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 (12 units); and Credential-Integrated (30 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 (120-135 units) consists of GE (49 units), American Institutions Requirement (3 units), and the major, which is divided into the core (66) and concentrations (12-30).
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.
GE-B1 and GE-B3: GEOL 1090
GE-D1 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.
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 and Humanities
| Analysis of Literature: Choose one from the following courses | 3 | |
| Analysis of Poetry and Drama | ||
| Analysis of Fiction and Nonfiction Prose | ||
| Chicana/o Literature | ||
| Caribbean Literature | ||
| Philosophy in World Literature | ||
| Dramatic Analysis and Playwriting for Teachers | ||
| Linguistics | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Children's/Young Adult literature: choose one from the following courses | 3 | |
| Literature for Children and Young Adults | ||
| Philosophy in Children's Literature | ||
| Philosophy in Young Adult Literature | ||
| Theatre for Youth: History and Literature | ||
| Visual or Media Art: choose one from the following courses | 3 | |
| Art in the Classroom | ||
| Art and Activism | ||
| Art and Social Action: Critical and Pedagogical Theories | ||
| Arts in Action: Visual Art | ||
| Art and Human Development | ||
| Digital Media and Society | ||
| Movies in the Digital Age | ||
| Film Analysis | ||
| Global Cinema | ||
| Visual Communication | ||
| Performing Arts: choose one from the following courses | 3 | |
| Creating Digital Media Using Personal Electronic Technology | ||
| Music for Elementary Classroom Teachers | ||
| Music in the Elementary Schools | ||
| Arts in Action: Music | ||
| Theatre in the Classroom | ||
| Drama in Education | ||
| Touring Practicum | ||
| Puppetry | ||
| Creative Movement in the Classroom | ||
| Arts in Action: Theatre | ||
| Total Units | 15 | |
Area 2: Natural Sciences and Mathematics
| Choose one of the following (Satisfies GE B2) | 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry and Physics in the Modern World | ||
| Total Units | 23-26 | |
Area 3: Social Sciences and Child Development
| Select one course (Satisfies GE D1) | 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 |
| GEOG 3605 | Geography in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom | 3 |
| Child Development. Choose one of these options: | 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 | ||
| Total Units | 18-21 | |
Area 4: Program requirements
| 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 |
| Total Units | 10 | |
Concentrations
Note: Courses completed for this program or for the General Education program cannot be applied to any concentration.
Pre-Credential General Concentration (12 units)
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 5514, ESPE 5530, or ESPE 5531 as one of their electives.
Pre-Credential Spanish Studies Concentration (12 units)
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 | ||
| Anthropology of Childhood | ||
| 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 | ||
| Latinx History through Film, 1920-Present | ||
| 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. | ||
| Two units of free electives | 2 | |
| Total Units | 12 | |
Credential-Integrated Concentration (30 units)
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 4107 | Supervised Student Teaching in Multiple Subject | 3 |
| 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 | 30 | |