Admission Criteria for the Early Childhood Education Program

Admission to the master of science in education program in the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership is contingent upon the following:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a liberal arts and sciences concentration.
2. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in each of two categories:
   1. Overall undergraduate course work.
   2. Course work in the liberal arts and sciences.
3. General Education Core prerequisites for teacher education programs (see below).
4. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
5. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and graduate course work.
6. An interview with the program director.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Students may consider applying even if they fail to meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 38

Early Childhood Education Major Requirements

Students must maintain a 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. Grades lower than B do not confer credit in required (non-elective) courses in the program. Students may repeat courses to meet grade point average requirements.

Field Experiences Before Student Teaching

Prospective teachers in the early childhood education program complete a minimum of 115 clock hours (2 internships of 50 hours each in ELED 203E and ELED 204E plus 15 clock hours in SPED 210) as participant observers in designated schools prior to student teaching. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. At least one placement in a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten will be spent in a high-needs site recognized by the New York State Education Department. Students in SPED 210 will participate on site with special-needs Birth-Grade 2 children. Field experiences before student teaching with children in each of the three early childhood groups, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1-2 are integrated with the following courses

Student Teaching Prerequisites

1. Program Phase II and General Education Core must be completed prior to student teaching.
2. Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Field Placement. Applications are due on May 1 for the succeeding spring semester and February 15 for the succeeding fall semester.
3. Students must have a cumulative minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in graduate course work.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of General Education Core requirements.
2. Completion of all course requirements for the Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education with an overall GPA of 3.0.
3. Completion of the 38 s.h. course requirements in the M.S. in Education in Early Childhood Education program with no fewer than 32 s.h. in residence at Hofstra University.
4. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
5. A passing score on the departmental comprehensive examination or departmentally authorized equivalent (no degree credit).
6. The completion of the master’s degree within a five-year period.

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.

Footnotes

*Fifteen clock hours of field work required in each designated course.
** Fifty hours of field work required in each designated course