Liberal Studies, B.A.

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(120 UNITS)

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies requires 51 units in the major, including 30 units of core courses and the 21-unit option under the Elementary Education Emphasis or the Interdisciplinary Thematic Emphasis. Each course counted for the major must be completed with a “C” (2.0) or better.

Core Courses (30 units)

Interdisciplinary Studies Course (3 units)

Senior Seminar (3 units)

Additional information

*Fulfills the course requirement of the university upper-division baccalaureate writing requirement for Liberal Studies majors.

Sequence of Core Courses

Because the core curriculum is designed as an integrated whole and builds upon the student’s general education, there is an order in which these courses need to be taken and there are certain prerequisites for them. LBST 300 and LBST 302A /LBST 302B come first. LBST 302A is a prerequisite for LBST 302B .

LBST 302B and LBST 301 are prerequisites for LBST 303 , LBST 304 , LBST 305 .

LBST 401 and the Senior Seminar come last. LBST 401 requires the completion of LBST 304 and either LBST 303 or LBST 305 . The Senior Seminar requires senior standing, the completion of 90 units of college work.

Elementary Education Emphasis (21 units)

Arts and Humanities (6 units)

Visual and Performing Arts (3 units)

ART 380 - Art and Child Development (3)
MUS 433 - Music in Childhood (3)
Any three-unit, upper-division course in Art, Music, Theatre or Dance

Language and Literature (3 units)

ENGL 206 - Introduction to Language Structure and Language Use (3) or
LING 206 - Introduction to Language Structure and Language Use (3)
ENGL 211 - British Literature to 1760 (3)
ENGL 212 - British Literature from 1760 (3)
ENGL 221 - American Literature to Whitman (3)
ENGL 222 - American Literature from Twain to the Moderns (3)
ENGL 341 - Children’s Literature (3)
THTR 311 - Oral Interpretation of Children’s Literature (3)
Any three-unit, upper-division course in Comparative Literature, English, European Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, or Linguistics

Mathematics and Natural Sciences (6 units)

Social Science and Cultural Diversity (6 units)

Social Sciences (3 units)

ANTH 333 - Anthropology of Childhood (3)
ANTH 350 - Culture and Education (3)
PSYC 311 - Educational Psychology (3)
SOCI 352 - The Sociology of Education (3)
Any three-unit upper-division course in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies or Sociology

Cultural Diversity (3 units)

AFAM 304 - Black Families in America (3)
AFAM 370 - Development of African American Children and Youth (3)
AMST 395 - California Cultures (3)
ASAM 342 - Asian Pacific American Families (3)
CHIC 305 - Chicana/o Families (3)
CHIC 331 - The Chicano Child (3)
HCOM 320 - Intercultural Communication (3)
SOCI 357 - Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
WGST 302 - Introduction to Women’s Studies (3)
Any three-unit, upper-division course that meets G.E. Category Z in American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicana and Chicano Studies, Human Communications Studies, Latin American Studies or Women and Gender Studies

Elective (3 units)

One upper-division course from Biological Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics or from any department or program in the above Arts and Humanities or Social Science and Cultural Diversity categories. MATH 303A is highly recommended.

Interdisciplinary Thematic Emphasis (21 units)

The Interdisciplinary Thematic Emphasis (ITE) is designed for students who have broad interests that expand beyond the confines of a single department. For these students, the ability to construct their own area of interdisciplinary study by taking advanced coursework in several disciplines may be more beneficial than restricting their study to one of the various majors offered by the university. The Interdisciplinary Thematic Emphasis does not duplicate any existing major. It is a well-thought-out, highly individualized group of courses that, even though they come from various departments, have a common subject, focus or interest.

ITE students may center their coursework on an academic interest or may select courses that prepare them for later professional training or for specific careers.

Personalized Coordinated Program (18 units)

In consultation with a Liberal Studies adviser, ITE students select 18 units of upper-division coursework from various departments for the purpose of pursuing an interdisciplinary problem, theme or issue.

To ensure breadth of knowledge, ITE students are allowed to take: (a) no more than nine units from a single department; and (b) no more than 15 units from a single area of knowledge (humanities and arts, science, social sciences). ITE students must have their study plan approved by a Liberal Studies adviser prior to taking coursework.

Senior Project (3 units)

To integrate and synthesize knowledge acquired through their Personalized Coordinated Program, ITE students must complete a senior project (such as a thesis or a creative work relevant to the theme of their Personalized Coordinated Program) by enrolling in LBST 482 or three units of LBST 499 with a professor of their choice. ITE students should schedule an appointment with a LBST adviser immediately after deciding upon the thematic Emphasis in order to organize a project and enroll in the required units of LBST 482 or LBST 499 .