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The years students spend in middle and high school are pivotal, and the influence of a caring, creative teacher can help young people successfully navigate the path from adolescence to adulthood. As a secondary school teacher, you focus on a specific subject like history, math or science, and share your passion for it with students just as they begin to consider their college and career paths. As science educators, you will have the critical and creative skills necessary to lead a vibrant science classroom. Our faculty use the power of research-based instruction to prepare mindful educators for today’s changing schools.
Choose Your Degree
Getting Started
Student Resources
- Office of Field Placement
- Office of Educational Support Services
- Hofstra School of Education
- NOYCE Scholarship
- Professional Organizations
Careers in Science Education
Shortage Area
Current NYS shortage reports show that areas including Math and Science consistently show as a high need. Hofstra University has strong connections to the field, partnering with schools to provide placement for observation and student teaching, so our ability to connect our students to potential jobs is strong!
Check out NYSUT Report on The Teacher Shortage
- Enrollment in New York State’s teacher education programs has declined by 53 percent since 2009.
- NYS Teacher Retirement System projects that 1/3 of New York teachers could retire in the next five years.
- U.S. Department of Education has identified 18 teacher shortage areas throughout New York State. A decade ago there were only two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hear From Our Students and Alumni
Elizabeth Campbell
Having class with the other secondary science students has been a ton of fun. My favorite part of class is that all of the different branches of science are represented. When we do projects and presentations, it is fun to see what everyone knows and how everyone is thinking about different science ideas. We have a lot of fun teaching each other and learning from each other. Seeing all of the different ideas and hands on projects that everyone brings to the table will help me to be a better science teacher.
Matthew Kaufman
So far, during my time in Hofstra's M.S.Ed. program, I have learned to change my way of thinking about education and classrooms. The classrooms of the future will be more energetic, engaging, and organic than they have ever been, thanks in large part to the program's focus on hands-on, inquiry-based educational strategies. I look forward to aligning my personal passion with the very best and up-to-date techniques that I'm learning here.
Brian Kollar
The best part of being at Hofstra so far has been the opportunity to teach and work with students since my first semester. We are learning how to help students to understand and apply science concepts to their own lives.
Christina Pallante
My name is Christina Pallante and I am in the Master of Arts program. I started with Hofstra University immediately following my undergraduate graduation in May 2012. I chose Hofstra University for many reasons. One of the main reasons I chose Hofstra was for its location. Having been a Long Island resident my entire life, it was nice to return back to my roots after 4 years of being away during my undergraduate education. Hofstra is also very well known on the island for their strong education program and it's nice to go on an interview and not have to explain where I went to school. In addition to being a student, I am also a science teacher at Stephen A. Halsey JHS 157 in Queens, NY. Every time I go to class at Hofstra I learn new, innovative lesson ideas that can easily be applied to my science classroom. Every professor and student at Hofstra has a unique view on science and how to make science an applicable subject to younger generations. I value all that I have learned thus far, and look forward to continuing my education with Hofstra University in the future.
Joshua Raghunath
There are some who might believe that the job of a teacher is simple. It only requires that you stand in front of a room of students, tell them what you already know, and expect them to slowly come to the same understanding of the material that you have. The reality however could not be further from the truth. The job of a teacher has many responsibilities, only one of which is the act of teaching the content material, and even that role requires numerous factors to be juggled in order to be truly effective. I chose Hofstra University and their M.S.Ed. program to help me learn not only how to create interesting and engaging lessons and activities for my students, but also how to instill in my students a love of learning and develop the critical thinking skills that will help them long after they leave my classroom.
Amanda Shirrefs
My classes at Hofstra have taught me to expand my thinking and teaching methodologies. I have really enjoyed getting to experience science in a whole new light. I never thought I would be doing so many meaningful hands on activities at the graduate level but being able to experience science in new ways will make me a better science teacher.
Conrad Skuza
I've found that my time in the Science Education, M.S.Ed. program has really helped me to understand how to help students learn to love and appreciate the sciences. Teaching allows me to help students utilize scientific skills and to guide students in understanding how the natural world functions around them by encouraging exploration.
Michael Sorkin
I came to Hofstra because I know many successful and effective teachers who graduated from here. Hofstra has taught me a deeper level of teaching science to students than what I imagined it being. To increase students’ interest in science, I have learned how to think outside the box when creating effective lessons. I enjoy all aspects of science and hope to pass on my enthusiasm for science to my students.
Nicole Spinelli
Returning to Hofstra for the M.S. in Education program was a rather easy decision, due to the high esteem that the department is held in (and with good reason). Under the direction of Dr. Grennon Brooks, my fellow classmates and I have embarked on a pedagogical journey that has left an everlasting impact on the way that I view educational practices. The potential to provide depth to our perceptions is the aspect of science that has always appealed to me most. I hope to inspire my future students to see familiar things through new eyes, each and every day!
David Stern
I've learned a lot about the different styles of learning and how to cater to each of them in the classroom. Hofstra's STEM Studio is a great place for utilizing the different teaching styles to inform students' learning. I really enjoy that such an emphasis is placed on hands-on activities. I think it creates meaningful and relevant experiences for our students.
Kayden Wong
This program has been a great experience for me. Not only am I learning about the practical aspects of teaching, such as standards and lesson plans, but I'm learning how to make every lesson a successful and interesting one. As important as the curriculum is, I've learned not to spoon-feed material to students to regurgitate on tests, but to actually help students learn to think critically through application and activities.