BA in Liberal Studies (Natural Science)
Units required for Major: 100-103
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, community, and collaboration. There are two tracks in the Liberal Studies Program: Pre-Credential and General.
•The Pre-Credential program is a multidisciplinary major designed for students who intend to become K-8 or special education teachers in California, and it has been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Its purpose is to provide beginning teachers with a strong grounding in the wide ranging subject matter that will be needed to be effective teachers. The core section is comprised of courses in reading, language and literature, mathematics, natural science, history and social sciences, visual and performing arts, physical education, human development, and health. The Pre-Credential program requires a 12-unit concentration.
•The General program is designed for students who are interested in a multidisciplinary major, but who do not necessarily plan to become teachers. The Liberal Studies major is an 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. This major requires students to include a minor.
The Liberal Studies major is a complex program requiring early and continuing contact with an adviser. Students meet with an adviser 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 advisers 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 Concentrations (Pre-Credential Program)
All concentrations require a minimum of 12 units, 3 of which may overlap with the core course requirements (except for concentration in multicultural studies). Students who wish to complete requirements for a supplementary authorization in any CCTC-approved discipline, which allows them to teach the subject matter typically taught in grades K-9, should see an adviser for important information.
Requirements for the General Program
Students who are following the General Liberal Studies program will complete a minor instead of a concentration. Please talk to an adviser for more information.
Program Requirements
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Core Requirements for the Pre-Credential program (89 Units) 1 | ||
Reading, Language and Literature | ||
COMS 5 | The Communication Experience 2 | 3 |
ENGL 5 | Accelerated Academic Literacies 2 | 3 |
ENGL 16 | Structure Of English | 3 |
ENGL 20 | College Composition II 2,3 | 3 |
ENGL 116A | Studies in Applied Linguistics | 3 |
ENGL 116B | Children's Literary Classics | 3 |
Mathematics 4 | ||
MATH 17 | An Introduction to Exploration, Conjecture, and Proof in Mathematics 2 | 3 |
MATH 107A | Fundamental Mathematical Concepts | 3 |
MATH 107B | Fundamental Mathematical Concepts | 3 |
Natural Science | ||
BIO 7 | Introduction to the Science of Biology 2 | 4 |
CHEM 106 | Chemical Concepts | 3 |
GEOL 8 | Earth Science 2 | 3 |
GEOL 8T | Earth Science Lab for Teachers | 1 |
PHYS 107 | Conceptual Physics and Scientific Inquiry | 4 |
Social Science and Humanities | ||
GEOG 100 | Themes In World Geography | 3 |
HIST 17A | United States History, 1607-1877 2 | 3 |
HIST 50 | World History I: to 1500 2 | 3 |
HIST 132 | Topics In World History | 3 |
HIST 187 | Topics in United States History 1600-1900 | 3 |
or ECON 104 | Introduction to the United States Economy | |
LBST 110 | California Studies | 3 |
POLS 1 | Essentials Of Government 2 | 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 | ||
HRS 162 | American Space and Identity | 3 |
or MATH 107C | Elementary Mathematics and the Learning Process | |
Field Experience | ||
CHAD 35F | Human Development and Elementary Field Experience | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Cooperative Education Experience | ||
Tutoring Children in Mathematics Tutoring Children in Mathematics: Practicum | ||
Tutoring Children in Reading Tutoring Children in Reading Practicum | ||
Summative Assessment Requirement | ||
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 Concentrations (for the Pre-Credential program) (12-15 Units) | ||
Select one of the following concentrations: | 12 - 15 | |
Linguistics/Composition | ||
Literature | ||
Foreign Language | ||
United States History | ||
World History | ||
California Studies | ||
American Studies | ||
Multicultural Studies | ||
Mathematics | ||
Natural Science | ||
Art | ||
Music | ||
Theatre | ||
Physical Education | ||
Human Development | ||
Total Units | 101-104 |
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 | Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement. |
3 | Course to meet critical thinking requirement. See adviser for specific options. |
4 | Students who complete a mathematics concentration may substitute MATH 30, MATH 31, and MATH 35 for the above requirements. In addition, there are other ways of completing a concentration in mathematics. For further information on a concentration in mathematics, please consult the mathematics adviser in Liberal Studies. |
Concentration in Natural Science
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
CHEM 106 | Chemical Concepts | 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 1 | ||
Through Space and Time in the Planetarium 1 | ||
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 1 | ||
Geology and the Environment | ||
Age of Dinosaurs | ||
STEM Learning Practices for Future Teachers | ||
Science and Pseudoscience 1 | ||
Musical Acoustics: Science and Sound 1 | ||
Total Units | 12 |
1 | Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement. |
2 | BIO 7, PHYS 107, GEOL 8 and GEOL 8T count toward the core Liberal Studies requirements, but do not count toward the 12 units required in the Natural Science concentration in the Liberal Studies major. |
General Education Requirements1
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Area A: Basic Subjects | ||
A1 - Oral Communication 2 | 0 | |
A2 - Written Communication 2 | 0 | |
A3 - Critical Thinking 2 | 0 | |
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms | ||
B1 - Physical Science 2 | 0 | |
B2 - Life Forms 2 | 0 | |
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 2 | 0 | |
B4 - Math Concepts 2 | 0 | |
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 2 | 0 | |
Area C: Arts and Humanities (9 Units) | ||
C1 - Arts | 3 | |
C2 - Humanities 2 | 0 | |
C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
Area D: The Individual and Society (6 Units) | ||
Area D Course 2 | 0 | |
Area D Course | 3 | |
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
Area E Course | 3 | |
Area F: Ethnic Studies | ||
Area F Course | ||
Total Units | 18 |
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 GE. |
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 |