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 3.0 or higher in all course work and liberal arts and sciences course work.
2. Submission of scores on a nationally normed admission test (such as the SAT or ACT.
3. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession.
4. 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 3.0 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 3.0 at the time of application to the graduate program and upon completion of 89 semester hours of course work toward their BA degree.
2. Submission of scores on a nationally normed admission test (such as the SAT or ACT.
3. Fulfillment of all the undergraduate degree requirements with the exception of the semester hour and major requirements.
4. 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:

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.

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), 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 prospective 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.