BA in Liberal Studies
Units required for Major: 98 - 101
Total units required for BA: 120
Program Description
The Liberal Studies program is an interdisciplinary major, which encompasses a wide variety of areas of knowledge in a multidisciplinary curriculum. The program provides a broad academic program that encourages academic excellence, diversity and inclusive excellence, community, and collaboration. It is a major designed for students who either (i) intend on becoming elementary or special education teachers in California, or (ii) who have an interest in an interdisciplinary course of study. The core of the major is comprised of courses in reading, language and literature, mathematics, natural science, history and social sciences, visual and performing arts, physical education, human development, health and field experience.
The Liberal Studies major is a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing-approved subject matter program that provides teachers with a strong grounding in a wide range of academic disciplines needed to become effective teachers. Beyond careers in teaching, the Liberal Studies major provides excellent preparation for careers in government service, public administration, business, management, community service, counseling, law, librarianship, public health, as well as professional or graduate school.
The Liberal Studies major is a complex program requiring early and continuing contact with an advisor. Students meet with an advisor at least once each semester to provide a hands-on approach to learning. Students must complete 120 units and meet the University foreign language requirement in order to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students are urged to obtain advice as early as possible to avoid delays in the completion of these requirements. The Liberal Studies program director and faculty and staff advisors are located in Lassen Hall 2008, (916) 278-6342.
Minimum Grade Requirement
A minimum grade of "C-" is required in all courses applied to the Liberal Studies major.
Requirements for Areas of Emphasis
The Liberal Studies major requires that students complete an Area of Emphasis. All Areas of Emphasis require a minimum of 12 units, 3 of which may overlap with the core course requirements. Students may not combine courses from different areas of emphasis.
Minors may be used in lieu of an Area of Emphasis. Students interested in pursuing a Minor should discuss this option with their Liberal Studies advisor and with an advisor from the Minor program.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements (89 Units) 1 | ||
| Reading, Language and Literature | ||
| COMS 5 | The Communication Experience | 3 |
| or COMS 4 | Introduction to Public Speaking | |
| ENGL 5 | Accelerated Academic Literacies | 3 |
| or ENGL 5M | Accelerated Academic Literacies - Multilingual | |
| or ENGL 11 | Academic Literacies II | |
| or ENGL 11M | Academic Literacies II-Multilingual | |
| ENGL 16 | Structure Of English | 3 |
| ENGL 20 | College Composition II | 3 |
| or ENGL 20M | College Composition II for Multilingual Students | |
| ENGL 116A | Studies in Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGL 116B | Children's Literary Classics | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 17 | An Introduction to Exploration, Conjecture, and Proof in Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 107A | Fundamental Mathematical Concepts | 3 |
| MATH 107B | Fundamental Mathematical Concepts | 3 |
| Natural Science | ||
| BIO 7 | Introduction to the Science of Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 106 | Chemical Concepts | 3 |
| GEOL 8 | Earth Science | 3 |
| GEOL 8T | Earth Science Lab for Teachers | 1 |
| PHYS 107 | Conceptual Physics and Scientific Inquiry | 4 |
| Social Science and Humanities | ||
| ECON 1A | Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| or HIST 187 | Topics in United States History 1600-1900 | |
| GEOG 100 | Themes In World Geography | 3 |
| HIST 17A | United States History, 1607-1877 | 3 |
| HIST 50 | World History I: to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 132 | Topics In World History | 3 |
| LBST 110 | California Studies | 3 |
| POLS 1 | Essentials Of Government | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | ||
| ART 133 | Art Education for Children | 3 |
| MUSC 101 | Experiences In Music | 3 |
| THEA 118 | Children's Theatre | 3 |
| Physical Education | ||
| KINS 172 | Movement Education | 3 |
| Health Science | ||
| PUBH 136 | School Health Education | 2 |
| Human Development | ||
| CHAD 35 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| Integrative Study | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Multicultural Children's Literature | ||
| Urban Education | ||
| Sex Role Stereotyping in American Education | ||
| Introduction to Bilingual Education: Policies, Principles, Programs, and Practices | ||
| The American Vision | ||
| Hollywood and America | ||
| American Space and Identity | ||
| Images Of America | ||
| Gender, Race, and Class | ||
| Field Experience | ||
| CHAD 35F | Human Development and Elementary Field Experience | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Tutoring Children in Mathematics Tutoring Children in Mathematics: Practicum | ||
| Tutoring Children in Reading Tutoring Children in Reading Practicum | ||
| Field Experience in After School STEM Programs Field Experience in After School STEM Programs: Practicum | ||
| The Liberal Studies Pre-Credential Program is in compliance with California Commission on Teacher Credentialing standards, and students who complete this major are waived from taking the California Subject Matter Examination (CSET). | ||
| Requirements for Area of Emphasis (12 Units) 2 | ||
| Select one of the following areas. Areas MAY NOT be combined. | 12 | |
Art | ||
Human Development | ||
Linguistics | ||
Literature | ||
Mathematics | ||
Multicultural Studies | ||
Music | ||
Natural Science | ||
Physical Education | ||
Theatre | ||
United States History | ||
World History | ||
| Total Units | 101 | |
- 1
The Core Requirements for the General program are similar to the Core Requirements for the Pre-Credential program except there are a number of substitutions that can be made. Please see an adviser for more information.
- 2
Units may range from 98 - 101 depending on the Area of Emphasis a student chooses due to overlapping courses. Areas of Emphasis that have some overlapping courses with core requirements courses: Art, Human Development, Linguistics, Literature, Music, Natural Science, Physical Education, Theatre, United States History, and World History.
Art
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (6 units): | ||
| ART 133 | Art Education for Children (Required Courses (3 units)) 1 | 3 |
| Choose one of the following (3 units): | 3 | |
| Overview of Secondary Art Education | ||
| Art for Exceptional Children | ||
| Barrio Art for Ethnic Groups | ||
| Select two of the following (6 units): | 6 | |
| Art, Religions, and Power before 1400 | ||
| Art, Empires, and Cross-Cultural Exchange, 1400-1800 | ||
| Global Modern and Contemporary Art | ||
| History of Islamic Art | ||
| Traditional Asian Art | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Asian Art | ||
| European Visual Traditions | ||
| Art of the Americas | ||
| Introduction to Art and Visual Culture | ||
| Beginning Drawing | ||
| Beginning Color | ||
| Basic Printmaking: Etching | ||
| Basic Printmaking: Relief | ||
| Basic Printmaking: Silkscreen | ||
| Beginning Ceramics | ||
| Beginning Hand-Built Ceramics | ||
| Materials Methods | ||
| Clay Sculpture | ||
| Beginning Sculpture | ||
| Beginning New Media Art | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Human Development
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (6 units): | ||
| CHAD 35 | Child and Adolescent Development 1 | 3 |
| FSHD 50 | The Family and Social Issues | 3 |
| Choose two of the following (6 units): | 6 | |
| Combined Research Methods in Human Development | ||
| Culture and Human Development | ||
| Development of Learning and Memory | ||
| Mind and Brain in Developmental Context | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Human Development | ||
| Fostering Healthy Youth Development | ||
| Family Stress and Coping: Multicultural Focus | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Delinquency | ||
| The Family | ||
| Changing American Family | ||
| Sociology of Children and Adolescents | ||
| Bullying as a Social Experience | ||
| Poverty and Homelessness in America | ||
| The Child and the Law | ||
| Violence In The Family | ||
| Working with LGBTQ+ Publics | ||
| Welfare In America | ||
| Child Welfare Services | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Linguistics
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 116A | Studies in Applied Linguistics 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 110P | Second Language Learning and Teaching | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Traditional Grammar and Standard Usage | ||
| English Grammar for ESL Teachers | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Academic Reading and Writing for Second Language Students | ||
| Teaching Oral Skills | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Literature
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 116B | Children's Literary Classics 1 | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to British Literature I | ||
| Introduction to British Literature II | ||
| Introduction to American Literature I | ||
| Introduction to American Literature II | ||
| Introduction to World Literatures in English | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 107C | Elementary Mathematics and the Learning Process | 3 |
| STAT 1 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Two additional courses in Mathematics (MATH) or Statistics (STAT) selected with a Liberal Studies major advisor, excluding MATH 10 and MATH 12. | 6 | |
| Total Units | 12 | |
Multicultural Studies
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 170 | Introduction to Bilingual Education: Policies, Principles, Programs, and Practices | 3 |
| ETHN 11 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| or ETHN 100 | Ethnic America | |
| Select two from any of the following categories or one from each of two categories: | 6 | |
| Chicano/Latino Emphasis | ||
| Culture and Personality of the Chicano Child | ||
| Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies | ||
| Chicano/Mexican-American Experience | ||
| La Raza Studies | ||
| La Mujer Chicana | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| Asian American Emphasis | ||
| The Asian American Experience | ||
| Southeast Asians in the US | ||
| African American Emphasis | ||
| Pan African Studies | ||
| The African-American Experience, 1603-Present | ||
| Native American Emphasis | ||
| Native American Experience | ||
| Women's Studies Emphasis | ||
| History of American Women | ||
| Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies | ||
| Gender, Race, and Class | ||
| Women of Color | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Music
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | ||
| MUSC 8 | Basic Music | 3 |
| MUSC 101 | Experiences In Music 1 | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Music In World Cultures | ||
| Survey of Music Literature I | ||
| Survey of Music Literature II | ||
| Survey of Music Literature III | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| American Popular Music: Jazz History | ||
| History of Rock Music | ||
| Hip-Hop in Urban America | ||
| World Music: Asia | ||
| World Music: Africa | ||
| World Music: Latin America | ||
| The American Musical Theater | ||
| American Society and Its Music | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Natural Science
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 106 | Chemical Concepts 1 | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to the Solar System | ||
| Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology | ||
| The Solar System and Space Exploration | ||
| Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology | ||
| Through Space and Time in the Planetarium | ||
| Plants and Civilization | ||
| Life in the Ocean | ||
| Biology of Dinosaurs | ||
| Introduction to General Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry | ||
| Volcanoes: An Introduction | ||
| Geology of California | ||
| Oceanography | ||
| Geology and the Environment | ||
| Age of Dinosaurs | ||
| STEM Learning Practices for Future Teachers | ||
| Science and Pseudoscience | ||
| Musical Acoustics: Science and Sound | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Physical Education
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES (6 Units) | ||
| KINS 138 | Sport Pedagogy | 3 |
| KINS 172 | Movement Education 1 | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (6 Units) | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| PRO ACT I - Dual Sports | ||
| Professional Activities II - Creative Movement and Dance | ||
| Pro Act III - Team Sports | ||
| ProAct V - Nontraditional Games and Sports | ||
| Professional Activities of Health and Skill Related Fitness | ||
| Introduction to Adapted Physical Education | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Theatre
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction To Theatre | ||
or THEA 9 | Appreciation Of Acting | |
| Puppetry | ||
or THEA 115A | Multicultural Puppetry | |
| Children's Theatre 1 | ||
| Multicultural Perspectives in American Theatre | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
United States History
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | 6 | |
| United States History, 1607-1877 1 | ||
| United States History, 1877-Present | ||
| ELECTIVE COURSES | 6 | |
Select two of the following: | ||
| Colonial America | ||
| The Age of the American Revolution | ||
| Young Republic, 1790-1840 | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction, 1840-1890 | ||
| 20th Century United States, 1890-1940 | ||
| 20th Century United States, 1941-Present | ||
| The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage | ||
| History of International Relations in the 20th Century | ||
| Military History of the United States | ||
| History of US Foreign Relations | ||
| The United States in Vietnam, 1940-1975 | ||
| The American Vision | ||
| Social History of the United States | ||
| The City in US History | ||
| History of American Capitalism | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Popular Culture | ||
| History of American Women | ||
| Images Of America | ||
| Hollywood and America | ||
| Sports in American History | ||
| American Indian History to 1840 | ||
| American Indian History since 1840 | ||
| The History of the Civil Rights Movement: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction, 1865-Present | ||
| History of Disability in the United States | ||
| Sex, Population, and Birth Control in America | ||
| Health, Death and Disease in America | ||
HIST 176 | ||
| The African-American Experience, 1603-Present | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| American Immigration History | ||
| American Legal History | ||
| Anarchists and Revolutionaries: Transnational Radicalism in America | ||
| American West | ||
| California History, 1542-1860 | ||
| California History, 1860-1970 | ||
| California Architecture and Urban History | ||
| California Indian History | ||
| The California Gold Rush | ||
| History of California Water | ||
| Sacramento History | ||
| American Labor History | ||
| California Dreamin': A Cultural History of California since 1840 | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
World History
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES (6 Units) | ||
| HIST 50 | World History I: to 1500 1 | 3 |
| HIST 51 | World History from 1500 to the Present. | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES | 6 | |
Select two from the following: | ||
| Language and written culture in Ancient Greece | ||
| Culture and Language in Modern Greece, 1821-1909 | ||
| Mediterranean Europe: From the Renaissance to the European Union | ||
| Great Ages and Issues in Modern European History | ||
| History of the Physical Sciences | ||
| History of Modern Greece | ||
| The Ancient Near East: A Cultural History | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Early Medieval Europe | ||
| Europe in the High Middle Ages | ||
| The Renaissance and Reformation in Europe | ||
| Europe, 1648-1815, The Age of Revolution | ||
| World War I: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| Europe Since 1945 | ||
| Democracy and Human Rights in the Era of the French Revolution and Napoleon | ||
| History of Women in Western Civilization, Prehistory-Middle Ages | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| European Warfare from the French Revolution to the Present | ||
| Evolution of Christianity to the Reformation | ||
| Evolution of Christianity Since the Reformation | ||
| Tudor and Stuart England, 1485-1714 | ||
| British History, 1714-Present | ||
| Medieval Russia | ||
| Imperial Russia | ||
| Twentieth Century Russia | ||
| The Fall Of Communism | ||
| History of Sexuality in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Twentieth-Century World History | ||
| The Rise and Fall of European Colonial Empires | ||
| History Of Mexico To 1910 | ||
| Revolutionary and Modern Mexico | ||
| Spanish Civil War | ||
| Latin American Revolutions in the Twentieth Century | ||
| Latin American History in Film | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Latin America | ||
| Modern East Asian Cinema | ||
| History of Africa Since 1800 | ||
| History of Women in Africa | ||
| Middle Eastern History to 1800 | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Ottoman State and Society | ||
| Indonesia, 1965: Context, Causes, and Consequences of Cold War Mass Murder | ||
| South Asian History & Civilization | ||
| Cultural History of Japan to 1800 | ||
| Modern Japan, 1800-present | ||
| The History of Manga | ||
| History of Buddhism | ||
| China: Antiquity to 1600 AD | ||
| China, 1600 to Present | ||
| The Making of Modern Southeast Asia | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
This course counts both toward the Area of Emphasis and major Core Course requirements. Students may overlap a maximum of 3 units toward both Core Course requirements and Area of Emphasis requirements. This is applicable towards these Areas of Emphasis: Art, Human Development, Linguistics, Literature, Music, Natural Science, Physical Education, Theatre, United States History and World History.
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (3 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 0 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 0 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 0 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 0 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 0 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 0 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 0 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities | ||
| C1 - Arts | 0 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 0 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 0 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 0 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society | ||
| Area D Course | 0 | |
| Area D Course | 0 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 0 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development | ||
| Area E Course | 0 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 6 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional adviser. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (3 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History 2 | 0 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government 2 | 0 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) | 3 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (6 Units) | ||
| English Composition II 2 | 0 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) 2 | 0 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 3 | 6 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional adviser. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement.
- 3
If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html