Dec 02, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Elementary Education (B.A.), and Elementary Education: Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), (M.A.), Dual-degree Program


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Qualified undergraduate students can elect to enroll in this five year-degree program which combines a Bachelor of Arts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)  and Elementary Education , as dual majors, and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

At the completion of the undergraduate studies, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree, and will be eligible for New York state initial certification, childhood, grades 1-6. Upon the completion of the fifth year, students will have met the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in STEM.

The program requires successful completion of 154-156 semester hours, 134-136 semester hours at the bachelor’s level, 12 semester hours of which will be taken as graduate courses that will be double-counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. In the fifth year of study, an additional 20 semester hours will be required at the graduate level for a total of 32 semester hours.

Direct admission to the dual-degree program (B.A. and M.A.)


Students entering Hofstra as incoming freshmen can apply for direct admission to the dual-degree program. Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements for Hofstra University bachelor’s degree and have a strong foundation in mathematics and sciences. Students will be admitted to the elementary education program after successfully completing 45 semester hours of college course work and fulfilling the following requirements:

  1. An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in all course work and liberal arts and sciences course work;
  2. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession; and
  3. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.

Successful candidates will be admitted to the M.A. Elementary Education: STEM program during their junior year provided that they fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 89 semester hours of course work toward their B.A. program with co-majors in STEM and Elementary Education; and
  2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 at the time of application to the M.A. Elementary Education: STEM program.

Admission to the dual-degree program for current Hofstra students (B.A. and M.A.)


Qualified Hofstra undergraduate students majoring in B.A. STEM and Elementary Education can apply for admission to the dual-degree program prior to successfully completing 89 semester hours of undergraduate work. Students admitted to this program should note that admission to the dual M.A. Elementary Education: STEM program requires the following:

  1. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 at the time of application to the graduate program and upon completion of 89 semester hours of course work toward their B.A. degree;
  2. Fulfillment of all the undergraduate degree requirements with the exception of the semester hour and major requirements; and
  3. Successful completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of undergraduate course work in residence at Hofstra.

Note: Undergraduate students must apply and be accepted into the M.A. in Elementary Education: STEM program before being allowed to take graduate courses as part of their undergraduate program.

Program and Graduation Requirements


Students admitted to this dual-degree program will receive a B.A. with co-majors in STEM and Elementary Education upon completion of the following requirements:

3. Complete M.A. Requirements


Completion of the entire M.A. degree requirements described in the Graduate Studies Bulletin.

4. Successful Completion of a Minimum of 154-156 Semester Hours


Successful completion of a minimum of 154-156 semester hours, 12 of which will be graduate courses that will be double-counted toward both the B.A. and M.A. degrees.

5. Successful Completion of all Required Observation Hours and Student Teaching.


6. A Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all Undergraduate Work and 3.00 for Graduate Work


(with no graduate grades lower than C- and no unresolved incomplete grades in professional education and STEM course work).

7. Liberal Arts Courses


A. Communication Skills: 9 s.h.


B. History Elective: 3 s.h.


C. Multicultural Perspectives: 3 s.h.


E. Humanities Elective: 9 s.h.


F. Social Science Electives: 12 s.h.


G. Natural Sciences Courses: 12 s.h.


H. Interdisciplinary Studies Elective: 3 s.h.


I. Liberal Arts Elective: 3 s.h.


J. Language Other Than English


Language other than English: completion of level 4 or placement above level 4. (American Sign Language accepted or language requirement but does not count toward liberal arts credit)

K. Foundations of Education: 3 s.h.


L. Liberal Arts Electives: 15 s.h.


M. Cross Cultural Elective: 3 s.h.


8. Stem Required Courses


9. Elementary Education Required Courses


  • CT 239
  • ELED 041  (if required), 111A , 212, 125A , 126A , 126L , 127A , 127L , 231A, 231L, 232A, 232L, 234, 235, 250A, 250B, 253
  • FDED 111  or 127 
  • SPED 101 
  • SOE Elective: 6 s.h. from the following categories: ELED, FDED, LYST, SPED, TESOL, CT, SED, HED, Music Education, Dance Education or graduate-level liberal arts course (with advisement)
  • Student Teaching: ELED 121A  and 123A 

 

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. Individuals 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), childhood (Grades 1-6), adolescent (Grades 7-12) and special subject, students with disabilities, gifted, TESOL, bilingual, literacy, speech and language disabilities teachers, as well as school leadership candidates, are required to pass the New York State 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 1, 2014, will be required to take certain new exams. Candidates who graduate and apply for certification on or before April 30, 2014, but do not meet all the requirements for an initial certificate on or before April 30, 2014, will also be required to pass the new exams. Candidates will not be permitted to mix and match examinations from the old and new tests. Please contact the Office of Educational Support Services at Hofstra University at 516-463-5747 or consult the state website.

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
  6. Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

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.

Forms for applying for certification can be found at the Office of Educational Support Services Web page under the certification tab.

Fingerprinting
Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, the Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE), requires that applicants for teaching and administrative and pupil services personnel certification and perspective employees of covered schools (school districts, charter schools and BOCES) must undergo fingerprint supported criminal history background check. However, many school districts and institutions across the metropolitan New York area are now requiring that all student teachers, observers, interns or externs receive fingerprint clearance before they are placed in educational settings that are required for this degree program. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for fingerprint clearance upon acceptance to the program. Fingerprinting can be completed through Hofstra University using LIVESCAN technology, arranged by the Office of Educational Support Services each semester. You may contact us at 516-463-5747 or visit Hagedorn Hall, Room 129. You may also register online. Fingerprint clearance is also required for New York state certification.

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