This is an archive of the 2014-2015 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2014-2015 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

Mission Statement

The Liberal Studies Program is an interdisciplinary major which offers a degree program under the College of Humanities leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. The Liberal Studies major is designed to provide a broad, undergraduate liberal arts education, with a balance among the language arts, natural sciences and mathematics, humanities, visual and performing arts, and social sciences.

Academic Advisement

General Procedures on Making an Appointment:
Academic advisement is available by appointment Monday through Friday, including later hours on most Wednesday evenings.

Late Policy: Those who are five minutes late to their appointment will be asked to reschedule. To ensure all students are served in a timely fashion, please be on time.

Students may schedule a meeting with any Liberal Studies advisor if they have already completed the online workshop and received an evaluation. Please plan the appointment well in advance and call if there is a need to cancel. Please read the advisement procedures below that explain how to get started according to the Option or Program you intend to follow.

Pre-Credential, ITEP-Junior, and Interdisciplinary Studies Option:
The process of advisement for these options begin with required completion of a Liberal Studies Online Workshop. Workshops are open to everyone, but an evaluation and advisement appointment are available only to those students who have applied to CSUN and declared/will declare Liberal Studies as their major. Note – A Liberal Studies workshop is required because the detailed information about the program cannot be covered in a single advisement appointment.

After completing the online workshop, students who have applied to CSUN will receive an evaluation of their courses.

After receiving a Liberal Studies evaluation (10-15 business days after completing the appropriate online workshop), a student may then make an individual advisement appointment.

It is strongly recommended that students seek academic advisement at least once per academic year. For students on Academic Probation, advisement is required to clear registration holds and to discuss a plan to guide the student back to good academic standing. Subsequent appointments are suggested to monitor the student’s academic progress.

Qualified first-Time Freshman who pursue the ITEP-Freshman Option:
To enter the program, students should be ready to take college level English and Math. Students may demonstrate eligibility by either passing or earning an exemption from the Entry Level Math (ELM) exam and the English Placement (EPT) test. For eligibility into the program and first-time advisement, please contact Geraldine Sare, Assistant Director of Liberal Studies, at 818-677-3300.

First-Time Freshman who are not participating in ITEP-Freshman:
First semester and second semester Freshman at CSUN who are declared Liberal Studies will be advised by the College of Humanities, Student Services Center/EOP advisement office. Those wanting to change their major or declare Liberal Studies during their first two semesters should seek advisement in the College of Humanities, Student Services Center/EOP advisement office. Students may schedule an appointment in person by visiting Jerome Richfield Hall, room 240, or by calling (818) 677-4784.

In the middle of the second semester, students will be directed to transition from the College of Humanities, Student Services Center/EOP advisement office to the Liberal Studies Program. Before scheduling an advisement appointment with Liberal Studies, students must complete one of the online student workshops.

Minors:
Students interested in either a minor in Humanities, Russian Studies or Sustainability may schedule an appointment with a Liberal Studies advisor. Completion of a workshop is not required for the minors.

Careers

The Liberal Studies Teacher Preparation Option programs are designed for students interested in teaching children in grades K-6 or special education students in grades K-12. Traditionally, elementary school teachers function in self-contained classrooms and teach a variety of subjects. The Liberal Studies major provides students with a broad undergraduate education to prepare them to teach “multiple subjects.”

The Interdisciplinary Studies Option is designed for students interested in a broad liberal arts education. Students take courses in the language arts, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. As part of this option, students are required to complete a specialization track. General Education and Title 5 requirements are completed outside the major. However, Interdisciplinary Studies Option students may double-count six units between GE and the major. The Interdisciplinary Studies Option leads to a variety of career options. Students may pursue graduate education in fields such as law, public administration, social services, the arts, and urban planning. Liberal Studies students are eligible for most jobs in which a college degree is required. Your Liberal Studies degree signifies to others that you are a capable well-rounded individual who can accomplish complex tasks and communicate well with others. The CSUN Career Center is available to explore your many career options.

Literacy Scholars for the Future of Los Angeles (LSLA)

Literacy Scholars for the Future of Los Angeles (LSLA) is a 9-unit concentration in early literacy and language acquisition giving teacher candidates classroom and field experience in developing and implementing age-appropriate instructional materials, activities, and lesson plans. Participants also gain direct experience engaging families in high-need districts in shared activities that promote lifelong literacy learning in children. Participation is by application only, with scholarship assistance made possible with generous support from the State Street Foundation and the Mara W. Breech Foundation.

Contact

Program Director: Ranita Chatterjee
Staff: Bernadette Bohn, Michele Sheetz
Education Administration (EA) 100
(818) 677-3300
www.csun.edu/liberal-studies