Early Childhood & Elementary Education
Overview
A great teacher can change lives, igniting a love of learning that will last long after a student leaves the classroom. As a preschool or elementary school teacher, you are among a child's first and most important mentors, as they begin to explore and discover their passions, and learn how to respect each other and work together.
If you want to be this kind of difference-maker, Hofstra's fully accredited programs in early childhood and elementary education are steeped in the theory and practice of teaching. Our program will give you the support, technology, knowledge, and facilities needed to become an effective educational leader and meet the changing dynamics of teaching.
Nationally, jobs for kindergarten and elementary school teachers are projected to grow 7% by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In New York state, as of May 2017, the average annual salaries for kindergarten and elementary school teachers (except special education) are $77,440 and $80,540, respectively, federal labor data shows.
Hofstra's program will prepare you to be certified in both early childhood (birth-grade 2) and childhood (grades 1-6) education. We also offer five-year dual-degree programs in high-demand areas like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and special education.
On-campus, you'll get the chance to work with local elementary school students in our STEM Studio, using hands-on, real-world design challenges in the classroom. There are also research and training opportunities at our Saltzman Community Service Center, which provides child care and other services to the surrounding area.
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE HOFSTRA'S STEM STUDIO
Off-campus, we'll help you secure challenging, clinically rich internships and field and student teaching experiences, thanks to Hofstra's extensive networks among Long Island and New York City public schools. In fact, Hofstra students pass the New York assessment required for initial teacher certification (the edTPA) at a higher rate than the state average. That means you'll graduate better prepared than most to make a difference in the lives of the earliest learners.
Off-campus, we'll help you secure challenging, clinically-rich internships, field and student teaching experience, thanks to Hofstra's extensive networks among in Long Island and New York City public schools, In fact, Hofstra students pass the New York assessment required for initial teacher certification - called the edTPA - at a higher rate than the state average. That means you'll graduate better prepared than most to make a difference in the lives of the earliest learners.
Curriculum
Hofstra offers two four-year degrees in Early Childhood and Childhood Education, and several five-year dual-degree programs that combine an early childhood/elementary education bachelor's degree with a specialized master's degree. All our programs are fully accredited by TEAC (Teacher Education Accreditation Council). Students in programs that lead to New York teacher certification also must complete a minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork as well as student teaching.
Students in this program initially choose a major in the liberal arts and sciences or engineering and applied science, and spend their first two years completing 45 semester hours in that major. Then, they apply for admission to the School of Education and declare a major in Early Childhood/Childhood Education.
- BA in Early Childhood/Childhood Education: Students in this program combine the early childhood/childhood education major with an arts or science co-major from either Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science.
- BS in Early Childhood/Childhood Education: This program does not require a co-major in Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or the DeMatteis School.
- BS/MA in Early Childhood/Childhood Education, and Bilingual Education (MA), Dual Degree
- BS/MSEd in Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)/ Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) (BS), and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Grade 2) (MSEd), Dual Degree
- BS/MSEd in Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)/ Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) (BS), and Literacy (Birth-Grade 6) (MSEd), Dual Degree
- BS/MSEd in Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)/ Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) (BS), and M.S. Ed. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Dual Degree
Recent Alumni Outcomes
Our recent graduates are well-prepared to enter the classroom, and are working throughout the New York metropolitan region, and nationwide, as general education, preschool, special education, and dual language teachers, as well as literacy specialists. In addition, Hofstra has a unique partnership with the Farmingdale School District in which newly certified Hofstra Early Childhood Education graduates complete their first year of teaching in the district's universal pre-K program, with professional support from both Farmingdale and Hofstra.
Among the places where our alumni are working:
- Bellmore-Merrick Public School District
- Comsewogue School District
- Garden City School District
- Glen Cove Public School District
- Harborfields Central School District
- Northport-East Northport School District
- NYC Department of Education
- Rockville Centre School District
- Teach for America
- Valley Stream School District
Our graduates are also pursuing advanced studies at a range of prestigious institutions, including:
- Antioch University
- Bank Street College of Education
- Cornell University
- Fordham University
- Hofstra University
- Manhattan School of Music
- New York University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- SUNY Binghamton
- SUNY Stony Brook University
(These numbers represent outcomes for the majors in Elementary Education. For specific information about outcomes in Early Childhood Education, click on the More Info button below.)
Internships/Experience/Student Teaching

Fieldwork provides an opportunity to put theory into practice. Students are placed in a variety of classroom settings across the full range of grades and ability levels covered by the student's area of certification. Fieldwork is completed at sites arranged by the Office of Field Placement within the School of Education.
Student teaching is a period of guided professional development, when students assume increasing responsibility for all the activities involved in actual classroom teaching. It is an opportunity to integrate and apply, in a field-based setting, the knowledge, attitudes and skills acquired during the professional sequence. We also offer a program in which students complete their student teaching in the fall and then transition into a paid internship with the same school during the spring semester.
Juniors and seniors benefit from the services of the Office of Field Placement, which is responsible for accepting and evaluating requests for field observations, clinical experiences, and student teaching. The Office of Educational Support Services is a resource that provides certification information related to Hofstra University's New York state-approved teacher, administrative, and pupil personnel preparation programs. Students in programs that lead to New York teacher certification also must complete a minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork as well as student teaching.
Meet Dr. Roberto Joseph
Dr. Joseph, associate professor of teaching, learning and technology, is an expert on using gaming and game development to teach math in elementary and middle school, including a project supported by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation Grant. He is also director of Hofstra’s MA in Technology for Learning program.
Related Majors
- Arts Education
- Dance Education
- English- Literature/Children’s and Young Adult
- Music Education
- Physical Education
- Psychology
- Secondary Education
Related Links
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Student Chapter
- Saltzman Center
- Center for STEM Research