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Certificate Programs

The College of Liberal Arts offers 12 academic programs leading to the award of a Certificate. Certificate programs normally require completion of 24 to 27 units of course work. Certificate programs differ from baccalaureate minors and degree programs in the special overall emphasis given in them to practical and applied uses of knowledge in a specific area of human enterprise. Certificates may be earned only concurrently or following award of the baccalaureate degree. Courses taken to fulfill the requirements for the baccalaureate may also be applied to Certificate requirements; only fifteen units maybe so applied from graduate degree programs. You are to notify the relevant department of your intention to pursue the course of study as soon as possible so as to receive early advisement on the program.

Certificate in Africana Studies (code 1-8425)

Students majoring in other departments of the University but interested in Africana Studies may at the same time pursue a program leading to a Certificate in Africana Studies. Courses used to meet the certificate requirement may, where applicable, also be used simultaneously to meet General Education requirements or the major and minor requirements of cooperating departments.

Requirements

  1. A bachelors degree with a major in a traditional discipline.  (Certificate can be completed prior to or simultaneously with completion of the B.A. requirement.)
  2. A minimum of 24 units of which at least 12 must be in upper-division courses, with two or more courses selected from each of the following:

    3. Group A: AFRS 110, 210, 325, 330, 332, 335, 370, 420;
    Group B: AFRS 160, 340, 343, 346, 363, 450;
    Group C: AFRS 120, 121, 200, 201, 304, 337, 400, 410.
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Certificate in American Indian Studies (code1-8000)

Students pursuing any approved degree or credential program of the University may at the same time earn a Certificate in American Indian Studies. Courses taken to meet the requirements may also simultaneously be used, where applicable, to meet General Education requirements or the degree or credential requirements of cooperating departments. Certification of successful completion of requirements will be issued upon the recommendation of the Director of the American Indian Studies Program.

Requirements

  1. A Bachelor's degree with a major in a traditional discipline. (Certificate requirements may be completed prior to the completion of B.A. requirement).
  2. Submission of all college/university transcripts to the academic advising coordinator, who will work with the student to develop a well integrated program of studies. Interested students are strongly encouraged to meet with the academic advising coordinator after having completed the lower division core courses.
  3. A minimum of 21 units, distributed as follows: Required Core Courses
      4. Lower Division Core Courses (select 6 units from): AIS 100, 101, 200;
      Upper Division Core Courses (9 units from): AIS 319, 320, 335, 340,361, 485;
      Upper Division AIS Electives (3 units from): AIS 420, 440, 450, 490,497, 499;
      Upper Division Electives Courses (select 3 units from): AIS
      Upper Division Core Courses not selected above and from: ANTH 321,322, 347, 349; ART 456/598S, 457/598T; EDSE 435; HIST 372, 471; HDEV 401; CHLS 380, 420.
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Certificate in Asian Studies (code 1-8508)

A student may earn a Certificate in Asian Studies with a concentration on either China, Japan, India, or Southeast Asia.
Where applicable, courses used to meet the certificate requirements also may be used to satisfy the General Education requirement and the major and teaching minor requirements of the cooperating departments.

Requirements

  1. A bachelor's degree, with a major in a discipline other than Asian Studies.  May be completed concurrently;
  2. A minimum of two semesters or its equivalent of an approved Asian language which is to be selected in accordance with the area of concentration;
  3. A/ST 300I, 301I and 12 units of upper division work divided among two or more disciplines. These are to be selected in accordance with the area of concentration and in consultation with the student's advisor. No more than 6 units in anyone discipline shall apply towards the Certificate.
Approved Courses for Certificate in Asian Studies and Certificate in Asian American Studies:

A/ST 190, 290, 299, 300I, 301I, 310, 320, 393I, 406, 424, 441, 442,443, 444, 490, 492, 495I, 499; ANTH 331, 332, 333, 335, *416, *417, *419, *490; ART 113A-B, 330I, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, *497; ASAM 200, 220, 260,290, 299, 310, 319,330, 335I, 340, 345, 347, 352, 370, 380, 381, 490, 495,499; C/LT 234, 235, 236, 403, 415I, 416, *448, *499; CHIN 101,102, 201,202, 301, 302, 370, 490, 499; ECON 365, 370,*471, *472, *490; GEOG 120,312I, *326, *494, *497; HIST 381, 382A- B, 383 A-B, 384, 385, 386, 401I,406, 407, 488, *495, *498; H SC 424; JAPN 101, 102, 201, 202, 311, 312,321,350, 370, 421, 422, 451, 461, 462, 471, 481, 490, 492,497; LING 329; PHIL 306, 307, *499; POSC 362, 363, 364,366, 469*, 485*, *489, *497, *499; PSY *439; R/ST 103B, 331I, 341I, 343, 344, 351, 353I, *490, *499; W/ST 318I,319,381, 401I, 406, *490, *499.
(*) On an approved Asia-related topic.

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Certificate in Latin American Studies (code1-8090)

Latin American Studies administers an interdisciplinary program which offers students interested in this field the opportunity to pursue courses leading to a Certificate in Latin American Studies. Courses used to meet this certificate requirement may be counted also, where applicable, toward the General Education requirements, and the major or minor requirements of the cooperating departments.

Requirements

  1. The following are the requirements for the Latin American Certificate Program:

    2. A. A Bachelors Degree with a major in a traditional discipline; may be completed concurrently with the certificate.
    B. The successful completion of two college intermediate level courses in Spanish, Portuguese or any other language appropriate to the students area of concentration.
    C. Students must consult with and receive approval from the program advisor.
  2. The instruction Program is comprised of 24 units which may be completed concurrently, distributed as follows:

    3. A. CORE (Required of all students 6 units. Choose from two disciplines)
      ANTH 323, 324; GEOG 320I; HIST 362,364; POSC 358, 359, SPAN 445
    B. ELECTIVES: 18 units from the following disciplines.  Cannot duplicate courses taken in the Core:
      ANTH 323,324, 345, 490*, 499*; CHLS 352, 380, 400, 420, 499*; C/LT440, 499*; ECON 363, 490*, 499*; HIST 162A, 162B,362, 364, 366, 461, 462,463, 466, 490*, 495, 498*; FEA392C; POSC 358, 359, 497*, 499*; SOC 341, 490*, 499*; SPAN (RGRLL) 341, 441, 445, 492, 550, 490*, 499
    (*) Special Topics and Directed Studies courses in the area of Latin American Studies have to be approved by the advisor.
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Certificate in Legal Studies (code COLAT03)

This certificate is designed for students who are interested in the study of law as a cultural product and as a field of critical inquiry. It is not a professional program in para-legal education. The certificate may be earned in conjunction with any baccalaureate degree. Courses taken in the program may be used to satisfy major, minor, other credential or general education requirements. No more than 12 units, however, may be in the candidate's major.

The Legal Studies Certificate may be earned concurrently with or following the award of the baccalaureate degree from CSULB or another accredited institution.

Requirements

Twenty-four total units distributed as follows:

  • 1. Three units which must include one of the following: CRJU 350 Constitutional Criminal Procedure; HIST 308I Law and Civilization; HIST 479 US Constitution: Origins & Early Development; PHIL 352I Philosophy of Law; POSC 311 Constitutional Law: Powers; POSC 312 Constitutional Law: Rights.
  • 2. Twenty-one units selected from the Legal Studies Courses listed below. The courses taken in the program must be from a minimum of three departments. The selection of courses is made by the student in consultation with the adviser in the program.
  • 3. Optional Project Paper (3 units which can be included as part of the 21 units required). To be written during the senior year under the supervision of a faculty member participating in the program. The paper can be either an exploratory project (in which a subject is researched in a detailed and original manner) or an analytic effort (where fewer sources are used but the discussion of the material is developed more fully).

Legal Studies Courses

ASAM 346; AFRS 332; AIS 485, BLAW 220, 320/520; CHLS 362; CLSC 410I; COMM 441I,CRJU 301; 340, 350, 420, 430, ECON 355; HIST 308I, 479, 480, 489; JOUR 430, PHIL 352, 451I, 552; POSC 311, 312, 322, 376, 412, 414, 419; 423, 424, PSY 495; SOC 342I, SW 350; WGSS 308.

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Certificate in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (code 1-6010)

Requirement

  1. A bachelors degree with an approved major. (Certificate may be completed prior to the completion of the B.A. requirement or while in the process of working toward an advanced degree.)
  2. Consultation and approval of the program with a faculty advisor.
  3. Intermediate level language proficiency on the college level, including a course in medieval or Renaissance literature of the language. It is expected that the language selected will be Latin, but with the consent of the advisor, Anglo-Saxon, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Greek may be substitut-ed.
  4. Twenty-four units selected from the following courses. Students should elect to concentrate in either the medieval or Renaissance period.

    5. A. Required courses (12 units):
      One of the following sequences for six units: HIST 316, 317, or 317,332, or 332, 333.
      One of the following literature courses for three units: C/LT 431,432; ENGL 451, 452.
      One of the following Art history courses for three units: ART 409,410, 423. 424. 425.
    B. Nine units selected from the following courses:
      ART (history) 408, 409, 410, 423, 424, 425, 499Q*; C/LT 349*, 422,430, 431, 432, 449*, 450*; ENGL 426, 431, 451, 452, 462, 463, 468A, 469*; FREN 470, 471; GERM 315; GK 490*, 499*; HIST 301, 316, 317, 318, 331, 332,333, 341A, 351, 353, 411, 431, 432, 490*, 495*, 499*; LAT 490*, 499*; MUS 360; PHIL 403; POSC 301, 302; R/ST 314, 331I, 471I, 472I, 490*, 494*, 495*; SPAN 330; THEA 321, 422I, 490*.
      Graduate courses: ART 611*; ENGL 550, 551, 652, 681; FREN 604, 685; GERM 511; HIST 510*, 611, 631*; MUS 560, 561; PHIL 630*, 690*; SPAN 525,535, 538; THEA 621*.
    C. Three units of directed research on a medieval or Renaissance topic in any of the following courses:
      ART (history) 497, C/LT 499, ENGL 499, FREN 499, GERM 499, GK 499, HIST 498, MUS 499, R/ST 499, PHIL 499, SPAN 499, THEA 498.
      Graduate courses: ART (history) 697, ENGL 697, FREN 697, GERM 652,697, HIST 697, PHIL 697, SPAN 697, THEA 694.
      (*) Within an approved medieval or Renaissance topic only certain special studies topics may be repeated for credit with approval.
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Certificate in Peace and Social Justice Studies

This certificate is designed for students who are concerned about issues of peace and social justice in contemporary society. It is founded on the principle that peace requires not only the absence of violence but also the presence of justice.

This certificate can be earned in conjunction with any baccalaureate or graduate degree, can be earned through the General Education Pathway in Conflict & Peace Studies while simultaneously meeting all general education requirements.

Requirements

Twenty-four (24) units in a program approved by the Director of Peace Studies, to include the following:

1. Core Theory Course (3 units):

Take one of the following:

  • I/ST 317, POSC 371

2. Core Skills Course (3 units):

Take one of the following:

  • COMM 411, SW 491

3. Elective Courses (15 units):

Take at least one course from each of the following groups, and one additional course from any group.

  • Group A: Perspectives on Peace, Conflict, Violence, and War (3 units minimum):
    • ANTH 305; COMM 490; CRJU 101; HIST 304, 377, 495; I/ST 318, 355; POSC 220, 371, 455; PHIL 351; PSY 350
  • Group B: Laws, Rights, Responsibilities in Peace and Conflict (3 units minimum):
    • COMM 441; PHIL 352, 376; POSC 412
  • Group C: Culture, Race, Gender Influences on Peace and Conflict (3 units minimum):
    • ANTH 315, 311; AFRS 325; COMM 330, 412; HIST 309; LING 470; SOC 346; HIST 490F; WGSS 401, 430
  • Group D: Empowerment and Peace-Building (3 units minimum):
    • COMM 410, 421; CAFF 309 or FIN 309; EDP 434B; FEA 486; H SC 429; NRSG 481; PSY 336; SOC 427; SW 423

4. Peace Project (3 units, optional):

Students in the Certificate program only should complete three units of an independent study project during their senior year with any Peace Studies faculty. Students who are simultaneously completing the General Education pathway in Conflict & Peace Studies need to take an additional 300- or 400-level GE course from groups A, B, C. or D above to complete the 24 required units in this Certificate.

Exceptions or substitutions may be made only with the approval of the Director of the Peace Studies Program.

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Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (code 1-6050)

The Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESL) is open to students from any field who desire training for teaching English to speakers of other languages. While the program may be begun as an undergraduate, at least 18 units must be completed as a post-baccalaureate student.

Recommendations
Students are strongly urged to include foreign language study as apart of their undergraduate curriculum, particularly
those wishing the Language Development Specialist Certificate in addition to the TESL Certificate. Students planning to teach in California schools (K-12) must also include appropriate credential requirements in their total program.

Prerequisites

  1. A baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 2.50 on the last 60 units.
  2. One course in basic English linguistics.
Requirements
  1. Twenty-four units, including:

    2. A. 20 taken in residence;
    B. 18 taken as a graduate student;
    C. 12 taken at a 500-600 level.
    NOTE: Categories (a-c) combined need only equal 24 units.
  2. A GPA of 3.0 on all work included in the program.
  3. Passing of the CSULB Writing Proficiency Examination.
  4. Eight courses, one each in eight different categories:

    5. A. One course in basic ESL Methodology, LING 486;
    B. One course in cross-cultural communication, selected from LING *425 (ANTH *421) or ED P 573;
    C. One course in Language Acquisition, selected from CD 329, LING 329 or ED P 454;
    D. One course in intermediate English linguistics, selected from LING 420 or 421;
    E. One course in testing and assessment, selected from CD 460 or LING 562;
    F. One course in curriculum, selected from LING 500 or LING 561;
    G. One course in specialized methodology, selected from CD 590, LING *460, LING 575, ED P 576;
    H. Three units of a practicum (LING 593).

Students who have taken equivalent courses in the above categories but need units to complete certificate requirements may elect to take courses from the following:
ANTH 412I, *413; CD 330, 361, 363; EDEL 430; ED P 454; EDSE401, 402, 435, 436; LING 423, 428, 650; PSY 438/538; SOC 485I; SPCH 309; SPAN 427/527.

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Certificate Program in Technical and Professional Communication (code 1-6060)

The Department of English offers a Certificate in Technical and Professional Communication to students interested in careers in writing and editing. Application forms and advising materials may be obtained from the department office.

Prerequisites

  1. Formal consultation with a faculty advisor in the Technical and Professional Writing (TPW) Certificate program;
  2. Submission of an application to enter the program, supported by transcripts;
  3. Upper division or post-baccalaureate standing at CSULB with a grade point average of at least 2.75 overall;
  4. Admission to a degree program in this university or possession of a degree from an accredited university;
  5. Successful completion of English 317, Technical Writing, with a letter grade of "C" or higher.
General Requirements
  1. A baccalaureate degree, which may be taken concurrently with the Certificate in Technical and Professional Writing;
  2. A minimum of 24 units in courses approved for the Certificate Program at this University, preferably completed within 10 years of the first credit granted toward the Certificate (consult an advisor concerning any transferor extension credit that may be allowable);
  3. A letter grade of "C" or higher in every course in the Certificate program (a grade of "CR" is acceptable in no more than one course);
  4. Completion of a program of courses in Areas I through IV, developed in consultation with an advisor in the Technical and Professional Writing Certificate program, and approved by the Program Director and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (or the Dean's designee);
  5. Demonstrations (in or outside the program of courses) of competence in the use of computers and graphic media;
  6. Development of a portfolio of reports, written and edited by the student during enrollment in the Certificate program, for review and approval by faculty in them Technical and Professional Writing Certificate program (required for a grade in English 492 A/B, Area IV).
Course Requirements
For each of the following courses, TPW Certificate students have been granted enrollment rights equal to those of students majoring in the Department offering the course. Substitutions are possible, especially in more advanced courses, with approval by the Program Director.

Area I: Technical and Professional Writing (9 units):

    ENGL 417, 418, and one from the following courses: ART 307, 309; CE 305; CRIM 302; ET 300; ENGL 419; GEOL 420; JOUR 355, 455.
Area II: Language Studies (4 units):
    ENGL 319, 320 or LING 325.
Area III: Electives chosen from the following courses (minimum 8 units):
    Analytical Reading: ENGL 384, 423, 498 (topic: Science as Literature); GEOG 380; HIST/PHYS 400I; PHIL 381; COMM 301; Business/Professional Skills: ACCT 201; FIN 222, JOUR 370; MKTG 300, 330, 480; COMM 334, 335, 344; Computer Applications: CE/CS 174, 175; C/ST or SOC 200; IS 240; JOUR 331; MGMT 426; NSCI 200; Creative Writing: ENGL 405, 406, 407; FEA 204, 304, 404; THEA 380; Intercultural Communication: ANTH 412I, 413; COMM 451; Visual Communication: ET 170; GEOG 200; JOUR 305; ME 172.
Area IV: Practical Writing (3 units):
    ENGL 491 (1 or more units), 492A (2 or more units). No grade in ENGL 492 will be assigned without an approved portfolio, as indicated in Paragraph 6, General Requirements.
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Certificate in Urban Studies (code1-8120)

The Urban Studies Program housed in the Department of Geography offers training in a variety of significant
urban problem areas. The certificate program is designed to provide exposure to the analysis of urban problems and serves as an excellent supplement to standard degree programs. It offers essential training for those seeking both private sector and public sector careers in fields concerned with the urban region, its development, problems, and special communities.

Because urban problems cut across such a variety of disciplines, the program is characterized by an interdisciplinary
approach. This is accomplished within the certificate curriculum by allowing students to draw together in a distinctive mix related courses from a variety of other departments. The result is a program that provides essential knowledge of the dynamics of urban regions. This approach assures a common core of essential knowledge, while allowing flexibility to each student in designing an individualized program of study using electives drawn from a variety of relevant disciplinary concentrations.
The Certificate Program in Urban Studies is a 24-unit course of study comprised of 9 units of core requirements and 15 elective units.

A brochure describing the Urban and Regional Studies Certificate Program in greater detail is available in the Geography Department Office.

Requirements

  1. A bachelors degree;
  2. Consultation with the Chair of the Department;
  3. Twenty-four units distributed as follows:

    4. Core requirements: U/ST 401I, GEOG 466 and 467.
    Elective Courses: 15 units to be selected from the following: ANTH 416; ASAM 345; ECON 300, 436, 437, 451; FIN 342; GEOG 452; HIST 468, 469,474I; FCS 342; CHLS 350 (same as SOC 340); POSC 327, 442, 447 or 448; PSY 375; C/LA 319 (same as AIS 319, AMST 319, ASAM 319, B/ST 319, CHLS 319, W/ST 319); SOC 340 (same as CHLS 350), 410I; U/ST 446; W/ST 432.
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