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University Catalog 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Liberal Studies, B.A.
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 Return to: Index of Academic Degrees, Certificates and Programs Listed Alphabetically
The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Liberal Studies offers three options at the main Cal State L.A. campus and one at the downtown Cal State L.A. campus. Option I, Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture and Society, allows students to acquire an in-depth understanding of how ideology and discourse shape cultural traditions and social institutions. Option II, the Elementary Subject Matter Teacher Preparation: Traditional Option, provides students a broad-based Education in multiple subjects that prepares them for the California Subject Examinations For Teachers (CSET). Option III, the Elementary Subject Matter Teacher Preparation: Integrated Option, provides qualified students the opportunity to complete the requirements for a Multiple Subjects or Education Specialist teaching credential while completing the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Particular requirements and restrictions apply to candidates for teaching. Therefore, early consultation with a Liberal Studies advisor is essential. Refer to the Charter College of Education section of this catalog for regulations governing all teaching credential programs. Option IV, Professional Option, allows students to pursue a guided course of study that emphasizes cross-cultural understanding in local and global contexts, applying academic knowledge and information to public and real-world environments. All Liberal Studies options place a strong emphasis on developing student skills in writing and communicating across disciplines, contexts, and media.
Advisement
All students who intend to major in Liberal Studies should confer with a Liberal Studies advisor by the end of the first semester of residence in order to select an option, establish an official degree program, and develop an academic plan.
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Requirements for the Major (48-90 units)
Students in all options must complete 15 units of Liberal Studies core requirements (including a senior project), 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies, 12 units in a depth area, and 12 units of additional coursework.
Liberal Studies Core Requirements (15 units)
The Liberal Studies core requirements are designed to provide the necessary analytical framework, including rhetorical skills, theoretical concepts, research methods, and techniques of argumentation to enable students to master each of the available options in the Liberal Studies major. All students in the major must complete the following core courses:
Required Courses in Liberal Studies (9 units)
Students in all Liberal Studies options take 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies with major advisor approval. Courses taken for a depth area cannot be double counted as required courses in Liberal Studies.
Interdisciplinary Foundations:
Select one course from the following (3 units)
Intermediate Interdisciplinary Studies:
Select one course from the following (3 units)
Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies:
Select one course from the following (3 units)
Option Requirements
Students must select one of the following four options to fulfill the requirements for the major. Students at the main Cal State L.A. campus must choose from Option I, II, or III. Students at the downtown Cal State L.A. campus must select Option IV. The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies is 120 units, of which 48-51 units are in the major. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.
Options
Option I: Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture and Society (48 units)
This option offers students the opportunity to pursue an integrative interdisciplinary course of study that will provide them with a broad base of knowledge and skills. The knowledge and skills developed in this option prepare students for careers in fields such as education, law, journalism, publishing, government, business, and non-profit work.
Students in Option I must take a total of 120 units: 48 units of General Education Requirements, 15 units of Liberal Studies core requirements, 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies, 24 units in one or two depth areas (listed below), and 24 units of free electives. Of the 24 units taken in the depth area(s), 18 units must be upper division (3000- or 4000-level courses).
Depth Areas (24 units)
Students in Option I must take 24 units in one of the depth areas listed as 1-5 below or 12 units in two of the depth areas listed as 1-5 below. All depth areas are open to students in Options II and III, but depth areas 6-10 have been designed specifically to meet California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) standards for commonly taught subjects. Option II students select 12 units in one depth area and may elect to complete 12 units in a second depth area if they pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers: Multiple Subjects in a timely fashion.
Depth Areas
In lieu of a concentration, students may select 20 units in each of two of the following depth areas to complete the requirements for Option I. For Option II students select 20 units in one depth area and may elect to complete 20 units in a second depth area if they pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers: Multiple Subjects. 1. Depth Area in American Studies (12-24 units)
Required courses (9 units)
Interdisciplinary Approaches (3 units)
With major advisor approval select one American studies course in Liberal Studies.
Social Science Perspectives (3 units)
With major advisor approval select one American Studies course from the following departments:
- Asian and Asian American Studies
- Anthropology
- Chicano/a Studies
- Geography
- History
- Latin American Studies
- Pan African Studies
- Political Science
- Sociology
Arts and Humanities Perspectives (3 units)
With major advisor approval select one American studies course from the following departments:
- Art
- Communication Studies
- English
- Music
- Philosophy
- Theatre Arts and Dance
Electives (3-15 units)
With major advisor approval, students select 8 units in American studies from the departments listed above or from related departments. No more than 12 units in the depth area can be taken in any one department.
2. Depth Area in Cultural Studies (12-24 units)
Required courses (3 units)
Electives (9-21 units)
With major advisor approval select courses in cultural studies from the following departments. No more than 12 units in the depth area can be taken in any one department.
- Asian and Asian American Studies
- Anthropology
- Art
- Chicano/a Studies
- Communication Studies
- English
- Geography
- History
- Latin American Studies
- Liberal Studies/
- Modern Languages and Literatures
- Music
- Pan African Studies
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Television, Film, and Media Studies
- Theatre Arts and Dance
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
3. Depth Area in Race and Ethnicity Studies (12-24 units)
Required courses (3 units)
Electives (9-21 units)
With major advisor approval, select 9-21 units of upper division courses in Asian and Asian American Studies, Chicano Studies, Latin American Studies, and Pan African Studies and courses focused on race and ethnicity from Anthropology, Art, Dance, English, Geography, History, Liberal Studies, Music, Philosophy, Sociology, Television and Film, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and related programs and departments. No more than 12 units can be taken in any one department.
4. Depth area in Science, Technology, and Medicine Studies (12-24 units)
Interdisciplinary Approaches (3 units)
Select one from the following:
Electives (9-21 units)
With major advisor approval, select 9-21 units of upper division courses related to science, technology, and medicine studies from Anthropology, English, Geography, History, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Technology, Television and Film, and related departments. No more than 12 units in the depth area can be taken in any one department.
5. Depth Area in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (12-24 units)
Required courses (9 units)
Electives (3-15 units)
With major advisor approval, students select 3-15 units of courses in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies or related courses in Anthropology, Chicano Studies, English, History, Latin American Studies, Pan African Studies, Sociology, Television and Film, and related departments.
6. Depth Area in Creativity and Performance (12 units)
Interdisciplinary Approaches (3 units)
Theoretical Perspectives (3 Units)
With major advisor approval, take one course on aesthetics or theoretical approaches to art and performance in one of the following departments: Art, Communication Studies, Music, Theatre and Dance, and Philosophy.
Creative Activity and Performance (3 units)
With the approval of a Liberal Studies advisor, select 3 units in Creative Activity or Performance classes in one or more of the following departments: Art, Communication Studies (screenwriting, film making, storytelling), English (creative writing), Music, Theatre and Dance.
Electives (3 units)
With the approval of a Liberal Studies advisor, select 3 additional units in Creative Activity or Performance classes or one additional theoretical perspectives class.
7. Depth area in Language Arts (12 units)
Interdisciplinary Approaches (3 units)
Select one course from the following:
Electives (9 units)
With major advisor approval, students select 9 units from upper division language arts courses in English, Philosophy, Communication Studies, or related departments.
8. Depth area in Mathematics (12 units)
Interdisciplinary Approaches (3 units)
Select one course from the following:
Electives (9 units)
With major advisor approval, students select 9 units from courses in Mathematics or from related courses.
9. Depth area in Natural Science (12 units)
Interdisciplinary Science Studies:
Select one course from the following (3 units)
Electives (9 units)
With major advisor approval, select 9 units of coursework from the list above or from courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Natural Science, Physics, and related departments.
10. Depth area in Social Science (12 units)
Interdisciplinary Approaches (3 units)
Select one course from the following:
World History, Geography, and Political Science (3 units)
Select one upper division course in world history, geography, and political science from one of the following departments:
- Asian and Asian American Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- History
- Political Science
American History, Geography, and Political Science (3 units)
Select one upper division course in American history, geography, and political science from one of the following departments:
- Geography
- History
- Political Science
Electives (3 units)
With major advisor approval, students select 3 additional units from one the above categories.
Option II. Elementary Subject Matter Teacher Preparation: Traditional Option (120 units, of which 48 units are in the major)
Option II prepares prospective teachers for grades K-8. Since passing the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) is a prerequisite for a teaching credential, students in Option II are expected to prepare for and take the three portions of the CSET: Multiple Subjects at their earliest convenience and report their results to a Liberal Studies advisor. Based on the CSET results and students’ previous coursework, advisors will recommend directed elective courses to help students prepare for any sections of the CSET that have not been passed. A grade of C or higher is required in all courses used to meet the major requirements for the Elementary Subject Matter Teacher Preparation Option.
Students who select Option II must complete the following coursework for a total of 120 units: 48 units of general education requirements, 15 units of Liberal Studies core requirements (listed above), 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies, 12 units in a selected depth area (listed under Option 1), 12 units of directed electives, either in one or more depth areas (provided the CSET has been passed) or from advisor recommended Elementary Subject Matter courses (if the CSET has not been passed), and 24 units of free electives. In the depth area and directed electives, at least 18 units must be upper division (3000- or 4000-level courses).
Liberal Studies Core Courses (15 units)
Students in Option II must complete the 15 units of core courses listed above under major requirements.
Required Courses in Liberal Studies (9 units)
With major advisor approval, students must complete 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies listed above under major requirements.
Depth Area (12 units)
Students in Option II must complete 12 units in one depth area (selected from those listed above under Option I).
Directed Electives (12 units)
Students in Option II must complete 12 units of directed electives. If a student has not passed all sections of the Multiple Subjects CSET, with major advisor approval, these electives must be selected from the list of Elementary Subject Matter courses or from other appropriate courses (see below; the full course list is available in the Liberal Studies department). If a student has passed all sections of the CSET examination, then, with major advisor approval, these electives may be taken in one or more depth areas.
1. Reading, Language and Literature; History and Social Science (CSET Subtest I)
With major advisor approval, students take courses in the following departments and subjects:
- History and Chicano Studies: California History and World History
- English: Linguistics and Children’s Literature
2. Science and Mathematics (CSET Subtest II)
With major advisor approval, students take courses in the following departments and subjects:
- Mathematics: the Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers sequence
- Biology: Life Science for Elementary Teachers
- Natural Science: Physical Science for Elementary Teachers, Earth and Space Science for Elementary Teachers
3. Physical Education, Human Development, Visual and Performing Arts (CSET Subtest III)
With major advisor approval, students take courses in the following departments and subjects:
- Art: Elementary Classroom Art
- Music, Theatre, and Dance: Elementary Classroom Music, Drama, and Dance
- Kinesiology: Development of Physical Activity
- Child Development or Sociology: Childhood and Adolescence
- Public Health: Health Education for Elementary Teachers
4. Multiple Subjects CSET Review Course
With major advisor approval, students take courses in the following departments and subjects:
Option III. Elementary Subject Matter Teacher Preparation: Integrated Option (120-128 units, of which 48 units are in the major and 32-41 units are in an approved CSULA credential program)
Like Option II, Option III prepares prospective teachers for grades K-8. However, students in Option III can also complete requirements for a Multiple Subjects or Education Specialist Credential as a part of completing their Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. Students must meet minimum requirements for a Multiple Subjects or Education Specialist credential in order to complete this option. Students should meet with a Liberal Studies major advisor to discuss the appropriate time to apply to the credential of choice. Refer to the Charter College of Education section of this catalog for regulations, admissions requirements, and coursework related to the Multiple Subjects and Education Specialist credentials.
Since passing the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) is a prerequisite for a teaching credential, students in Option III are expected to prepare for and take the three portions of the CSET: Multiple Subjects at their earliest convenience and report their results to a Liberal Studies advisor. Based on the CSET results and students’ previous coursework, advisors will recommend directed elective courses to help students prepare for any sections of the CSET that have not been passed. With the approval of a Liberal Studies advisor, students who pass all sections of the CSET can count credential coursework toward the directed electives requirement. A grade of C or higher is required in all courses used to meet the major requirements for this option.
Students who select Option III must complete the following coursework for a total of 120-128 units: 48 units of general education requirements (9 of which can be double-counted for major requirements with advisor approval), 15 units of Liberal Studies core requirements (listed above), 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies, 12 units in a selected depth area, 12 units of advisor recommended Elementary Subject Matter courses (if the CSET has not been passed), 33-41 units of credential courses (some of which can be double-counted as directed electives if all sections of the Multiple Subjects CSET are passed), and 1 unit of free elective (if needed). In the depth area and directed electives, at least 18 units must be upper division (3000- or 4000-level courses).
Liberal Studies Core Courses (15 units)
Students in Option III must complete the 15 units of core courses listed above under major requirements.
Required Courses in Liberal Studies (9 units, 6 of which can double-count in general education)
With major advisor approval, students in Option III must complete 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies listed above under major requirements. 3 units in the Interdisciplinary Foundations category and 3 units in the Intermediate Interdisciplinary Studies category can be double-counted for general education requirements. Students should consult with a Liberal Studies major advisor to ensure that they take the correct major courses that double count for general education.
Depth Area (12 units, 3 of which can double-count in general education)
Students in Option III must complete 12 units in one depth area (selected from those listed under Option I). 3 units in the depth area may be double-counted for general education requirements. Students should consult with a Liberal Studies major advisor to ensure that they take the correct major course that will double-count for general education.
Directed Electives (12 units)
Students in Option III must complete 12 units of directed electives. If a student has not passed all sections of the Multiple Subjects CSET, with major advisor approval, these electives must be selected from the list of Elementary Subject Matter courses or from other appropriate courses (see Option II; the full course list is available in the Liberal Studies department). If a student has passed all sections of the CSET Multiple Subjects, then, with major advisor approval, credential courses may be counted for this requirement.
Credential (32-41 units)
Students in Option III must complete 32 to 41 units of coursework in one of the following Multiple Subject or Education Specialist credentials.
Preliminary Admission to a Teaching Credential Program
Requirements for undergraduate preliminary admission to credential programs include the following:
- Junior standing
- Completion of Charter College of Education application materials, including any fees
- A minimum grade point average of 2.67 in all undergraduate coursework attempted
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Proof of a negative TB test current within the last 12 months
- Proficiency with technology
- Strong and supportive letters of recommendation
- A well written and meaningful Philosophy of Education Statement
- Background clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- Proof that all sections of the Multiple Subject CBEST examination have been attempted
Teaching Credential Preparation
A minimum GPA of 2.67 in all undergraduate coursework and completion of all application requirements are prerequisite to enrollment in EDCI 4000 or EDSP 4001. An overall 3.0 GPA must be maintained in all professional education courses with a minimum grade of “C” in each course. Students should see an advisor regarding completion of the degree and other credential requirements.
Select one of the following:
A. Elementary Education (For a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential)
Completion of this course of study, completion of the California Multiple Subject Teacher Preparation Assessments, and passage of the CSET Multiple Subjects qualifies students for a preliminary Multiple Subject credential. Students must pass the CSET Multiple Subjects prior to enrollment in EDCI 4830 and EDCI 4831.
Required Prerequisite Courses (9 units)
Electives (24 units)
Students must satisfy GE Oral Communication (3) or the Speech Proficiency Assessment for Teachers (1) and the Writing Proficiency Examination (0) or an acceptable alternative by petition before enrolling in the following courses.
Directed Teaching (8 units)
(Must attend a mandatory directed teaching meeting prior to enrolling in these courses)
B. Special Education (Eligibility for an Education Specialist Internship Credential)
Completion of this course of study and passage of the CSET qualifies students for an internship credential with verification of employment from a cooperating school district. For a Preliminary Education Specialist Credential, students must complete the additional post-baccalaureate credential coursework and directed teaching in their area of specialization (i.e., Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Physical and Health Impairments or Visual Impairment and Blindness).
Required Prerequisite Courses (4 units)
Internship Emphasis: Specialization (7 units)
Complete 7 units of appropriate course work in the selected area of specialization. Students must pass all sections of the CBEST and apply for directed teaching by the second week of the quarter prior to enrollment in their first directed teaching experience.
Mild-to-Moderate Disabilities
Moderate-to-Severe Disabilities
Physical and Health Impairments
Visual Impairment and Blindness
Option IV. Professional Option (60 units, of which 51 units are in the major)
Option IV is only available to students at the Cal State L.A. Downtown campus and other remote sites. Option IV allows students who have completed 60 semester units-including all lower-division general education requirements-to pursue a focused course of study that builds an interdisciplinary base of skills and knowledge highly desired by employers. With advisor approval, a maximum of 6 semester units of prior upper-division coursework may be counted toward the requirements listed below.
In addition to their previously completed 60 semester units students who select Option IV must complete the following coursework for a total of 120 semester units: 9 semester units of general education requirements, 15 semester units of Liberal Studies core requirements (listed below), 9 semester units of required courses in Liberal Studies, and 27 semester units in the three depth areas listed below.
Liberal Studies Core Courses (15 units)
Students in Option IV must complete the 15 units of core courses listed above under major requirements.
Required Courses in Liberal Studies (9 units)
With major advisor approval, students must complete 9 units of required courses in Liberal Studies listed above under major requirements.
Depth Areas (27 units)
Students in Option IV must complete 6 units in Current Issues, 6 units in Communication Skills, and 15 units in Globalization and Culture in Context.
Communication Skills
Students select 6 units from the following courses or related courses chosen with the approval of a major advisor:
Current Issues
Students select 6 units from the following courses or related courses chosen with the approval of a major advisor:
Globalization and Culture in Context
Students select 15 units from the following courses or related courses chosen with the approval of a major advisor:
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