Admission Criteria

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Applications for admission to a Master of Science in Education program in the Department of Teacher Education Programs  are made to the Graduate Admission Office. Students who do not fully meet admission requirements may be required to complete prerequisite courses concurrently with the completion of the master’s program requirements. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

1. An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in all course work.
2. A GPA of 2.75 or higher in liberal arts and sciences course work.
3. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in graduate course work.
4. Completion of General Education Core and Content requirements for teacher education programs (see below).
5. Interview with the director of the TESOL Program.
6. A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
7. 12 semester hours of foreign language study or demonstrated proficiency in a second language.

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

General Education Core Requirements

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In order to ensure that prospective teachers have a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences, all students must have completed undergraduate course work from each of the content areas below.

1. Artistic Expression/Humanities (3 s.h.)
2. Communication (3 s.h.)
3. Information Retrieval or placement exam (3 s.h.)
4. Concepts in History/Social Science (0-3 s.h.)
5. Language other than English (12 s.h.)
6. Scientific Processes (3 s.h.)
7. Mathematical Processes (3 s.h.)
8. Literature, Analysis and Written Expression (6 s.h.)

Course work for the general education core in the liberal arts and sciences must have a GPA of 2.75 or above with no grades below a C-.

Please note that programs may have general education requirements that exceed the minimum registered with the state. Degrees will not be conferred unless all general education core deficiencies have been met.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 37

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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.

Field Experience Prior to Student Teaching

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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. 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 schools are required in each of the following courses:

• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language Semester Hours: 3

• 25 hours in settings with English Language Learners (grades PreK-6).

• LYST 213A - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for ESL Teachers Semester Hours: 3

• 30 hours in varied settings with English Language Learners (grades PreK-12).

• SED 267 - Teaching English to Adolescent and Adult Speakers of Other Languages Semester Hours: 3

• 25 hours in settings with English Languages Learners (grades 7-12).

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

• 20 clock hours in settings with students with special needs in high-needs schools, including placement with economically disadvantaged children (grades PreK-12).

Student Teaching Prerequisites

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Students will qualify for admission to practicum or student teaching (CT 268  or CT 269 ) after they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of CT 229  or LYST 208 ; ELED 225 ; SED 267 ; SPED 264 ; LYST 213A  with a grade of B or higher; and
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. *See note below regarding teacher certification examination.

Graduation Requirements

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1. Satisfaction of all General Education Core and Content requirements.
2. Completion of all course work for the MSEd in Teaching of English as a Second Language with overall GPA of 3.0.
3. Completion of the 37 s.h. course requirements in the MSEd program with no fewer than 31 s.h. in-residence.
4. An electronic portfolio illustrating the student’s educational course work and professional accomplishments.
5. Completion of all required Educational Law Seminars.
6. All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.

Footnotes

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*Course required participation/observation in designated schools.

Teacher Certification Requirements

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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.