Liberal Studies  {SF State Bulletin 2015 - 2016}

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Liberal Studies

 

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Andrew Harris

 

Liberal Studies Program

BH 238
Phone: 415-338-6927
Web Site: humanitiesliberalstudies.sfsu.edu
Program Director: Bruce Avery
Program Advising Coordinator: Eva Chuck

 

Advising takes place at the Liberal Studies Office. Advising schedules are available at the Liberal Studies Office and on the web.

 

Faculty

Professor: Ferreira
Associate Professors: Augsburg, de Barros, Hennessy

 

Program

B.A. in Liberal Studies

 

 

Program Scope

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies requires 120 units for graduation. The 46-unit major has a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary curriculum encompassing all areas of knowledge in the arts and sciences. Many employers and professional schools prefer graduates with the type of richly diversified education that this major provides. A liberal studies program is also recommended as preparation for students who aspire to become elementary school teachers.

 

Before meeting with an individual advisor, students are expected to review the information in this Bulletin and on the web by going to humanitiesliberalstudies.sfsu.edu/student-advising.

 

Career Outlook

The liberal studies major is applicable to a variety of fields. The teacher preparation emphasis provides the broad academic background necessary for teaching in an elementary classroom and as part of a student’s preparation for the CSET Multiple Subjects (California Subject Examinations for Teachers). The major can be planned with a particular career in mind, such as government or public service, management, or work in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, communications, or in multicultural communities. It is appropriate preparation for various professional and graduate programs such as business, counseling, law, librarianship, medicine, and for disciplinary or interdisciplinary graduate programs.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

Each student should consult with an advisor to discuss the liberal studies major, selection of courses, and preparation of the planning worksheet.

 

Liberal Studies majors who successfully complete LS 300 GW in Spring 2009 or thereafter will have satisfied the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

 

For additional information on the program as well as a complete list of approved emphasis courses, go to http://humanitiesliberalstudies.sfsu.edu.

 

Requirements for the Major

Before beginning the core courses, students should have completed ENG 214 or equivalent (e.g., AFRS 214, or ENG 1B at a community college).

 

Please note: the courses that appear below are approved for the major. In the event that approved courses are not offered, substitutions may be made on advisement.

 

Liberal Studies (B.A.) — 46 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Required Core Courses (31 units)
(All units must be upper division)

Area I—Communication, Language, and Literature (7 units)
  •     Literature
  •     Communication Studies (4 units)
Area II—Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics (6 units)
  •     Life Science
  •     Physical Science
Area III—Behavioral and Social Sciences (6 units)
Area IV—Creative Arts and Humanities (6 units)
Culminating Experience (3 units)

Area of Emphasis (12 units)

A 12-unit emphasis pattern must be selected on advisement. Within that pattern, a minimum of 6 units must be upper-division. Alternatively, students may also choose to complete an approved minor.

Units on Advisement (3 units)

A minimum of 3 additional lower or upper division units chosen with a liberal studies advisor. The course should be related to the student’s interests and educational, professional, or career goals.

Liberal Studies Emphasis Patterns

Students must complete one of the approved emphasis patterns. A minimum of twelve semester units must be taken, with at least six units at the upper division level. Students may also choose to complete a minor on advisement to satisfy the emphasis requirement. Consult http://humanitiesliberalstudies.sfsu.edu for the list of courses that satisfy the approved emphasis patterns and the list of approved minors.

 

Students interested in becoming elementary school teachers are strongly encouraged to choose the Liberal Studies major with Teacher Preparation Emphasis described below under “Recommended Major Program and Additional Subject Matter Preparation for Students Pursuing the Multiple Subject Credential.”

 

Courses Included in the Liberal Studies Major

With advisor and advising coordinator approval, courses transferred from other institutions may be used to fulfill the Core requirements of the major if they are upper division and equivalent in content to those courses listed below. Lower and/or upper division courses transferred from other institutions may be used in the Emphasis Pattern so long as at least six units are upper division and the content of the courses is equivalent. Lower and/or upper division courses transferred from other institutions may be used in the Units on Advisement category. All residence requirements stipulated in the Bulletin must be met.

 

All students completing a B.A. degree must satisfy the 12 unit Complementary Studies requirement. Students who complete the Liberal Studies major will automatically satisfy complementary studies with 12 units of courses outside of the Liberal Studies prefix (LS) and not cross-listed with LS. Students must consult with an advisor to identify the courses that will be used to satisfy the requirement.

 

Students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at SF State are required to fulfill the Complementary Studies requirement as defined by the major department. Students should consult with a major advisor about how transfer units and/or SF State units can best be applied to this requirement in order to ensure degree completion within 60 units.

 

Grading. A maximum of two courses in the major may be taken for a CR grade.

 

A course may be used for only one purpose within the major. For example, if a course is used in the core, it may not be used in the Emphasis Pattern or in the Elective Units on Advisement.

 

On-line course descriptions are available, including any prerequisites or co-requisites.

 

Required Core Courses

Before beginning the core courses, students should have completed ENG 214 or equivalent (e.g. AFRS 214, or ENG 1B at a community college). LS 300 GW introduces important concepts of interdisciplinary study and should be taken either before or concurrently with the Area Core Courses, usually no later than the junior year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete all Area Core Courses before taking LS 690, the culminating experience for the major, in the senior year.

 

Please note: the courses that appear below are approved for the major. In the event that approved courses are not offered, substitutions may be made on advisement.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Introduction to Liberal Studies

Area I—Communication, Language, and Literature

Literature—Select one:
Communication Studies—Select one:

Area II—Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics

Life Science—Select one:
Physical Science—Select one (or approved alternative):

Area III—Behavioral and Social Sciences

Area IV—Creative Arts and Humanities

Culminating Experience

Emphasis Pattern Beyond the Core

Students select one of the approved emphasis patterns. A minimum of twelve semester units beyond the core must be taken with liberal studies advisor approval, with at least six units completed at the upper division level. Students may choose to complete an approved minor in lieu of an area of emphasis. Refer to the Liberal Studies website (http://humanitiesliberalstudies.sfsu.edu/a>) and consult with a major advisor regarding possible emphases.

 

Area I: Communication, Language, and Literature

  • English Language: Literature, Language, and Communication
  • Literature and Oral Performance
  • Languages and Literatures Other Than English
    • Chinese
    • Classical Languages
    • French
    • German
    • Italian
    • Japanese
    • Russian
    • Spanish

Area II: Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics

  • Earth and Space Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Life Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physics and Astronomy

Area III: Behavioral and Social Sciences

  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Geography
  • Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation
  • History
  • International Relations
  • Political Science
  • Urban Studies

Area IV: Creative Arts and Humanities

  • Creative Arts
  • Humanities
    • American Cultural Studies
    • Asian Cultural Studies
    • Cities Studies
    • Cross-cultural Studies
    • European Cultural Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy and Religion

Integrated Studies

  • Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
  • California Studies
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Gender, Culture, and Representation
  • Jewish Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Ethnic Studies

 

Units on Advisement

Students must select a minimum of 3 additional units. These units may be either lower or upper division and must be approved by a liberal studies advisor. The course should be related to the student’s interests and educational, professional, or career goals. No units are required if completing the Teacher Preparation Emphasis or a minor.

 

Elementary Teaching Preparation Emphasis

Recommended major program and additional subject matter preparation for students pursuing the Multiple Subject Credential

Future elementary school teachers are expected to be familiar with all of the subject matter taught in schools. Students seeking the Multiple Subject Credential must pass the CSET: Multiple Subjects examination. To support your preparation for the CSET, students are advised to complete the subject matter preparation program, which includes the liberal studies major with the Elementary Teaching Preparation Emphasis. The additional subject matter program does not waive the CSET, but serves as a preparation program for the CSET and for elementary school teaching.

 

Students interested in becoming elementary or special education teachers should also attend an information meeting given by the Credential and Graduate Services Center. At the meeting, students learn all of the credential program admission requirements. Consult http://www.sfsu.edu/~cstpc/ or call 415-405-3594 for more information. General information about teaching careers may be found at the Credential and Graduate Services Center in BH 244.

 

Core Courses

Before beginning the core courses, students should have completed ENG 214 or equivalent (e.g. AFRS 214, or ENG 1B at a community college). LS 300 GW Perspectives on Liberal Studies – GWAR, introduces important concepts of interdisciplinary study and should be taken either before or concurrently with the Area Core Courses, usually no later than the junior year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete all Area Core Courses before taking LS 690 Liberal Studies Senior Seminar , the culminating experience for the major, in the senior year.

 

Please note: the courses that appear below are approved for the major. In the event that approved courses are not offered, substitutions may be made on advisement.

 

Elementary Teaching Preparation Emphasis

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Introduction to Liberal Studies

Area I—Communication, Language, and Literature

Literature—Select one (or approved alternative):
Communication Studies—Select one (or approved alternative):

Area II—Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics

Life Science

  and

Physical Science

Area III—Behavioral and Social Sciences

History/California—Select one:

  and

Psychocultural/Family Studies/Human Development—Select one:

Area IV—Creative Arts and Humanities

Culminating Experience

Elementary Teaching Preparation Emphasis (15 units)

Choose three from below, or approved alternative:

 

 

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