Program Requirements

Students choose a major in history or one of the social sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science or Sociology) within the liberal arts and sciences. During the second semester of the sophomore year (a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work), the student then chooses Social Studies Education as a co-major. For program admission policies, procedures, and program requirements, see Secondary Education Undergraduate Programs.

Prospective teachers of social studies must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours in history and social studies course with at least 21 semester hours in history and geography. The Hofstra University program requires a distribution of history and social studies courses in specific subject areas as follows:

Secondary Education Program - Semester Hours: 31

Student Teaching Prerequisites

After completing at least 19 semester hours of professional education course work and an adviser audit of content area course work, students may apply for admission to student teaching. Application forms may be obtained in the office of Field Placement. Admission criteria are as follows:

1. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better on overall course work or permission of adviser
2. No grades lower than C- and no unresolved INC grades in required social studies or professional education course work .
3. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in social studies content courses

Graduation Requirements

Graduation from the program requires:

1. Completion of all graduation requirements for the bachelor’s degree in the major content area in which the certification will be sought;
2. Completion of all course requirements for the co-major in the concentration area within secondary education;
3. No grades lower than C- and no unresolved INC grades in professional education course work;
4. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in overall course work;
5. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major area in which the certification will be sought;
6. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments, a comprehensive examination, or curriculum project completed under the supervision of the program director.

See Also: Complete B.A. Requirements

B.A. Requirements  in HCLAS.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon the successful completion of a Hofstra state-approved teacher education program, students are eligible for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. A request for recommendation must be submitted to the Office of Educational Support Services the semester in which the student is graduating. There will be opportunities to attend a certification workshop during the student’s final semester, to receive all the necessary information regarding applying for certification. Students who apply directly to New York state for certification are responsible for learning about and satisfying the certification requirements set by the state. It should be noted that such requirements may differ from those in Hofstra’s registered programs.

All prospective early childhood (Birth-Grade 2), elementary (Grades 1-6), secondary (Grades 7-12) and special subject teachers as well as educational leaders are required to pass the New York State Teachers Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc., for state certification requirements. Students should consult with the Office of Educational Support Services regarding the appropriate examinations for their area of study.

We anticipate that teacher and school building leader candidates applying for certification on or after May 1st, 2014, will be required to take certain new exams. At the February 2012 meeting, the New York State Board of Regents approved a change to the implementation schedule for the new testing requirements for the initial certification of teachers and school building leaders. Please contact the office of Educational Support Services at Hofstra University at (516) 463-5747 or consult the state website.

For candidates graduating prior to May 2013, it is strongly recommended that students complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) prior to student teaching, and the Assessment of Teaching Skills Written (ATS-W) and the Content Specialty Test (CST) during student teaching. Students not receiving passing scores on these examinations will not be eligible for certification.

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 in special education, speech and language disabilities or school administrators working in special education, to have training in the area of children with autism.

Hofstra University offers the above listed educational law seminars through the Office of Educational Support Services. All of these seminars must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification.