Program: B.A. Specialization in Elementary Education - Hofstra University

Jun 19, 2025

2005-2006 Undergraduate Bulletin

The Department of Curriculum and Teaching strongly recommends an emphasis on course work dealing with multicultural 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 majors in elementary 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 within the following areas must be included in the B.A. degree program of 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 University and New York State Education Department requirements.

Students 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:

Artistic Expression/Humanities - Semester Hours: 3

Recommended:

AH 74 - (AA) Contemporary Art Credits: 3 s.h.
AH 101 - (AA) Ancient Art Credits: 3 s.h.
CLL 39 - (LT) Mythologies and Literature of the Ancient World Credits: 3 s.h.
CLL 190 - (LT) World Literature and the Anatomy of Cultural Difference Credits: 3 s.h.
DNCE 127 - (AA) Dance Appreciation Credits: 3 s.h.
DRAM 1 - (AA) Theater Appreciation I Credits: 3 s.h.
ENGL 40 - (LT) Source Studies Credits: 3 s.h.
ENGL 139 - (LT, CC) The African Novel Credits: 3 s.h.
MUS 3 - (AA) Music Appreciation (for nonmajors) Credits: 3 s.h.
or the equivalent.

Creative Participation - Semester Hours: 3

FA 8 - (CP) Art Concepts and Experiences Credits: 3 s.h.
or equivalent recommended

Communication - Semester Hours: 3

SPCM 1 - (CP) Oral Communication Credits: 3 s.h.
SPCM 7 - (CP) Public Speaking Credits: 3 s.h.
or CRWR 133, Workshop: General Creative Writing Credits / Units: 3 s.h.

Information Retrieval

CSC 5 - (MC) Overview of Computer Science Credits: 3 s.h.
or a passing score on the Examination for Information Retrieval (EIR), or comparable course work.

Historical/Social Science Concepts - Semester Hours: 6

HIST course listed under the Social Science Division of the Hofstra Distribution or the equivalent particularly recommended;

ANTH 3 - (BH) Culture, Tradition and Transformation Credits: 3 s.h.
HIST 72C - (CC) China and Japan Since 1800 Credits: 3 s.h.
PSC 1 - (BH) American Politics Credits: 3 s.h.
or the equivalent particulary recommended;
PSY 33 - Industrial Psychology Credits: 3 s.h.
or
PSY 34 - Organizational Psychology Credits: 3 s.h.
recommended.
SOC 8 - (BH) Sociology of Substance Abuse Credits: 3 s.h.
SOC 9 - (BH) Youth, Crisis, and American Culture Credits: 3 s.h.
SOC 36 - (BH) Marriage and the Family Credits: 3 s.h.
SOC 37 - (BH) Parenting, Poverty and Social Policy Credits: 3 s.h.

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 but do not carry liberal arts and sciences credit (6 s.h.).

Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 3

BIO 4 - (NS) Human Biology Credits: 3 s.h.
or the equivalent particularly recommended.

One of the Following Courses

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

BIO 11 - (NS) Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Credits: 4 s.h.
and
BIO 12 - (NS) Animal Form and Function Credits: 4 s.h.
CHEM 3A - (NS) General and Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3 s.h.
with
CHEM 3B - (NS) General and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Credits: 1 s.h.
GEOL 1 - (NS) Physical Geological Science Credits: 3 s.h.
and
GEOL 2 - (NS) Historical Geological Science Credits: 3 s.h.
PHYS 1A - (NS) Elementary Physics Credits: 3 s.h.
with
PHYS 1B - (NS) Elementary Physics Laboratory Credits: 1 s.h.

Mathematical Processes - Semester Hours: 3

Any MATH course listed under the Mathematics/Computer Science division of the Hofstra Distribution. MATH 16 is highly recommended for non-mathematics/non-science majors.

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.

ENGL 1 - Composition Credits: 3 s.h.
ENGL 2 - Composition Credits: 3 s.h.

Transfer Students

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

Pedagogical Core Requirements for Elementary Education

ELED 41 - Basic Concepts in Arithmetic and Related Teaching Practices Credits: 2 s.h.
ELED 104A - Educational Computing Issues, Trends and Practices Credits: 1 s.h.
ELED 111B - Young Children’s Movement, Music, Rhythmic Activities and Play for the Classroom Credits: 1 s.h.
ELED 122 - Art in the Elementary School Credits: 1 s.h.
FDED 111 - The American School Credits: 3 s.h.
FDED 127 - Introduction to Philosophy of Education Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 101 - Inclusion: Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and K-6 Children Credits: 3 s.h.

Phase 1

Satisfactory completion of 45 semester hours of college level course work and admission to the Early Childhood Education Program.

Phase 2

ELED 125A - Child Development in the School Setting, Home and Community Credits: 5 s.h.
ELED 126A - Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Teaching Social Studies: Elementary Education Grades 1-6 Credits: 3 s.h.
ELED 126L - Social Studies Field Placement Laboratory Credits: 1 s.h.
ELED 127A - Integrated Teaching of Reading, Writing and Children’s Literature: Elementary Education Grades 1-6 Credits: 5 s.h.
ELED 127L - Literacy Field Placement Laboratory Credits: 1 s.h.
ELED 128A - Integrated Teaching of Mathematics in Early and Childhood Education Credits: 3 s.h.
ELED 128L - Mathematics Field Placement Laboratory Credits: 1 s.h.
ELED 129A - Integrated Teaching of Science in Early and Childhood Education Credits: 3 s.h.
ELED 129L - Science Field Placement Laboratory Credits: 1 s.h.

Phase 3. Admission to Student Teaching

ELED 121A - Student Teaching: Elementary Education Credits: 6 s.h.
ELED 123A - Classroom Perspectives and Issues: Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Credits: 3 s.h.

Student Teaching Prerequisites for the Program

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 for student teaching are as follows:

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

Graduation Requirements

Graduation from this program requires

(1) completion of all graduation requirements for the appropriate B.A. degree in the liberal arts and sciences;
completion of all course requirements for the co-major in the elementary education program;
successful completion of at least 129 semester hours. (Military Science courses may not be counted toward this total semester hour requirement.);
completion of at least 93 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences course work (FDED 111 and 127 may be counted toward this requirement);
a minimum GPA of 2.75 in overall course work;
a minimum GPA of 2.5 in liberal arts and sciences course work; and
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 teacher certification for Initial Certification. 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.

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 NYSTCE’s should be completed prior to graduation. Students not receiving passing scores on all three examinations will not be eligible for initial certification.

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