Oct 11, 2024  
2005-2006 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2005-2006 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

B.A. in Early Childhood Education


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Program Information

The Department of Curriculum and Teaching strongly recommends emphasis on course work dealing with multi-cultural issues and social contexts of education. In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students in B.A. degree programs with co-majors in early childhood education must complete course work from each of the content areas below. When programs are planned carefully, these requirements may be satisfied while completing the Hofstra Distribution. Specific courses and minimum credits required for prospective teachers are indicated.

Whereas satisfaction of the Hofstra Distribution may require more credits in the indicated areas than those stipulated below, the designated courses with the following areas must be included in the B.A. degree program of the early childhood and the elementary education major. Comparable course work must be completed by New College and School of Communication students in each of the areas below.

Transfer students must plan their courses of study carefully with an academic adviser to assure that their programs will fulfill both the University and New York State Education Department requirements.

Student receiving a grade lower than C- in a professional education course must repeat the course and receive a grade of C or higher in order to remain in the program.

Included Areas


Areas to be included in partial fulfillment of the Hofstra Distribution:

Creative Participation - Semester Hours: 3


Communication - Semester Hours: 3


Information Retrieval


  • a passing score on the Examination for Information Retrieval (EIR)

Historical/Social Science Concepts - Semester Hours: 6


  • HIST course listed in the Social Sciences Division of the Hofstra Distribution or the equivalent particularly recommended.

Language Other Than English - Semester Hours: 0-12


Completion of level 4 competence in a language other than English, placement above level 4, or completion of the special language option. American Sign Language, REHB 191 and 192, may be used to satisfy this requirement for New College students. (6 s.h.)

Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 3


One of the Following Courses


Satisfy the Natural Sciences Distribution requirement by completing one of the following laboratory sciences courses:

Mathematical Processes - Semester Hours: 3


Any MATH course listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science division of the Hofstra Distribution.

Written Analysis and Expression - Semester Hours: 6


  • A passing score on the Hofstra English Proficiency Examination (also required for transfer students).
  • Successful completion of the New College Writing Program is a requirement prior to admission to ELED courses for New College students.

Cross-Cultural Appreciation - Semester Hours: 3


Any course in the Cross-Cultural division of the Hofstra Distribution.

Transfer Students


Transfer students must plan their courses of study carefully with an academic adviser to asess that their progress will fulfill both the University and the New York State Education Department requirements.

Core Requirements for the Early Childhood Education Program (Birth-Grade 2)


Student Teaching Prerequisites


Program Phases 1 and 2 must be completed prior to student teaching. Application forms for student teaching are available in the Office of Field Placement and are accepted by October 1 or March 1 for the succeeding semester. Admission criteria are as follows:

  1. a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on overall course work;
  2. a GPA of 2.5 or higher in liberal arts and sciences course work;
  3. a grade of C- or higher in each ELED course completed and
  4. no unresolved INC grades in professional education course work.

Graduation Requirements for the Early Childhood Education Program


Graduation from an undergraduate early childhood education program requires:

  1. completion of all graduation requirements for the appropriate B.A. degree in the liberal arts and sciences;
  2. completion of all course requirements for the co-major in early childhood education;
  3. the successful completion of at least 129 semester hours. (Military Science courses may not be counted toward this total semester hour requirement.);
  4. completion of at least 93 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences course work (FDED 111 and 127 may be counted toward this requirement);
  5. a minimum GPA of 2.75 in overall course work;
  6. a minimum GPA of 2.5 in liberal arts and sciences course work;
  7. an electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.

Teacher Certification Requirements


Upon successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York State teachers’ Initial Certificate. Students are required to pass each of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: The Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills—Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Students not receiving passing scores on all three examinations will not be eligible for certification. Additional information pertaining to certification can be found in the School of Education and Allied Human Services.

Note


Note: It is strongly recommended that students complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations prior to student teaching, and the Assessment of Teaching Skills—Written (ATS-W) and the Content Specialty Test (CST) during student teaching. All three NYSTCEs should be completed prior to graduation. Students not receiving passing scores on all three examinations will not be eligible for initial certification.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Program Information