Overview

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 and Title 5 requirements. By completing the Liberal Studies major, students are considered to have fulfilled those requirements.

The ITEP-Junior Option is a program for college juniors who would like to complete their B.A. degree and Preliminary Credential simultaneously. Students planning to join ITEP-Junior Option should first complete most of their lower division pre-credential requirements and then gain admission into CSUN’s Credential Program. ITEP-Junior Option students take professional methods courses that are blended and linked with subject matter courses to complete their degree and credential. The program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. In the ITEP-Junior Option, a B.A. degree and Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential can be earned in 134 units.

Education Specialist Credential

• Mild-Moderate Disabilities: 141 units
• Moderate-Severe Disabilities: 141 units

Students can earn 10 (Multiple Subject) or 15 (SPED/Mild-Moderate, Moderate-Severe Disabilities) units coded as post-baccalaureate units for credit only for a school district’s salary scale (if applicable).

Program Requirements

Track A—Elementary Education

A. Lower Division Requirements (56-57 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, Racism and Critical Thinking (3)
CHS 202 Race, Racism and Critical Thinking (3)
COMS 225/L Argumentation and Lab (2/1)
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/L Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Lab (2/1)

4. Mathematics (3 units)

MATH 210 Basic Number Concepts (3)

5. Biology (4 units)

Select one course from:

BIOL 100/L Introductory Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 101/L General Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 102/L 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 Major English Writers I (3)
ENGL 259 Major English Writers II (3)
ENGL 275 Major American Writers (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 (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)

16. Child Development (3 units)

Select one course from:

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

17. Linguistics (3 units)

ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)

May be taken after the completion of 45 units.

18. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 1 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations under the Teacher Preparation Option.

B. Upper Division Requirements (78 units) (Multiple Subject Credential)

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.

19. Gateway Experience (3 units)

LRS 300 Liberal Studies Gateway Experience (3)

20. Intermediate Composition (3 units)

ENGL 305 Intermediate Expository Writing (3)

21. 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 402 instead of EPC 315.

22. Visual/Performing Arts and the Child (3 units)

ART 380/L Children’s Art and Lab (2/1)

23. California Geography/History (3 units)

Select one course from:

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

24. Structure of English (3 units)

ENGL 302 Introduction to Modern Grammar (3)

25. Physical Education for Children (3 units)

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

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

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

The following two sections (27 and 28) must be taken concurrently:

27. Basic Algebraic Concepts (3 units)

MATH 312 Basic Algebraic Concepts (3)

28. Math Curriculum and Methods (3 units)

EED 472 Mathematics Curriculum and Methods (3)

29. Language Development and Acquisition (3 units)

LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

30. Health Science (2 units)

HSCI 365LS Health Science for Liberal Studies ITEP (2)

31. Social and Cultural Context (3 units)

Select one course from:

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

The following two classes (32 and 33) must be taken concurrently:

32. Children’s Literature (3 units)

ENGL 428 Children’s Literature (3)

33. Literacy Instruction: A (3 units)

EED 477A Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners (3)

34. Interdisciplinary Specialization 2 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations under the Teacher Preparation Option.

35. Visual/Performing Arts and the Child (3 units)

Select one course from:

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)

The following three courses (36, 37 and 38) must be taken concurrently:

36. Literacy Instruction: B (3 units)

EED 477B Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners (3)

37. Student Teaching (3 units)

EED 578A Student Teaching (3)

38. Student Teaching Seminar (2 units)

EED 579A Student Teaching Seminar (2)

39. Differentiated Instruction and Collaboration (3 units)

SPED 420 Improving the Learning of Students with Special Needs Through Differentiated Instruction and Collaboration (3)

40. Science Experience Course (1 unit)

GEOL 406LRS Liberal Studies Science Experience Capstone (1)

41. Science/Social Science Curriculum and Methods (4 units)

EED 480 Science/Social Science Curriculum Methods (3)
EED 579D Student Teaching Seminar (1)

42. Student Teaching (6 units)

EED 578D Student Teaching (6)

43. Interdisciplinary Concentration Course 3 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations under the Teacher Preparation Option.

44. Social and Cultural Context: The Community (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 340 Asian American Women (3)
ANTH 360 Immigration and Ethnicity (3)
GWS 300 Women as Agents of Change (3)
GWS 320 Women and Urban Life/Urban Space (3)
GWS 350 Gender, Race, Class and Sexuality (3)
QS 302 L.A. in Transit: Communities, Organizations and Politics (3)
SOC 411 Sociology of Education (3)

Track B—Education Specialist

A. Lower Division Requirements (56-57 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/L Argumentation and Lab (2/1)
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/L Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Lab (2/1)

4. Mathematics (3 units)

MATH 210 Basic Number Concepts (3)

5. Biology (4 units)

Select one course from:

BIOL 100/L Introductory Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 101/L General Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 102/L 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 Major English Writers I (3)
ENGL 259 Major English Writers II (3)
ENGL 275 Major American Writers (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 (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 . Special Education (3 units)

SPED 400 Developmental Differences and Implications in Special Education (3)

16. Child Development (3 units)

Select one course from:

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

17. Linguistics (3 units)

ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)

18. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 1 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations under the Teacher Preparation Option.

B. Upper Division Requirements (85 units) (Education Specialist Credential)

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.

19. Gateway Experience (3 units)

LRS 300 Liberal Studies Gateway Experience (3)

20. Intermediate Composition (3 units)

ENGL 305 Intermediate Expository Writing (3)

21. Positive Behavior Support (3 units)

SPED 402 Behavioral Assessment and Positive Behavior Support (3)

22. Visual/Performing Arts and the Child (3 units)

ART 380/L Children’s Art and Lab (2/1)

23. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 2 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations under the Teacher Preparation Option.

24. Structure of English (3 units)

ENGL 302 Introduction to Modern Grammar (3)

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

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

The following two courses (26 and 27) must be taken concurrently:

26. Basic Algebraic Concepts (3 units)

MATH 312 Basic Algebraic Concepts (3)

27. Math Curriculum and Methods (3 units)

EED 472 Mathematics Curriculum and Methods (3)

The following two classes (28 and 29) must be taken concurrently:

28. Literacy Instruction (3 units)

SPED 406 K-12 Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners with Disabilities (3)

29. Children’s Literature (3 units)

ENGL 428 Children’s Literature (3)

30. Special Education Field Work (3 units)

SPED 403MM/MS Early Field Experience/Seminar in Special Education (3 units)

31. Language Development and Acquisition (3 units)

LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

32. Physical Education for Children (3 units)

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

33. 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 The Armenian American Child (3)
CAS 410 The Central American Child (3)
CHS 430 The Chicana/o Child (3)

34. Teaching in Special Education (3 units)

SPED 404 Teaching Diverse Learners with Social-Communication Disabilities, Including Autism (3)

35. Educating Diverse Learners (3 units)

SPED 416 Educating Diverse Learners with Disabilities and Working with Their Families (3)

36. Assessment (3 units)

SPED 501MM Special Education Assessment of Diverse Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities (3)
or SPED 581 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3)

37. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 3 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations under the Teacher Preparation Option.

38. California History/Geography (3 units)

Select one course from:

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

39. Visual/Performing Arts and the Child (3 units)

Select one course from:

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)

40. Differentiated Instruction and Collaboration (3 units)

SPED 420 Improving the Learning of Students with Special Needs Through Differentiated Instruction and Collaboration (3)

41. Reading Language Arts Instruction: B (3 units)

SPED 502MM Reading/Language Arts Instruction for Diverse K-12 Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities (3)
or SPED 505MS Curriculum and Instruction for Diverse Learners with Moderate to Severe Disabilities (3) (Spring only)

42. Curriculum/Instruction in Special Education (3 units)

SPED 503MM Curriculum and Instruction in Math and Content Subjects for Diverse Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities (3)
or SPED 504MS Teaching Diverse Learners with Moderate/Severe Disabilities (3) (Fall only)

43. Science Experience Course (1 unit)

GEOL 406LRS Liberal Studies Science Experience Capstone (1)

The following two courses (44 and 45) must be taken concurrently:

44. Social and Cultural Context: The Community (3 units)

Select one course from:

AAS 340 Asian American Women (3)
ANTH 360 Immigration and Ethnicity (3)
GWS 300 Women as Agents of Change (3)
GWS 320 Women and Urban Life/Urban Space (3)
GWS 350 Gender, Race, Class and Sexuality (3)
QS 302 L.A. in Transit: Communities, Organizations and Politics (3)
SOC 411 Sociology of Education (3)

45. Student Teaching Seminar (3 units)

SPED 580S Student Teaching Seminar (3)

46. Student Teaching (6 units)

SPED 580MM Student Teaching and Seminar in Mild/Moderate Disabilities (6)
or MS Student Teaching