Program Philosophy, Goals and Objectives

This program emphasizes the requisite core curricula, as described in NYS and National Standards, which are provided in technology-rich, authentic learning environments. Family and consumer sciences educators provide instruction at various grade levels. Students successful in the program will be prepared for New York Initial Certification in Family and Consumer Sciences, K-12, as well as an extension for a Work Based Learning Coordinator for Career Development. The program addresses all areas of the family and consumer sciences discipline. The Hofstra University program seeks to equip prospective teachers with myriad research-based teaching strategies to assist them in achieving these goals. The program values the development of reflective scholar-practitioners who are committed to effective teaching and to continued professional growth. Prospective teachers are expected to be able to evaluate their professional practice critically to seek the support of their colleagues, communities and students to improve all aspects of their professional roles.

Teachers who are pursuing an extension certification for Work Based Learning Coordinator for Career Development must provide documentation to New York state of 600 clock hours of previous work experience outside of teaching. This experience might have been in high school, college, summer employment or in a previous career. This is the responsibility of the applicant. Hofstra University does not have a role in this documentation.

Admission Requirements

Applicants 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 may be advised to complete prerequisite courses under a planned program before becoming eligible for admission. 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 GPA of 2.75 in each of two categories:
   (A) Overall undergraduate course work
   (B) Course work in the content area in which certification will be sought.
3. Completion of General Education Core prerequisites for teacher education programs with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
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.
6. A bachelor’s degree. (See Family and Consumer Sciences Content Requirement below.)

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

Family and Consumer Sciences Content Requirements

Students admitted to the Master of Science in Education program for Family and Consumer Sciences should possess a bachelor’s degree with a major specialization in one of the following areas: clothing and textiles, food and nutrition, business, family studies, consumer economics and public policy, health and wellness, culinary arts, food service, fashion design, elementary education, or child psychology. Applicants must have completed specific requirements as follows:

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 graduate studies. Six credits of content studies taken at the graduate level can be applied toward the elective category of the degree program.

Where academic subject matter deficiencies in the specific major are so great as to prevent completion of requisite work within the 36 s.h. master’s program, additional course work may be required. Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 30 s.h. of the M.S.Ed. program in-residence at Hofstra. No more than 6 s.h. may be transferred into the program. Student teaching may be used to meet the residency requirement.

A maximum of 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading toward the M.S.Ed. may be completed prior to matriculation in the program. To register for courses in the program other than SED 205 , 213 , or 264 , 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. 

General Education Core Prerequisites

Prospective teachers seeking New York state Initial certification must complete a specified set of General Education Core requirements including, Artistic Expression, Communication, Information Retrieval, History/Social Science, Language Other Than English, Science, Mathematics, and Literature/Written Expression (6 s.h.). A minimum 2.75 GPA is required for the total course work in the General Education Core.

Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 37

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. Students must receive grades of B- or higher in all required (non-elective) courses in the program.

Footnote*

*Course requires participation/observation in designated schools.

Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching

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

• LYST 209 /LYST 215A /LYST 217A : 10-hour field placement in varied settings, grades 7-12
  
• SED 295L : 50-hour field placement in Family and Consumer Middle School (25) and High School (25) varied settings, grades 10-12
• SPED 201 /SPED 264 : 20-hour field placement in settings with special needs, high needs students, grades 7-12
• SED 212 : 20-hour field placement in district with Work Based Learning Opportunities

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. A minimum of 100 clock hours or participation/observation is required prior to student teaching. The Office of Field Placement arranges placements. Departmental policy is to place prospective teachers in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attended.

Student Teaching Prerequisites

Students will qualify for admission to SED 217 or 218, when they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of CT 200, SED 205, CT 229, SED 264, SED 295, SED 295L, LYST 209, 215A or 217A, and SPED 201 or 264 with a B- or higher.
2. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.

Application forms may be obtained in the Office of Field Placement in Hagedorn Hall.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation from the program requires:

1. Completion of all General Education Core prerequisites.
2. Completion of all Family and Consumer Sciences content requirements.
3. Completion of all course work for the M.S.Ed. Family and Consumer Sciences program with an overall GPA of 3.0 with no grades below B- in required courses.
4. Completion of a portfolio illustrating the student’s educational course work and professional accomplishments.
5. A comprehensive examination or a curriculum project completed under the supervision of the program director.

All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed 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.