Admission Requirements
Each program has different requirements for admission. For information regarding the 5 Year Dual Degree Program in Psychology and Secondary Special Education Generalist, please visit the Hofstra Undergraduate Bulletin and contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission regarding the application procedure.
The following set of admission requirements are common among the various graduate programs:
- A completed application form to the master’s program.
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
- Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s 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.
However, it is essential that you explore the program or programs that you are interested in using the tabs above. You will be able to find out more information on specific admission requirements for each program via the Hofstra Bulletin.
To apply to any of our programs, please visit the Office of Graduate Admission
Financial Aid
Students have the responsibility to plan ahead, anticipate all costs, budget all resources, and request aid for the entire academic period. Anticipated costs include not only tuition and fees but a reasonable cost estimate for books and supplies, transportation, housing, and food where applicable, and personal expenses.
Hofstra makes financial support available to many students in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and employment. Eligibility for scholarships depends on the student's achievement and potential.
Fellowships and scholarships towards tuition are awarded to qualified full-time and part-time graduate students based on academic excellence and/or demonstrated need. These fellowships and scholarships are normally applied toward tuition only and do not apply to such costs as University fees, living expenses, tutorials, credit by exam or specifies off-campus programs.
In addition, Financial Support is also available through State and Federal Agencies. Such support may depend on the financial need of the student. All scholarships, assistantships and grants, on a graduate level, are handled within a students' respective department. The graduate student should contact their particular department for information.
Although there are many options for seeking out resources for scholarship and aid, you can find out more about Hofstra University’s financial aid process by visiting the following links:
Scholarships
The Special Education program offers scholarships in the Fall semester and Spring semester. Students may apply for consideration after they have completed one semester. Only matriculated students may apply. The minimum GPA required for a scholarship award is 3.5.
In addition, there are several scholarships available for Special Education and Special Education/Literacy students, including the:
- Bernard Gold Endowed Memorial Scholarship
- Dorothea S. Clarke Endowed Scholarship
- Donald G. Pace Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- Douglas Hoyne Endowed Memorial Scholarship
- Egel-Gray Endowed Memorial Scholarship
- Martin and Sarah Syden Endowed Scholarship in Special Education
- Margot and John Hickling Memorial Endowed Scholarship
For further information, please refer to the bottom of the Tuition, Financial Aid, & Scholarship section of the Hofstra Bulletin. Students wishing to apply for these scholarships must present a letter of request along with their application materials.
Hofstra Early Childhood Intervention Specialist Program
Hofstra University School of Education has partnered with the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) and the Genesis/Eden II Agency to create the Hofstra Early Childhood Intervention Specialist (HECIS) grant program to train highly qualified teachers to serve the needs of pre-school age children (birth to five years) with disabilities. Applicants must be initially or professionally certified in Early Childhood or Childhood Education and/or Special Education grades 1-6 in New York state. Qualified applicants have a strong desire to serve young children with disabilities and their families with special training in early childhood special education and ABA. The program leads to a Master of Science in Education in Special Education Early Childhood Intervention, designed to improve learning outcomes for children with special needs and their families by increasing the number of graduates fully prepared to bring about improvements in educational and developmental services. Grant recipients commit to working in the field for two years of service for every year they receive grant funding. Visit grant page for more information.
Hofstra Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Professionals Program
In partnership with Developmental Disabilities Institute and Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center, Hofstra University’s Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Professionals (HECIP) program prepares aspiring teachers to serve young children with special needs in multiple settings, including early intervention for infants and toddlers (IDEA, Part C) as well as services for pre-school ad school age children from kindergarten through grade 2 (IDEA, Part B) in integrated classrooms. The interdisciplinary curriculum is intended for students with no formal course work or teaching experience in early childhood, or early childhood special education. It combines a rich core of graduate level courses grounded in scientifically based research with a menu of embedded field experiences in culturally and linguistically diverse settings, leading to a Master of Science in Education in Inclusive Early Childhood Special Education. Graduates are prepared for NYS certification in early childhood education and early childhood special education (Birth – Grade 2). This 48-semester-hour dual certification program can be completed in two years. Visit grant page for more information.
Elementary Special Education SALIS Grant
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Special Education Programs
Hofstra University School of Education has partnered with United Cerebral Palsy and The Viscardi Learning Center to create the Hofstra School Age Low Incidence Scholars (SALIS) to train highly qualified teachers to serve the needs of children (grades 1-6, and K-12) with disabilities. The program is designed to improve learning outcomes for children with special needs by increasing the number of graduates who are fully prepared to bring about improvements in educational and developmental services. The interdisciplinary curriculum combines a rich core of graduate-level courses grounded in scientifically based research with a menu of embedded field experiences in culturally and linguistically diverse settings. Graduates are prepared for NYS certification in childhood special education, and teaching students with severe and multiple disabilities. This 37-semester-hour dual certification program can be completed in one and a half to two years. This grant program leads to a Master of Science in Education in Special Education Grades 1-6. Visit grant page for more information.