Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to a master of science in education program in the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students who do not meet the full admission requirements must complete all required courses, including general education core and content courses, prior to conferring of the degree. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

1. A completed application form to the master’s program.
2. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 in each of two categories:
   1. Overall undergraduate course work,
   2. Course work in music.
3. Completion of General Education Core requirements for teacher education programs (see below).
4. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
5. Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate’s potential for success in a graduate program. Consequently, candidates are welcome to apply if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience may compensate.

Music Content Requirements

Students admitted to the M.S. in Education program in Music Education should possess a bachelor’s degree in music or have a minimum of 36 s.h. in college-level music course work distributed over the following content areas:

Music Theory, 11 s.h.
Music History and Literature, 6 s.h.
Applied Music, 4 s.h.
Conducting, 3 s.h.
Secondary Applied, 5 s.h.
Performance, 3 s.h.
Other courses related to music, 4 s.h.

If one or more of the above content areas are missing from any student’s transcript, those content areas must be completed prior to completion of the M.S. in Education degree. Of these 36 s.h., six may be taken at the graduate level and counted toward the M.S. in Education degree under the Electives category.

Candidates who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in music, but who have succeeded in completing a majority of the required content courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher, may apply for admission to the M.S. in Education program. Upon matriculation in the program, candidates may continue to complete the required content courses while they are completing the requirements for the master’s program. Where academic subject matter deficiencies in music are so great as to prevent completion of requisite work within the 38 s.h. master’s program, additional course work may be required. Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 29 s.h. of the M.S. in Education program in residence at Hofstra. No more than 9 s.h. may be transferred into the program. Student Teaching may be used to meet the 29 s.h. residency.

A maximum of 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading toward the M.S. in Education degree may be completed prior to matriculation in the program. To register for courses in the program other than SED 205, 264, or CT 227 a student must 1) be matriculated in the program, or 2) have written permission of the course instructor or departmental chairperson prior to the beginning of the course.

Program Requirement - Semester Hours: 38

Students must maintain a minimum 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.

The major in Music Education consists of a minimum of 38 semester hours of course work, including each of the following:

Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching

A minimum of 100 clock hours of participation/observation is required prior to student teaching. At least one field placement must be in a district identified as high-needs by the New York State Education Department. All field experiences are incorporated into course curricula. Students enrolled in SPED 201, 264 are placed in educational settings to work with students who have special needs or disabilities. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Departmental policy is to place prospective teachers in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attended.

Participation/observation field experiences in designated secondary schools are required in each of the following courses:

• CT 229 - Development and Learning in Childhood and Adolescence Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, PreK-12

• CT 299A - Developing Creative Music Strategies Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, grades PreK-6 Choral and General Music settings

• CT 299B - Perspectives on Instrumental Music Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 10-12 Instrumental settings

• SED 264 - General Methods of Teaching Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in a high-needs district, grades 7-12

• SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12

• SPED 264 - Inclusion in Today’s Schools Semester Hours: 3

• 20-hour field placement in settings with special-needs students, grades 7-12

Student Teaching Prerequisites

Students may apply for admission to Student Teaching, CT 227, when they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of SED 200 or 200M, 205, 213, 227A, 264; CT 229, 299A, 299B; LYST 202; and SPED 201, 264 with a grade of B or better.
2. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.

Application forms are available 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.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all General Education Core requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
2. Completion of all music content with a minimum GPA of 2.75, with no grades lower than C- accepted as fulfilling this requirement.
3. Completion of the 38 s.h. course requirement in the M.S. in Education program with no fewer than 29 s.h. in residence.
4. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work, and no grades below B in required courses.
5. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
6. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five year period.

Footnotes

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.