Program: M.S.Ed. in Special Education - Hofstra University

Apr 06, 2025

2005-2006 Graduate Studies Bulletin

Associate Professor Schwartz, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5778,
Diane.C.Schwartz@hofstra.edu

For students with New York State Certification in Childhood, Middle Childhood or Adolescent Education or Literacy, to become teachers of students with disabilities (Childhood-Adolescence): 34-37 s.h. The program is designed to develop ethical scholar-practitioners capable of working with diverse populations of learners in a variety of school contexts. This program consists of a sequence of core courses and experiences for teaching students across the full range of disabilities and special health care needs leading to New York State Initial/Professional Certification as a Special Education teacher at the prescribed developmental level: Childhood, Middle Childhood or Adolescent. Students can matriculate and complete additional requirements in order to receive the New York State Annotation to Teach Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) Special Education program in the Department of Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation (CRSR) must possess initial or professional New York State Teacher Certification in: Childhood, Middle Childhood, or Adolescent Education, or Literacy. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

A completed application form to the master’s program.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicants potential to succeed in the teaching of students with disabilities.
A written personal statement of professional intent.
Interview with a faculty member in Special Education.

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.

General Education Core

See the General Education Core Requirements within the School of Education and Allied Human.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 34 to 37

Matriculated students must complete a minimum of 25-28 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 25-28 s.h. residency.

A maximum of 12 s.h. of graduate course work leading to the M.S. in Education degree may be completed prior to matriculation in the program.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to remain in the program. Courses in which students receive grades below C- confer no credit toward the graduate degree but are included in determining grade point average.

Knowledge Core - Semester Hours: 15

SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Credits: 3 s.h.

Characteristics of Learners with Mild to Moderate Disabilites:

Characteristics of Learners with Multiple Disabilities:

Select one from the following:

SPED 248 - Education of Students with Pervasive Developmental Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
(* see footnotes)
SPED 249 - Understanding Physical, Sensory and Health Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
(* see footnotes)

Associated Skills - Semester Hours: 16

SPED 204 - Collaborative Partnerships With Families of Children With Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
(* see footnotes)
SPED 242 - Psychoeducational Assessment in Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.
(* see footnotes)
SPED 245 - Curriculum and Methods for Students with Diverse Learning Needs Credits: 4 s.h.
SPED 247 - Creating Effective Learning Communities: New Directions in Classroom Management Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 277 - Technology and Assistive Technology in Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.
(* see footnotes)

Reflective Practice - Semester Hours: 3 to 6

SPED 237 - Teaching Students with Disabilities Credits: 6 s.h.
(* see footnotes) or
SPED 237A - Teaching Students with Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
(* see footnotes)

Footnotes

*Fulfills requirements for the annotation for Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities.

Field Experience Prior to Student Treaching

Note: Students holding New York State Certification in Special Subjects (K-12) will be required to complete field placements in two developmental levels (K-6, 7-12).

Field experiences are integrated extensively into course curricula. A minimum of 100 clock hours of observation is required prior to student teaching. At least one placement (SPED 201) will be spent in a site recognized by the New York State Education Department as high-needs. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement.

Participation/observation field experiences which correspond to the developmental level of the certificate holder are required in each of the following courses:

SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Credits: 3 s.h.
20 hours of site visitation including a high-needs district.
SPED 211 - Knowledge and Strategies for Teaching Students with Cognitive Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
10 hours of participant observation in settings for students with cognitive disabilities.
SPED 241 - Identification and Interventions for Children and Adolescents With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Credits: 3 s.h.
10 hours of field placement for students with emotional/behavioral disorders.
SPED 242 - Psychoeducational Assessment in Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.
15 hours of individualized assessment with a student with special learning needs.
SPED 245 - Curriculum and Methods for Students with Diverse Learning Needs Credits: 4 s.h.
20 hours of individualized instruction with a student with special learning needs.
SPED 248 - Education of Students with Pervasive Developmental Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
15 hours of participant observation at a school and board meeting for children with autism.
SPED 249 - Understanding Physical, Sensory and Health Disabilities Credits: 3 s.h.
15 hours of site visitation at the National Center for Disabilities.
SPED 277 - Technology and Assistive Technology in Special Education Credits: 3 s.h.
10 hours of site visitation at an assistive technology center and K-12 school settings.

Student Teaching

Students will qualify for admission to Student Teaching, SPED 237, when they have satisfied the following requirements:

Successful completion of 27 semester hours of core course work
A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall graduate course work.

Admission by permission of the program director and application to the Office of Field Placement and the Department of Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation are due on October 1 for the spring semester and March 1 for the fall semester. Application forms are available in room 118 Hagedorn Hall.

Students registered for SPED 237 will complete two student teaching experiences at the developmental levels of their certificate.

Students registered for SPED 237A will complete a student teaching experience at two developmental levels of their certificate.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of a minimum of 34 semester hours in prescribed courses with no fewer than 25 s.h. in residence.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall graduate course work.
Passing grade on the Comprehensive Examination.
All course work taken in satisfaction of the degree requirements must have been completed within a 5-year period.

Teacher Certification Requirements

See Teacher Certification Requirements within the School of Education and Allied Human Services.

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