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 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).

Track A—Elementary Education

A. Lower Division Requirements (53-54 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/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. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 1 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

B. Upper Division Requirements–Multiple Subject Credential (81 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. Gateway Experience (3 units)

LRS 300 Liberal Studies Gateway Experience (3)

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 402 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)
HIST 417 California for Educators (3)

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

ENGL 303/L 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)

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)

28. Language Development and Acquisition (3 units)

LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

29. Health Science (1 unit)

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

30. 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)

The following two courses (31 and 32) must be taken concurrently:

31. Children’s Literature (3 units)

ENGL 428 Children’s Literature (3)

32. Literacy Instruction: A (3 units)

EED 477A Reading Instruction for Diverse Learners (3)

33. Interdisciplinary Specialization 2 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

The following three courses (34, 35 and 36) must be taken concurrently:

34. Literacy Instruction: B (3 units)

EED 477B Literacy Instruction and English Language Development for Diverse Learners (3)

35. Student Teaching (3 units)

EED 578A Student Teaching I (3)

36. Student Teaching Seminar (2 units)

EED 579A Student Teaching Seminar (2)

37. Differentiated Instruction and Collaboration (3 units)

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

38. Science Experience Course (1 unit)

GEOL 406LRS Liberal Studies Science Experience Capstone (1)

39. Science/Social Science Curriculum and Methods (5 units)

EED 480 Science/Social Science Curriculum Methods (4)
EED 579D Student Teaching Seminar (1)

40. Student Teaching (6 units)

EED 578D Student Teaching II (6)

41. Interdisciplinary Concentration Course 3 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

Track B—Education Specialist

A. Lower Division Requirements (53-54 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/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. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 1 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

B. Upper Division Requirements–Education Specialist Credential (88 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. Gateway Experience (3 units)

LRS 300 Liberal Studies Gateway Experience (3)

19. Intermediate Composition (3 units)

ENGL 305 Intermediate Expository Writing (3)

20. Positive Behavior Support (3 units)

SPED 402 Behavioral Assessment and Positive Behavior Support (3)

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. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 2 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

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

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

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

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

The following two courses (25 and 26) must be taken concurrently:

25. Basic Algebraic Concepts (3 units)

MATH 312 Basic Algebraic Concepts (3)

26. Math Curriculum and Methods (3 units)

EED 472 Mathematics Curriculum and Methods (3)

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

27. Literacy Instruction (3 units)

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

28. Children’s Literature (3 units)

ENGL 428 Children’s Literature (3)

29. Special Education Fieldwork (3 units)

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

30. Language Development and Acquisition (3 units)

LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

31. Physical Education for Children (3 units)

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

32. 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)

33. Teaching in Special Education (3 units)

SPED 404 Teaching Diverse Learners with Social-Communication Disabilities, Including Autism (3)
or SPED 536 Methods for Young Children with Disabilities: Motor and Adaptive Skills (3)

34. Educating Diverse Learners (3 units)

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

35. Assessment (3 units)

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

36. Interdisciplinary Specialization Course 3 (3 units)

See list of approved Specializations below.

37. California History/Geography (3 units)

Select one course from:

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

38. Differentiated Instruction and Collaboration (3 units)

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

39. 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)

40. 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)

41. Science Experience Course (1 unit)

GEOL 406LRS Liberal Studies Science Experience Capstone (1)

42. Student Teaching Seminar (3 units)

SPED 580S Advanced Specialist Fieldwork Analysis in Education of Learners with IEPS (3)

43. Student Teaching (6 units)

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

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)
CHS 480/F Chicana/o-Latina/o Children’s Literature in Communities (2/1)
ENGL 311 History of African-American Writing (3)
ENGL 314 North American Indian 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:

LING 325 Language, Gender, and Identity (3)
ENGL 495ESM Multigenre Literacy in a Global Context (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. Children’s Literature of Latin America in Translation (3 units)

CHS 480/F Chicana/o-Latina/o Children’s Literature in Communities (2/1) (Spring only)

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 History of American Indians (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: Reading, Research and Writing History (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 (3-4 units)

ASTR 152 Elementary Astronomy (3)
ASTR 154L Observational Astronomy (1)
ASTR 352 Current Developments in Astronomy (3)
ASTR 352L Current Developments in Astronomy Lab (1)
PHYS 305/L Physics of Music and Laboratory (3/1)
CHEM 110 Chemistry in Action (3)
CHEM 110L Chemistry in Action Lab (1)

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

BIOL 211 Human Anatomy (2)
BIOL 212 Laboratory Studies in Human Anatomy (1)
BIOL 241 Human Pregnancy and Embryology (3)
BIOL 241L Human Pregnancy and Embryology Lab (1)
BIOL 281 Human Physiology (3)
BIOL 282 Lab Experiments in Human Physiology (1)
BIOL 285 Biology of Cancer (2)
BIOL 316/L Plant Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 317/L Microbes and Society and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 323 Plants and Animals of Southern California (3)
BIOL 325/L Life in the Sea and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 362/L Genetics and Society and Lab (3/1)
GEOL 101 Geology of Planet Earth (3)
GEOL 102 Geology of Planet Earth Lab (1)
GEOL 110 Earth and Life Through Time (3)
GEOL 112 Earth and Life Through Time Lab (1)
GEOL 122 The World Ocean (3)
GEOL 123 World Ocean Lab (1)
GEOL 300 Environmental Geology (3)
GEOL 301 Environmental Geology Lab (1)

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)