Intensive Non-Degree Program in Fine Arts or Music Education

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Assistant Professor Susan Zwirn, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-4976,
Susan.G.Zwirn@hofstra.edu
Assistant Professor Nathalie Robinson, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-4514, Nathalie.G.Robinson@hofstra.edu

This program is for those who already possess a graduate degree with a major in either fine arts or music and who are eligible for the New York State Transitional C Certification. The program leads to Professional Certification in the teaching of either visual arts or music (grades PreK-12).

Admission Criteria

Applications for admission to the Intensive Non-Degree Certification Program in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

A completed application form for the Intensive Non-Degree Certification Program.
Evidence documenting that the applicant meets the requirements for the New York State’s Transitional C Certificate.
A written agreement with a school district for a teaching position for three years, two of which will be mentored by a support team including:
1. A college faculty member of the program,
2. The school principal or designee,
3. An experienced New York State certified teacher, and
4. A school curriculum supervisor or specialist. The agreement shall specify that daily mentoring shall be provided by the experienced certified teacher during at least the first 20 days of the applicant’s teaching.
A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale.
Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession.
A graduate degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area of the certificate. Candidates not meeting the content area requirement must have the deficiency completed before granting of the certificate.

Program Requirements

The program consists of three major components:

Content area requirements.
20 s.h. of professional education course work.
Mentored teaching and seminars.

Content Requirements

Students should possess a graduate degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area of the certificate. Students who do not hold a major in the content area of the certificate must be able to demonstrate completion of at least 36 s.h. of appropriate content, distributed over specific categories. Those students should consult their program director for specific course requirements within the content area of the certificate.

Professional Education Requirements - Semester Hours: 20

No more than 3 s.h. may be transferred into the program or excepted through testing or portfolio review. Courses transferred into the program must be graduate courses (excluding CT 270A, B, C, D), no more than five years old from the date of the awarding of the degree received. Student must have received grades of B or higher in the course. Such course must also be deemed equivalent to program courses by the appropriate academic adviser and Department Chairperson.

CT 229 - Development and Learning in Childhood and Adolescence Credits: 3 s.h.
LYST 202 - Literacy for Special Subjects Teachers Credits: 1 s.h.
SED 205 - Perspectives on Educational Practice Credits: 3 s.h.

Choose From - Semester Hours: 3

Choose one special education course from: 3 s.h.

SPED 201 - The Exceptional Child Credits: 3 s.h.
SPED 264 - Inclusion in Today’s Schools Credits: 3 s.h.

Special Methods and Curriculum Courses - Semester Hours: 6

For Certification in the Visual Arts Only:

CT 298A - Curriculum and Instruction in Art: Elementary Credits: 3 s.h.
CT 298B - Curriculum and Instruction in Art: Secondary Credits: 3 s.h.

For Certification in Music Only:

CT 299A - Developing Creative Music Strategies Credits: 3 s.h.
CT 299B - Perspectives on Instrumental Music Credits: 3 s.h.

Competency in Information Retrieval - Semester Hours: 0

Required passing score on the University’s Examination on Information Retrieval (EIR) (University Technology Seminars available at no cost)

The Following Courses must be Completed in Sequence over a Two-Year Period:

The candidate must present evidence of holding the Transitional C Certificate prior to the commencement of mentored teaching.

CT 270A Mentored Teaching (fall), 1 s.h.
CT 270B Mentored Teaching (spring), 1 s.h.
CT 270C Mentored Teaching (fall), 1 s.h.
CT 270D Mentored Teaching (spring), 1 s.h.

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of the 20 s.h. program requirement.
Completion of the Child Abuse, Violence Prevention, Substance Abuse and other related seminars.
All course work taken in satisfaction of program requirements must have been completed within a three year period.

Criteria for the New York State Transitional C Certificate

The New York State Education Department awards the Transitional C Certificate to those individuals who meet the following criteria:

Possession of a graduate degree with a major (or equivalent) in the content area in which certification will be sought.
A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in graduate course work.
A written agreement with a school district for a teaching position for three years, two of which will be mentored by a support team including:
1. A college faculty member of the program,
2. The school principal or designee,
3. An experience New York State certified teacher, and
4. A school curriculum supervisor or specialist. The agreement shall specify that daily mentoring shall be provided by the experienced certified teacher during at least the first 20 days of the applicant’s teaching.
Passing scores on the following two New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and the Content Specialty Test (CST in the content area of the certificate).
Completion of all required seminars.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Please contact the Advisement and Certification Office for information regarding the fingerprinting requirement and any other specific certification requirements.

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