B.A. in Elementary Ed.

The undergraduate Elementary Education program leads toward New York state initial teacher certification in Childhood Education (grades 1-6). The Elementary Education program is designed to blend on-campus preparation with field experiences in a variety of school settings, culminating in full-time student teaching. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the program. The program conforms with the standards and guidelines of the Association for Childhood Education International and with the New York State Learning Standards for Childhood Education.

Admission Criteria for the B.A. Program

After completing 45 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences college course work, students may apply for admission to the School of Education, Health and Human Services through the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership in Hagedorn Hall. Admission to a B.A. degree program in the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

• A passing score on the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam;
• An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher on all course work;
• A GPA of 2.75 or higher in liberal arts and sciences course work;
• Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession;
• A written personal statement of professional intent and rationale;

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Students may consider applying even if they fail to meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

Program Requirements

Students select a B.A. degree program from Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (excluding fine arts, dance, drama, music and speech-language-hearing sciences) or a B.A. degree program in Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies from the School of Communication. After completing a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work, students choose elementary education as a co-major. Hofstra’s undergraduate program in elementary education is a New York state-registered program. Students who successfully complete this program and who obtain passing scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) will qualify for New York State initial teacher certification. For more information on program requirements and for the most up-to-date information, please visit the Hofstra Bulletin.

For more information about the program, please contact:
Professor Myrna Fischbach
Adjunct Instructor of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership
Phone: 516-463-4799
Email