Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
The BA in Liberal Studies major is designed to prepare students for Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential Programs in California. It has three concentrations: Precredential-General (12 units); Precredential-Spanish Studies (10 units); and Credential-Integrated (33 units). Students who are not planning for a teaching career but are interested in a liberal arts education, please consult the BA in Liberal Arts degree.
Unless otherwise specified, grades in lower division courses (2999 and below) must be a "C-" or better; grades in upper division courses (3000 and above) must be a "C" or better.
All graduating Liberal Studies students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 ("C"). Students who plan to seek their Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at CSUSB must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.67. Other institutions offering Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials may have different GPA requirements, usually between 2.5 to 3.0.
BA in Liberal Studies (120+ units) consists of GE (43 units), American Institutions Requirement (3 units), and the major, which is divided into the core (66-72) and concentrations (10-33).
13 units in the core will also count for GE and American Institutions requirements.
Students should pay special attention to the following classes that satisfy the requirements of both GE and the core of the major. Be sure to take them in their respective GE categories.
B1/5A and B3/5C: GEOL 1090
D1/4 and American Institutions: HIST 1460, HIST 2000 & HIST 2010, or PSCI 2030
Advising for the Liberal Studies major is offered by the Liberal Studies Office https://www.csusb.edu/liberal-studies.
Requirements (76-105 units)
Total units required for graduation: 120
Requirements for the B.A. in Liberal Studies
The core of the program has four areas: Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences and Child Development, and Program Requirements.
These areas are designed to provide students with coursework that is both foundational and focused. The first three areas – Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences and Child Development – enable students to build a broad repertoire of knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural and social sciences, technology, and civics and government. These areas of knowledge ensure a well-rounded education for students; they also provide the content of what they will teach in California’s K-8 schools. The program requirements include courses on learning assessment and metaknowledge of their studies and chosen careers.
| Area 1: Arts & Humanities (15) | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Analysis of Poetry and Drama | ||
| Analysis of Fiction and Nonfiction Prose | ||
| Philosophy in World Literature | ||
| Dramatic Analysis and Playwriting for Teachers | ||
| ENG 3110 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Literature for Children and Young Adults | ||
| Philosophy in Children's Literature | ||
| Philosophy in Young Adult Literature | ||
| Theatre for Youth: History and Literature | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art in the Classroom | ||
| Art and Human Development | ||
| Critical and Pedagogical Theories in Contemporary Art and Design Education | ||
| Art and Activism | ||
| Arts in Action: Visual Art | ||
| Digital Media and Society | ||
| Movies in the Digital Age | ||
| Film Analysis | ||
| Global Cinema | ||
| Visual Communication | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Creating Digital Media Using Personal Electronic Technology | ||
| Music for Elementary Classroom Teachers | ||
| Music in the Elementary Schools | ||
| Arts in Action: Music | ||
| Acting for All Majors | ||
| Theatre in the Classroom | ||
| Drama in Education | ||
| Touring Practicum | ||
| Puppetry | ||
| Creative Movement in the Classroom | ||
| Arts in Action: Theatre | ||
| Area 2: Natural Sciences & Mathematics (23-26) | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Biology for Teachers | ||
| HSCI 1000 | Concepts in Health | 1 |
| KINE 3520 | Movement for Children | 2 |
| MATH 3010 | Mathematical Concepts and Problem Solving for Educators I | 4 |
| MATH 3012 | Mathematical Concepts and Problem Solving for Educators II | 3 |
| MATH 3013 | Mathematical Concepts and Problem Solving for Educators III | 3 |
| GEOL 1090 | Earth: The Blue Planet | 4 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Chemistry and Physics in the Modern World | ||
| Survey of Chemistry and Physics | ||
| Physics and Astronomy in the Classroom and Structures and Properties of Matter Laboratory | ||
| Physics in the Modern World and Structures and Properties of Matter Laboratory | ||
| Area 3: Social Sciences & Child Development (18-21) | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of the United States: Pre-Colonization to Present | ||
| United States History to 1877 | ||
| United States History, 1877 to the Present | ||
| PSCI 2030 | Government of the United States | 3 |
| HIST 2700 | California History | 3 |
| ECON 3199 | Economics in the Elementary and Middle School | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Growth and Development in Socio-Educational Contexts | ||
| Child Language and Literacy Development and Observation and Methods: School Age Development | ||
| Introduction to Child Development and Observation and Methods: School Age Development | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| World Regions and Peoples | ||
| Geography in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom | ||
| Area 4: Program Requirements (10) | ||
| CAL 2970 | Liberal Studies: Foundation Seminar and Assessment Preparation | 3 |
| CAL 3970 | Gateway to Liberal Studies | 3 |
| CAL 5900 | Liberal Studies and Liberal Arts Senior Assessment and Writing Workshop | 2 |
| EDMS 2301 | Introduction to Education | 2 |
| Concentration (10-33) | ||
| Students must satisfy the requirements of one concentration below. | 10-33 | |
| Total Units | 76-105 | |
Concentrations (10-33 units)
Note: Courses completed for this program or for the General Education program cannot be applied to any concentration.
Pre-Credential General Concentration
(Program Code: LBSG)
Twelve units of electives from the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavior Sciences, three of which must be upper-division (numbered 3000 and above).
This concentration is for students who wish to design their own course of study. They can seek the breadth of knowledge by taking classes from all three academic colleges mentioned above. They can also focus on particular areas by selecting classes in one area of study. In the latter case, they are encouraged to consult with the Liberal Studies Office and/or relevant departments.
Students who wish to pursue a credential in Special Education should take ESPE 3350, , ESPE 5530, ESPE 5531, or ESPE 5532 as one of their electives.
Pre-Credential Spanish Studies Concentration
(Program Code: LBSS)
The Precredential-Spanish Studies Concentration is designed for those students interested in the Bilingual Added Authorization in the Multiple Subject Credential program, which gives them the eligibility to teach in a bilingual/Spanish classroom setting.
| SPAN 3305 | Applied Spanish Grammar | 3 |
| Select one of the following combinations: | 4 | |
| Advanced Spanish Language and Composition and Advanced Spanish Language and Composition Writing Lab | ||
| Spanish for the Professions and Spanish for the Professions Activity | ||
| Choose one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Case Studies in Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Cultures of Mexico and Central America | ||
| Anthropology of South America | ||
| Xicanx Art | ||
| Latinx Border Identity: A Transmedia Perspective | ||
| International Experience: Latin American Studies | ||
| International Experience: European Studies | ||
| Latinx, Media, and Cultures | ||
| US-Mexico Border Region | ||
| California Indian History | ||
| History of Modern Mexico | ||
| Chicana/o History | ||
| Modern Central America | ||
| Foreign Relations of Latin America | ||
| Latin American History Through Film | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| Chicana/Mexicana Feminisms | ||
| History of the U.S. - Mexico Borderlands | ||
| Managing Across Borders | ||
| Latin American Music | ||
| The Latino Family | ||
| The Latino Experience in the U.S. | ||
| Sociology of Migration | ||
| Citizenship, Status, and Inequality | ||
Any 3000+ SPAN course not taken elsewhere to fulfill degree requirements. | ||
| Total Units | 10 | |
Credential-Integrated Concentration
(Program Code: LBSI)
This concentration includes all the courses in the CSUSB Multiple Subject Credential program. It offers students a cost-cutting and time-saving option by allowing them to complete the BA degree and the credential coursework simultaneously. Reminder: Formal admission into the Multiple Subject Credential Program at CSUSB is required before commencing Credential-Integrated Concentration courses.
| EDMS 4100 | Psychological Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDMS 4101A | Language Arts Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| or EDMS 4101B | Language Arts Teaching and Learning in Bilingual Settings | |
| EDMS 4102 | Pedagogical Foundations for Teaching English Learners | 3 |
| EDMS 4103 | Creating Supportive and Engaging Learning Environments | 2 |
| EDMS 4107A | Supervised Student Teaching in Multiple Subject | 6 |
| EDMS 4110 | Assessment Seminar: CalTPA Cycle | 3 |
| EDMS 5104 | Mathematics Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDMS 5105 | Science Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDMS 5106A | Social Studies and the Arts Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| or EDMS 5106B | Social Studies and the Arts Teaching and Learning in Bilingual Settings | |
| EMAT 5100 | Technology and Instructional Practices for Educators | 1 |
| EMAT 5101 | Education, Diversity and Social Justice | 3 |
| Total Units | 33 | |