion of a departmental-approved curriculum project.
4. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.

Footnotes

*A minimum of 50 clock hours of college-supervised field experience is required in this cognate area. Students are placed in the settings specific to the foci of their base teaching certificates. All field experiences are incorporated into the course curricula. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Department policy is to place students in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attended.

To be eligible for the Certification Extension in Gifted Education and Bilingual Education students are required to have passing scores on the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). Please contact the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services for specific certification requirements.

Teacher Certification Requirements

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 fulfilling the required courses of study, the Commissioner’s Regulations mandate that all prospective teachers, pupil personnel and education leaders receive instructions regarding:
    1.     Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
    2.     Fire and Arson Prevention.
    3.     School Violence Prevention and Intervention.
    4.     Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Abuse.
    5.     Highway and School Safety/Prevention of Child Abduction.

New York State legislation also requires all persons seeking certification as special education teachers or school administrators working in special education to have training in the area of children with autism. All of these requirements must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification. Candidates for certification in New York state must also demonstrate satisfactory performance on the requisite state assessment. 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.