Interdisciplinary Studies and Liberal Studies

Teacher Preparation

Students interested in careers as elementary or special education teachers should select one of the Liberal Studies Teacher Preparation option programs. All provide a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies, including preparation in the multiple subjects taught in self-contained classroom settings. Students in the Teacher Preparation option take courses in the language arts, natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, human development, physical education and health. By the end of the degree program, students have a foundation of basic knowledge in all of these areas. Students pursuing the Teacher Preparation option are not required to meet the University General Education requirements. By completing the Liberal Studies major, students are considered to have fulfilled those requirements.

The Pre-Credential Program provides a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies only and is best suited for students who want to enroll in a teaching credential program after they earn their bachelor’s degree. This program requires 105-107 units of specified coursework toward the B.A. degree of 120 units. The Pre-Credential Program also is the gateway into the ITEP-Junior program. In order to transition from Pre-Credential to ITEP-Junior, students must gain admission to the CSUN Credential program.

A. Lower Division Requirements (52-54 units)

1. Freshman Composition (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 113B, AAS 114B, AAS 115 Approaches to University Writing (3)
AFRS 113B, AFRS 114B, AFRS 115 Approaches to University Writing (3)
CAS 113B, CAS 114B, CAS 115 Approaches to University Writing (3)
CHS 113B, CHS 114B, CHS 115 Approaches to University Writing (3)
ENGL 113B, ENGL 114B, ENGL 115 Approaches to University Writing (3)
QS 113B, QS 114B, QS 115 Approaches to University Writing (3)

2. Critical Thinking (3-4 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 201 Race, Racism and Critical Thinking (3)
AFRS 204 Race and Critical Thinking (3)
CHS 202 Race, Racism and Critical Thinking (3)
COMS 225 Argumentation (3)
PHIL 100 General Logic (4)
PHIL 200 Critical Reasoning (3)
PHIL 210 Reasoning in the Sciences (3)
RS 204 Religion, Logic and the Media (3)

3. Speech Communication (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 151 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3)
AFRS 151 Freshman Speech Communication (3)
CAS 151 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3)
CHS 151 Freshman Speech Communication (3)
COMS 151 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3)

4. Mathematics (3 units)

MATH 210 Basic Number Concepts (3)

5. Biology (3-4 units)

Select one course from:

BIOL 100/BIOL 100L Introductory Biology and Lab (2/1)
BIOL 101/BIOL 101L General Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 102CS/LCS Biological Concepts and Lab (3/1)

6. Physical Science (4 units)

PHSC 170 Introduction to Physical Science (4)

7. Literature (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 220 Survey of Asian American Literature (3)
AFRS 245 African-American Literature Since 1930 (3)
CAS 201 Survey of Central American Literature (3)
CHS 201 Survey of Mexican Literature in Translation (3)
ENGL 255 Introduction to Literature (3)
ENGL 258 British Literature from the Middle Ages to the Early Age of Empire (3)
ENGL 259 British Literature from the Early Age of Empire to the Present (3)
ENGL 275 Survey of U.S. Literature (3)
FLIT 295A Masterpieces of European Literature I (3)
FLIT 295B Masterpieces of European Literature II (3)

8. Performing and Visual Arts (3 units)

Select one course from:

ART 100/L Introduction to Art Processes and Lab (1/2)
ART 110 World Arts: The Western Tradition (3)
ART 112 World Arts: Africa, Oceania and the Americas (3)
ART 114 World Arts: Asia (3)
CAS 202 Survey of Central American Visual, Installation and Performance Arts (3)
CHS 111 The Chicana/o and the Arts (3)
MUS 105 Understanding Music (3)
MUS 107 Music Today (3)
TH 110 Introduction to Theatre: Text/Drama/Performance (3)
TH 111 Actors and Acting (3)

9. Probability and Statistics (3 units)

MATH 211 Statistics and Probability for Elementary and Middle School Teachers (3)

10. World Geography (3 units)

GEOG 150 World Geography: People, Places, and Globalization (3)

11. Earth Science (3 units)

Select one course from:

GEOG 106LRS The Physical Environment for Liberal Studies Majors (3)
GEOL 106LRS Earth and Space Science for Liberal Studies Majors (3)

12. World History (3 units)

HIST 110 World History to 1500 (3)

13. United States History (3 units)

Select one course from:

AFRS 271 African-American History to 1865 (3)
CHS 245 History of the Americas (3)
HIST 270 The United States to 1865 (3)

14. Government (3 units)

Select one course from:

AFRS 161 American Political Institutions: A Black Perspective (3)
CHS 260 Constitutional Issues and the Chicana/o (3)
POLS 155 American Political Institutions (3)
RS 255 American Political Institutions and Religion (3)

15. Urban Education (3 units)

ELPS 203 Urban Education in American Society (3)

Note: Students planning to pursue an Education Specialist Credential should take SPED 402 instead of ELPS 203.

16. Child Development (3 units)

Select one course from:

CADV 150 Foundations of Child and Adolescent Development (3)
FCS 330 Child Growth and Development (3)

17. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 1 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

B. Upper Division Requirements (53 units)

Students should complete most, if not all, lower division coursework before taking upper division requirements. Upper division courses are listed in the order in which they should be taken, whenever possible.

18. Teacher Preparation Experience (3 units)

LRS 300/F Interdisciplinary Approaches for Future Teachers and Field Study (2/1)

19. Intermediate Composition (3 units)

ENGL 305 Intermediate Expository Writing (3)

20. Psychological Foundations (3 units)

EPC 315 Psychological Foundations of Learning and Teaching (3)

Note: Students planning to pursue an Education Specialist Credential should take SPED 400 instead of EPC 315.

21. Visual Arts, Performing Arts and the Child (12 units)

ART 380/L Children’s Art and Lab (2/1)
KIN 314/L Creative Dance for Children and Lab (2/1)
MUS 361/L Music Literature for Children and Lab (2/1)
TH 371/L Creative Drama and Lab (2/1)

22. California Geography/History (3 units)

Select one course from:

GEOG 417 California for Educators (3)
or HIST 417 California for Educators (3)

23. Introduction to Language, Grammar and Linguistics for Teachers (3 units)

ENGL 303/L Introduction to Language, Grammar and Linguistics for Teachers and Lab (2/1)

24. Physical Education for Children (3 units)

KIN 470/L Physical Education for Children and Lab (2/1)

25. Basic Concepts of Geometry, Probability and Statistics (3 units)

MATH 310 Basic Concepts of Geometry, Probability and Statistics (3)

26. Basic Algebraic Concepts (3 units)

MATH 312 Basic Algebraic Concepts (3)

Note: Students who plan to move into the ITEP-Junior option should wait to take MATH 312 until admitted to the Credential Program because MATH 312 must be taken concurrently with EED 472.

27. Language Development and Acquisition (3 units)

LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

28. Health Science (1 unit)

HSCI 465ELM Teaching Health in the Elementary School Classroom (1)

29. Social and Cultural Context: The Child (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 450 Asian American Child and the Schools (3)
AFRS 420 The Black Child (3)
ARMN 440 Armenian American Child (3)
CAS 410 The Central American Child (3)
CHS 430 The Chicana/o Child (3)

30. Children’s Literature (3 units)

ENGL 428 Children’s Literature (3)

Note: Students who plan to move into the ITEP-Junior option should wait to take ENGL 428 until admitted to the Credential Program because ENGL 428 must be taken concurrently with EED 477A.

31. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 2 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

32. Science Experience Course (1 unit)

GEOL 406LRS Liberal Studies Science Experience Capstone (1)

33. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 3 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

List of Specializations for all Liberal Studies Teacher Preparation Options

A. Language Arts or LSLA: Choose Track A or Track B

Track A–Language Arts

1. Literature (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 420 Asian American Literary Self-Representations (3)
AFRS 346 Contemporary Black Female Writers (3)
AIS 318/ENGL 318 American Indian Literature (3)
CHS 480/F Chicana/o-Latina/o Children’s Literature in Communities (2/1)
ENGL 311 African American Literature (3)

2. Linguistics (3 units)

Select one course from:

AFRS 395 Bilingualism in the African-American Community (3)
CHS 482 Language of the Barrio (3)
ENGL 405 Language Differences and Language Change (3)
LING 427 Languages in Contact (3)
LING 447 Bilingualism in the U.S. (3)

3. Language Arts Capstone Experience (3 units)

Select one course from:

ENGL 495ESM Multigenre Literacy in a Global Context (3)
LING 325 Language, Gender, and Identity (3)

Track B–Literacy Scholars for the Future of Los Angeles (LSLA)

1. Perspective on Literacy (3 units)

LRS 333 Perspectives on Literacy (3) (Fall only)

2. Practicum in Early Literacy (3 units)

LRS 433/F Practicum in Early Literacy (2/1) (Fall only)

3. Multicultural and Multiethnic Children’s Literature (3 units)

Select one course from:

CHS 480/F Chicana/o-Latina/o Children’s Literature in Communities (2/1) (Spring only)
LRS 425A-Z Selected Topics in Childhood Studies (3)

B. Mathematics

1 & 2. Math Requirements (6 units)

MATH 131 Mathematical Ideas (3)
MATH 311 Basic Geometric Concepts (3)

3. Math Capstone Experience (3 units)

MATH 331 Mathematical Explorations (3)

C. History and Social Science

1. Places, Cultures and Histories Requirement (3 units)

Select one course from:

AFRS 366 Colonialism in Africa (3)
CAS 309 Ancient to Pre-Modern History of the Central American People (3)
CAS 310 Modern History of the Central American People (3)
CHS 345 History of the Mexican Peoples (3)
CHS 445 History of the Chicano (3)
GEOG 321 United States (3)
HIST 355 History of Slavery in the United States (3)
HIST 369 Native Peoples and Cultures (3)

2. Social Science Issues in Diverse Communities Requirement (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 210 History of Asians in America (3)
AAS 345 Contemporary Issues in Asian American Studies (3)
AAS 347 Asian American Politics and Law (3)
AFRS 272 African-American History Since 1865 (3)
AFRS 300 Contemporary Issues in the African-American Community (3)
AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)
AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)
CAS 369 Contemporary Social Movements in Central America (3)
CHS 260 Constitutional Issues and the Chicana/o (3)
CHS 471 Chicano Families (3)
GEOG 300 The Geographer’s Craft (3)
GEOG 350 Metropolitan Los Angeles (3)
GWS 110 Women, Work and Family (3)
GWS 300 Women as Agents of Change (3)
GWS 370 Women and Violence (3)
HIST 301 The Historian’s Craft (3)
HIST 380 Los Angeles: Past, Present, Future (3)
QS 301 Perspectives in Queer Studies (3)

3. History and Social Science Capstone Experience (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 417 Equity and Diversity in Schools (3)
AFRS 417 Equity and Diversity in Schools (3)
ARMN 417 Equity and Diversity in School (3)
CHS 417 Equity and Diversity in Schools (3)
ELPS 417 Equity and Diversity in Schools (3)

D. Sciences

1. Physics/Astronomy/Chemistry Science Requirement (4 units)

2. Biology/Geology Science Requirement (2-4 units)

3. Science Capstone Experience (3 units)

SCI 456 Science Capstone (3)

E. Arts Integration

1. Arts and the Child Requirement (6 units)

Select two courses from:

ART 385/L Children’s Crafts and Lab (2/1)
KIN 314/L Creative Dance for Children and Lab (2/1)
MUS 361/L Music Literature for Children and Lab (2/1)
TH 371/L Creative Drama and Lab (2/1)

2. Arts Capstone Experience (3 units)

Select one course from:

ART 305 Art and Mass Culture (3)
KIN 380/L Perspectives of Dance and Lab (2/1)
MUS 307 Music from a Global Perspective (3)
TH 310 Theatre in Performance (3)

F. Childhood Studies

1. Child and Adolescent Development (3 units)

CADV 335 Middle Childhood (3)

2. Youth Literature (3 units)

ENGL 429 Literature for Adolescents (3)

3. Topics in Childhood Studies (3 units)

LRS 425A-Z Selected Topics in Childhood Studies (3)

G. Sustainability and Environmental Humanities

1. Sustainability (6-7 units)

Select two courses from:

SUST 111/SUST 111L Understanding Climate Change and Lab (3/1)
SUST 300 Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sustainability (3)
SUST 310 Best Practices in Sustainability (3)

2. Environmental Humanities (3 units)

Select one course from:

AFRS 488 Sustainability and Environmental Justice in African and African Diaspora Communities (3)
CAS 355 Environment, Development and Social Exclusion in Central America (3)
CHS 467 Environmental Justice and Chicana/o Communities (3)
JS 151 Natural Environment in Judaism (1) (Corequisite with RTM 151F)
RTM 151F Survival (2) (Special section linked to JS 151)
LRS 425A-Z Selected Topics in Childhood Studies (3)
RS 370 Religion and Ecology (3)
SUST 240 Environmental Ethics (3)

H. Digital Humanities

1. Digital Humanities (3 units)

DH 320 Perspectives on Digital Humanities (3)

2. Tools for Digital Literacy (3-4 units)

Select one course from:

ART 201 Introduction to Web Art (3)
CIT 160/L Internet Technologies and Lab (2/1)
COMP 110/L Introduction to Algorithms and Programming and Lab (3/1)
COMP 300 Computer Fluency (3)
ENGL 315 Digital Writing (3)
JOUR 250 Visual Communication (3)

3. Digital Humanities Projects (3 units)

DH 480 Digital Humanities Studies and Projects (3)

General Education

Liberal Studies majors in Teacher Preparation options satisfy General Education requirements by completion of the major. In addition, students must complete 3 units of coursework to meet the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement. If taken, one of the following courses in the major will also meet the Ethnic Studies (ES) requirement: AAS 210, AAS 220, AAS 345, AFRS 245, AFRS 366, AFRS 417, AFRS 420, CAS 201, CAS 202, CAS 309, CAS 310, CAS 369, CHS 201, CHS 345, CHS 417, CHS 430 or CHS 480/F. Students may satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) by completion of ENGL 305 and ENGL 428 at CSUN with grades of “C” or better.