Dec 12, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Dual Early Childhood/Childhood Education (BA) and Early Childhood/Childhood Education: STEM (MA), Dual-degree Program


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Adjunct Assistant Professor Simons, Program Adviser

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 Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6), BA Dual Certification Program as dual majors, and a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6) Education: with a Specialization in 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 in Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6). Upon the completion of the fifth year, students will have met the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in Early Childhood Ed/Childhood Education: STEM and will be eligible for Professional certification in Early Childhood and Childhood. The program requires successful completion of 157-160 semester hours, 134-137 semester hours at the bachelor’s level, 11 semester hours will be taken as graduate courses; 2 of those semester hours will count towards the undergraduate degree and 9 semester hours that will be double-counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. In the fifth year of study, an additional 23 semester hours will be required at the graduate level for a total of 32 semester hours.

Direct admission to the dual-degree program (BA and MA)


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 Early Childhood/Childhood 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.
  3. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.

Successful candidates will be admitted to the MA Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6) Education with a specialization in STEM program during their junior year provided that they fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 89 semester hours of course work toward their BA program with co-majors in STEM and Early Childhood/Childhood Education Dual Certification Program.
  2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 at the time of application to the MA Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6), Education: STEM program.

Admission to the dual-degree program for current Hofstra students (BA and MA)


Qualified Hofstra undergraduate students majoring in BA Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Dual Early Childhood/Childhood Education Program 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 MA Early Childhood/Childhood: 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 BA degree.
  2. Fulfillment of all the undergraduate degree requirements with the exception of the semester hour and major requirements.
  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 MA Early Childhood/Childhood: 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 BA with co-majors in STEM and Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6), upon completion of the following requirements:

1. BA Liberal Arts Courses: Semester Hours: 93


Artistic Expression/Humanities - Semester Hours: 6


Any LT or AA courses  listed under the Humanities Division of the Hofstra Distribution.

Communication - Semester Hours: 3


Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0-3


Historical/Social Science Concepts - Semester Hours: 9


Include at least one HIST course listed under the Social Science Division of the Hofstra Distribution  (prerequisite to ELED 135 ).

Language Other Than English - Semester Hours: 0-12


Completion of 3 s.h. in a language other than English, or placement at level 2 or above.  ASL 191 - American Sign Language I  may be used to satisfy this requirement but does not carry liberal arts credit.

Written Analysis and Expression - Semester Hours: 6


  • Semester Hours: 3-4
  • Semester Hours: 3
  • and a passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Examination
  • (Students transferring from other institutions must pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam.)

Interdisciplinary Studies - Semester Hours: 3


Any course listed under Interdisciplinary Studies of the Hofstra Distribution   

Cross-Cultural - Semester Hours: 3


Any course listed under Cross-Cultural Studies of the Hofstra Distribution   

Foundations of Education - Semester Hours: 3


Liberal Arts Electives - Semester Hours: 15


From Hofstra Distribution  

2. BA STEM Required Courses: Semester Hours: 36


Scientific Processes - Semester Hours: 15


Engineering - Semester Hours: 3


Mathematical Processes - Semester Hours: 12


Technology - Semester Hours: 3


4. BA/MA: STEM Graduate Required Courses - Semester Hours: 11


  • ELED 231 - STEM Instruction in the Sciences  Semester Hours: 3
  • ELED 231L - STEM Science Field Placement  Semester Hours: 1
  • ELED 232 - STEM Instruction in the Mathematics Curriculum  Semester Hours: 3
  • ELED 232L - STEM Mathematics Field Placement  Semester Hours: 1
  • Graduate Elective   Semester Hours: 3 (with advisement)

BA Graduation Requirements


  1. Successful completion of a minimum of 134 semester hours, 11 of which will be graduate courses that will be double-counted toward both the BA and MA degrees.
  2. Successful completion of BA requirements for a major in STEM.
  3. Successful completion of BA requirements for a co-major in Early Childhood Ed (Birth-Grade 2) and Childhood Ed (Grades 1-6).
  4. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in overall course work.
  5. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in liberal arts and sciences course work.
  6. Professional education course work GPA of 2.75.
  7. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
  8. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.

MA Early Childhood/Childhood Education: STEM Graduate Required Courses - Semester Hours: 32


Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to remain 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 may repeat courses to meet grade point average requirements, but the semester hours for a course are only awarded once, and both grades are factored into the overall grade point average.

Curriculum and Teaching Core - Semester Hours: 3


  • ELED 234 - Critical Perspectives on Curriculum and Teaching  Semester Hours: 3

STEM Specialization - Semester Hours: 12


(6 s.h. completed during BA)

  • ELED 231 - STEM Instruction in the Sciences  Semester Hours: 3
  • CT 239 - Children’s Engineering in the STEM Classroom  Semester Hours: 3
  • ELED 232 - STEM Instruction in the Mathematics Curriculum   Semester Hours: 3
  • ELED 235 - Intersections of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Curriculum Design   Semester Hours: 3

Electives - Semester Hours: 9


(3 s.h. completed during BA)

Advisement required. Electives may be chosen from any graduate-level science, technology, engineering or mathematics course, or any course offered in the School of Education . Course selection MUST have prior approval of the program adviser.

Culminating Thesis Course and Field Consultation - Semester Hours: 8


  • ELED 250A - Techniques of STEM Classroom Research  Semester Hours: 3
  • ELED 250B - Research Into STEM Practice  Semester Hours: 4
  • ELED 253 - STEM Field Consultation  Semester Hours: 1

MA Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of all course requirements for the Master of Arts program with an overall GPA of 3.0.
  2. Completion of the 32 s.h. course requirements with no fewer than 26 s.h. in-residence at Hofstra.
  3. Successful completion of the master’s thesis.
  4. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
  5. All course work offered 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., including the Educating All Students Test (EAS), Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST), Content Specialty Test(s) (CST) and the edTPA. Prospective School Leaders will be required to take the appropriate leadership exams. For more information regarding state testing, please contact the Office of Educational Support Services at 516-463-5747 or visit www.nystce.nesinc.com.

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. Fingerprint clearance is also required for New York state certification. For information on how to register to be fingerprinted, visit http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/colleges/soeahs/CESS/cess_requirements_fingerprints.html.

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