California Studies

College of Behavioral and Social Studies
Dean: Joel J. Kassiola

California Studies Program
SCI 231
415-405-0580
Fax: 415-338-7047
E-mail: calstudy@sfsu.edu
Director: Lee Davis

Faculty

Professors—Birt, Boxer, Chandler, Cherny, Cordova, Crawford, De Leon, Gregory, Issel, LeGates, Leonard, LeVeen, Monteverdi, Mustart, Pahl, Pestrong, Powell, Randall, Richards, Sim, Tabb, Tierney, Tygiel, Wilkinson

Associate Professors—Carrillo, Davis, Hossfeld, Johnson, Mar, Murphy, Niesen, Quesada, Steier

Assistant Professors—Mirabal, Dreyfus

Lecturers—Caldararo, Davila, Drescher, Drew, Fentress, Guy, Katz, Kennedy, Leikin, Meeker, Obrebski, Pang, Sigmon, Vasey

Program

Minor in California Studies


Program Scope

California Studies is a multi-disciplinary program whose purpose it is to study the consensus and conflict, unity and diversity, and the continuity and change that characterize the many cultures, artistic and creative expressions, earth and geosciences, as well as social structures, of past and present California.

Students pursuing this minor may draw upon the strengths of many departments offering courses on the various dimensions of California; in particular, American Indian Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Biology, Black Studies, Economics, English, Geography, Geology, History, Hospitality Management, Humanities, Meteorology, Political Science, and Raza Studies,.Certain core courses are required to obtain the minor, with additional elective courses to be chosen by the student.

Each student should emerge from the minor with a grasp of California history and political processes, a knowledge and appreciation of the rich diversity of California cultures, creative arts, and literatures, an informed view of California's environmental richness and ecological relationships, and a continuing interest in the mutable and dynamic California landscape.

General Education Cluster in California Studies

The California Studies Minor is affiliated with the General Education Segment III cluster "California Cultures and Environments." Eighteen courses are offered within this cluster. Students select one course from each of three components: California Artistic and Cultural Landscapes, California.Social Landscapes, and California Environmental Landscapes.

Affiliated Program at SFSU

The American Studies Program offers a rich range of courses in a California-focused elective program.

Career Outlook

The Minor in California Studies prepares students for regional and local application of their major fields of study to the immediate world in which they live, the state of California. A foundation in California studies is beneficial to those pursuing teaching credentials and careers in business, public policy, public administration, state government, and public history. The minor is also excellent preparation for those pursuing advanced degrees in the social sciences, humanities, earth sciences, or arts.

MINOR IN CALIFORNIA STUDIES

Core Units
HIST 450 History of California 3
California Artistic and Cultural Landscapes--Units chosen from the following: 3
  ENG 531 Selected California Literature  
  HUM 376 Biography of a City: San Francisco
  HUM 375 Biography of a City: Los Angeles [topic course]
  HUM 450/AMST 410 California Culture
  HM 421 California Food, Wine, and Culture
California Social and Ethnic Landscapes--Units chosen from the following: 3
  AAS 300 Asian Americans in California  
  AIS 410 Perspectives of California Indians
  ANTH 352 People and Cultures of California
  ANTH 356 Archaeology of California
  BL S 312 Kalifia: The Black Heritage of California
  PLSI 473 California Politics
  PLSI 475 San Francisco Political Issues
  RAZA 315 Raza in California
  RAZA 660 Chicano/Latino Politics
California Environmental Landscapes--Units chosen from the following: 3
  BIOL 300 Nature Study  
  BIOL 305 Marine Plants and Animals of the California Coast
  GEOG 552 Geography of California
  GEOG 651 San Francisco Bay Area Environmental Issues
  GEOL 272 Earthquakes and the San Andreas Fault
  GEOL 350 Geology of the National Parks
  GEOL 356 Geology of California
  METR 356 California Weather Events
Electives (Units selected from at least 2 of the above categories) 9
Total for minor 21