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

Core Requirements for the Pre-Credential program (89 Units) 1
Reading, Language and Literature
COMS 5The Communication Experience 23
ENGL 5Accelerated Academic Literacies 23
ENGL 16Structure Of English3
ENGL 20College Composition II 2,33
ENGL 116AStudies in Applied Linguistics3
ENGL 116BChildren's Literary Classics3
Mathematics 4
MATH 17An Introduction to Exploration, Conjecture, and Proof in Mathematics 23
MATH 107AFundamental Mathematical Concepts3
MATH 107BFundamental Mathematical Concepts3
Natural Science
BIO 7Introduction to the Science of Biology 24
CHEM 106Chemical Concepts3
GEOL 8Earth Science 23
GEOL 8TEarth Science Lab for Teachers1
PHYS 107Conceptual Physics and Scientific Inquiry4
Social Science and Humanities
GEOG 100Themes In World Geography3
HIST 17AUnited States History, 1607-1877 23
HIST 50World History I: to 1500 23
HIST 132Topics In World History3
HIST 187Topics in United States History 1600-19003
or ECON 104 Introduction to the United States Economy
LBST 110California Studies3
POLS 1Essentials Of Government 23
Visual and Performing Arts
ART 133Art Education for Children3
MUSC 101Experiences In Music3
THEA 118Children's Theatre3
Physical Education
KINS 172Movement Education3
Health Science
PUBH 136School Health Education2
Human Development
CHAD 35Child and Adolescent Development3
Integrative Study
HRS 162American Space and Identity3
or MATH 107C Elementary Mathematics and the Learning Process
Field Experience
CHAD 35FHuman Development and Elementary Field Experience3
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 Units101-104

Concentration in Natural Science

CHEM 106Chemical Concepts3
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 Units12

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects
A1 - Oral Communication 20
A2 - Written Communication 20
A3 - Critical Thinking 20
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms
B1 - Physical Science 20
B2 - Life Forms 20
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 20
B4 - Math Concepts 20
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 20
Area C: Arts and Humanities (9 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities 20
C1/C2 - Area C Course3
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 20
Area D Course3
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units)
Area E Course3
Area F: Ethnic Studies
Area F Course
Total Units18

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (3 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History 20
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government 20
Writing Intensive (WI)3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (6 Units)
English Composition II 20
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) 20
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 36