BS in Occupational Studies

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Studies. This degree is targeted primarily towards employed persons serving in business, industry, labor, government and occupational education and teachers and counselors serving in the private and non-profit sectors. The BS program will help these people to grow in their various occupational subject areas while gaining knowledge of respective training and development methods. Students will also learn to address problems of work-life education in an information and technological society. The primary goal of the program is to improve the competencies of human resource development personnel to instruct in technical subjects, to design curriculum, to advise learners, and to evaluate curriculum and learner performance.

The Bachelor of Science degree requires 120 units of college work. The major consists of 73 units comprised of (a) a 27 units core, (b) foundation and occupational competency course work (8 to 21 units depending on student's option), and (c) options of 25 to 34 units. The foundation and occupational competency courses, generally lower division, are selected from (a) the social and behavior sciences, (b) occupationally based technical courses, or (c) a combination of both. Nine units of occupational competence may be granted for prior learning in the Corporate Training, Research and Evaluation, and Transitional Services Option. Click here to see the general program goals.

Option in Corporate Training and Development (Code OCSTBS02; 120 units)

The option in corporate training and development prepares students for human resource development positions as training specialists, training materials developers, and training systems analysts. These specialists serve as support personnel assisting in the analysis and interpretation of job analysis data and translating these data into training and development programs. They assist technical content experts in the design and delivery of instruction. The required courses for this option are: PROF-300, PROF 330, PROF-388I, PROF-410, PROF-412, PROF-417I, PROF-418, PROF-420, PROF-435, PROF-456, PROF-470, PROF-480, PROF-485, PROF-421 or approved alternative ET 202; PROF-461 or PROF-462, PROF-490 or approved alternative ET-307, ET-309. This option requires 21 units of foundation and occupational competency coursework determined in consultation with a Professional Studies Department academic advisor. Click here to see goals specific to this option.

Option in Research and Evaluation (Code OCSTBS03; 120 units)

The option in research and evaluation prepares students for careers as labor market analysts, training evaluation specialists, and evaluation research specialists in public postsecondary education, government employment development agencies, and private industry. These specialists develop evaluation guidelines, evaluate training and development programs including maintaining task lists and training program descriptions, determine the effectiveness and currency of instructional content and methods, and assess trainee performance in training and on-the-job. The required courses for this option are: PROF-300, PROF-330, PROF-410, PROF-411, PROF-412, PROF-418, PROF-420, PROF-421, PROF-422, PROF-456, PROF-480, PROF-483, PROF-485, PROF-490, EDP-400, EDP-419 This option requires 25 units of foundation and occupational competency coursework determined in consultation with a Professional Studies department academic advisor. Click here to see goals specific to this option.

Option in Transition Services (Code OCSTBS04; 120 units)

The option in transition services prepares students for professional positions in secondary and postsecondary occupational special education, rehabilitative services, and related adult services. Graduates develop competencies as educational and human resource development specialists in transition services for individuals with disabilities. The curriculum for this option was developed under research sponsored by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, United States Department of Education. The required courses for this option are: PROF-300, PROF-330, PROF-360, PROF-410, PROF-411, PROF-412, PROF-418, PROF-420, PROF-422, PROF-456, PROF-460, PROF-480, PROF-485,PROF-497, PROF-499, PROF-X260 or PROF-463, PROF-461 or PROF-462, EDP-350, EDP-405, REC-416 or an approved alternative from one of the following: FCS-413, FCS-418, EDP-430, SW-350, or SW-351. This option requires 12 units of foundation and occupational competency coursework determined in consultation with a Professional Studies department academic advisor. Click here to see goals specific to this option.

Option in Vocational Arts (Code OCSTBS05; 120 units)

The Option in Vocational Arts is designed for teachers in employment-related educational programs that meet the requirements of the State Education Code, Sections 89220, 89221, 89222 and 89223. Specifically, candidates for the option in vocational arts must:

Teach or have taught at least 1,620 student contact hours in a full-time position or 1,000 student contact hours in a part-time position in an approved occupational education curriculum;
Hold a teaching credential authorizing service as a vocational teacher (community college instructors affected by AB 1725 are exempt from this requirement; however, they must demonstrate instructional competencies by completing prescribed teacher certification courses); and
Have worked at least seven years full-time or the equivalent in the field(s) named on the credential. Candidates, upon completion of these requirements and in consultation with their advisors, submit an application with documentation verifying occupational, managerial, teaching, and professional development experience. Upon approval of the application, the California State Board of Examiners for Vocational Teachers recommends advancement to degree candidacy.

Advancement to candidacy includes the preparation of an individualize program emphasizing three areas of Professional Studies:

the relation of education and work,
teaching learners with special needs and
research and evaluation.

The required courses for this option for individuals who expect to hold part-time teaching positions are: PROF-300, PROF-330, PROF-410, PROF-411, PROF-420 or PROF-421 or PROF-422, PROF-456 or PROF-460 or PROF-461 or PROF-462, PROF-418 or PROF-485, PROF-486, and PROF-488. The required courses for this option for individuals who expect to hold fulltime teaching positions are: PROF-300, PROF-330, PROF-410, PROF-411, PROF 412, PROF 413, PROF-420 or PROF-421 or PROF-422, PROF-456 or PROF-460 or PROF-461 or PROF-462, PROF-418 or PROF-485, PROF-486, and PROF-488.This option requires foundation and occupational coursework as determined by the State Board of Examiners for Vocational Teachers and in consultation with a Professional Studies Department Academic Advisor. Click here to see goals specific to this option.

Option in Integrative Professional Studies (Code OCSTBS07; 120 units)

The Option in Integrative Professional Studies was developed to allow students the opportunity to create a curriculum composed of courses and experiences that meet their individual career needs. Competence in leadership, management, professional communication, diversity, technology, and problem solving is the focus of this degree option. This option is designed for individuals who:

Have been out of high school or community college for several years;
Have at least five years of work experience;
Qualify for admission to the university as an upper division transfer student; and
Want and need a baccalaureate degree.

Students may use a combination of college transfer credit, military courses, credit-by-examination (CLEP), and portfolio credit for college-level learning achieved from work and life experiences. Transfer credits from professional or technical degrees earned at accredited institutions are accepted.

The required courses for this option (35 units) are: PROF-300, PROF-330, PROF-388I, PROF-420 or PROF-421 orPROF-422, PROF-456, PROF-457I, PROF-485, PROF-492, PROF- 480, PROF-490, PROF-483. Click here to see goals specific to this option.