Requirements
The minimum unit requirement for the Liberal Studies Track I major is 110 units, which includes both Core and Concentration. Students select an additional 10 units to meet the campus graduation requirement of 120 units. The Track I program is both a major and an approved General Education program. This means that both General Education and major requirements are satisfied by completion of the Track I program.
The Track I Core consists of a minimum of 102 units distributed across six areas: I. Language Studies (minimum 22 units); II. Mathematics (minimum 9 units); III. Natural Sciences (minimum 14 units); IV. History and Social Sciences (minimum 19 units); V. Arts and Humanities (minimum 15 units) and VI. Learning and Well-Being (minimum 16 units). No course in the Track I core may be taken Credit/No Credit.
The Track I Concentration consists of 12-15 units of integrated course work with advisor approval. No course in the Track I concentration may be taken Credit/No Credit, and no course used to meet Core requirements may be counted toward the concentration.
In addition, 120 hours of approved service-learning in an elementary or middle school must be completed prior to graduation as a means of learning about cultural diversity in the community, about current problems besetting students in the public schools, about successful intervention strategies for students needing special attention, and promotion of individual civic responsibility.
Service Learning
The way to earn the required 120 hours of Service Learning is participation in the SERVE (Service Experience for Revitalizing Education) program, which provides orientation and training in addition to school placements. To participate in SERVE, students must have a 2.0 grade-point average, current TB clearance, and be available for either 2 two-hour time blocks or 1 four-hour time block during public school hours over a 10 week period during the semester. For further information and the schedule for orientation and training sessions, contact the Liberal Studies office or SERVE office (ED1-17 or online at www.ced.csulb.edu).
Track I Core
A minimum of 98 units distributed in Areas I, II, III, IV, V, and VI. No Core classes may be taken Credit/No Credit.
Area I: Language Studies (minimum 22 units)
Area II: Mathematics (minimum 12 units)
Area III: Natural Science (minimum 14 units)
Area IV: History/Social Science (minimum 19 units)
Area V: Arts and Humanities (minimum 15 units)
Area VI: Critical Issues in Teaching and Learning (minimum 16 units)
Track I Concentration
A minimum of 12 units with advisor approval, at least 9 of which must be at the upper-division (300-400) level (with the exception of the Natural Science concentration) in one of the thematic programs of study identified below. No concentration course may be taken Credit/No Credit. No course used to fulfill a core requirement may be used to fulfill a concentration requirement.
Students must gain approval for a concentration and curricular plan. Normally the proposal is submitted before the student begins to take courses in the concentration. Students declare a concentration by attending a concentration workshop. Students may sign up for a workshop at the Liberal Studies office. Subsequent modifications of the concentration curriculum must also be approved.
Bilingual Spanish-English
Subject preparation for a Multiple Subject Credential with a bilingual, cross-cultural, language and academic development (BCLAD) emphasis requires students to demonstrate proficiency in a targeted language and understanding of the culture of a targeted group. This concentration focuses on the Spanish language and Latino culture to be consistent with the requirements of the BCLAD emphasis in the CSULB credential program. The primary focus of the concentration is development of language skills. Students with demonstrated language proficiencies in reading, writing and speaking at an advanced level may seek to substitute additional culture studies for required language classes. Prior to proposing this concentration or completing any course work toward it, students should meet with the Spanish undergraduate advisor who will be able to determine language proficiencies. (The following Core classes are highly recommended for students proposing this concentration: CHLS 319 in Area IV, A, Group 3; ANTH 412I in Area IV, B, Group 3; EDP 301 in Area IV, Group 1b.)
Complete 15 units from:
Cultures, Values and Beliefs
Focus is on humanistic study of cultural traditions, both Western and non-Western, and the values and beliefs that have shaped them. Insight will be gained into motivating and orienting ideas that have given meaning to individual lives and structured human relationships. Special attention is given to religious, philosophical and ethical perspectives. (No course used to meet requirements of the core may be used to meet the requirements of the concentration; no more than 3 units of lower division (100-200) course work may apply toward the concentration.)
Complete 15 units from:
Health, Physical Education and Life Management
Provides students with a breadth and depth of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors that prepares them in the areas of health, physical education and fitness, mental health, family life and nutrition. The areas of emphasis include substance use and abuse, family life/health and sexuality education, nutrition, violence prevention (including child abuse and suicide prevention), physical activity and fitness, motor skills and stress management. (Credit in the concentration will be granted for either HSC 425I or CDFS 419, but not both.)
Complete 15 units from:
Historical Perspectives
Prepares students in the subjects identified in the History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools which provides the rationale and coherence for this course work. Emphasis is upon historical perspective not only in terms of Western/American tradition, but also in terms of other world societies and peoples. (The following core courses are recommended for students choosing this concentration: HIST 111 in Area IV, B, Group 2; ANTH 314 in Area IV, B, Group 3 and AIS, ASAM, AFRS, CHLS or WGSS 319 in Area IV, A, Group 3.)
Complete 15 units from:
History/Social Science
In addition to deepening their knowledge of specific subjects in this area of study, students with a concentration in History/Social Science will be exposed to the specific modes of inquiry characteristic of such disciplines as history, anthropology and geography. Each student pursuing a History/Social Science Concentration will choose one of the following areas of emphasis: California Studies, United States Studies, or Global Studies. California Studies is most appropriate 4th grade teaching, United States Studies for 5th or 8th grade teaching, and Global Studies for 6th grade teaching. Within each area of emphasis, each student will take one course in each of the following areas: 1) Anthropological Perspectives, 2) Historical Perspectives, 3) Social and Cultural Perspectives, 4) Geographic Perspectives.
Complete 12 units from:
California Studies
United States Studies
Global Studies
Human Behavior
Provides an understanding of basic principles underlying human behavior. Why do people interpret, believe, feel, think and act as they do? Basic issues include: How people process information and how they organize what they learn into knowledge structures; processes in social learning; how people influence other people and individual differences in ability and personality that affect behavior. These principles will be applied to specific issues in courses selected from a broad range of disciplines. (Credit in the concentration will be granted for either PSY 351 or SOC 335I, but not for both.)
Complete 15 units from:
Human/Child Development
Provides students with a background in the developmental issues of children, adolescents and adults within a family and social context. Specific areas focus on the intellectual and socio-emotional development of individuals from birth through aging and the effects of the near environment on their development. Factors which effect individual variability in growth and development such as gender, family, racial, ethnic and cultural differences will be explored. (The following core courses are REQUIRED for students selecting this concentration: AIS, ASAM, AFRS, CHLS or WGSS 319 in Area IV, A, Group 3 and ANTH 120 in Area IV, B, Group 3.)
Complete 15 units from:
Language Arts
Provides students with special appreciation for languages, literatures, and their relation to culture through study in three areas: language perspectives, which involves the study of languages (and/or language) and their relationships to literary and cultural patterns; theory and/or criticism which provides the theoretical tools for the analysis and explanation of those relationships and language process which involves additional practice in the creative and technical aspects of producing linguistic products. (The following core classes are highly recommended for students selecting this concentration: COMM 335 in Area I, Group 2; ANTH 412I in Area IV, B, Group 3; PHIL 100, 160, 203, 204 or 305 in Area V, B, Group 1 and ENGL 200 in Area VI, Group 3a. No more than 3 units of lower division (100-200) course work may apply toward the concentration.)
Complete 15 units from:
Language and Literacy
Students in the Language and Literacy concentration develop their knowledge of and appreciation for Literature while also engaging enhancing their ability to deal with literacy education through additional study of linguistics and culture.
Complete 12 units from:
Language Other Than English
Provides opportunity for students to gain access to advanced preparation in reading, writing and speaking a selected language other than English. Provides insights into second language acquisition and the intimate relationships linking language, cognition and culture. Students select one language in which to complete the following requirements:
Complete 15 units from:
Mathematics
Provides advanced study of mathematics consistent with the philosophy of the California Framework in Mathematics and Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for the mathematics content taught through the middle grades. (The following core courses are REQUIRED for students choosing this concentration: MTED 312 in Area II, Group 2; MTED 301 in Area VI, Group 3b.) Students choosing the Mathematics Concentration must complete MTED 312 with a “C” or better grade prior to registering for MTED 402.
Complete 12 units from:
Natural Science
Two pathways provide fundamental skills and abilities to deal confidently with wide variety of scientific viewpoints applied to various important issues, concrete and significant examples of scientific thinking. Pathway A: “breadth” pathway particularly appropriate for future K-5 teachers. Choose at least one course from three different groups. Pathway B: “depth” pathway particularly appropriate for future teachers of grade 6-8 as well as for students who prefer a stronger emphasis on investigation and experimentation. Choose at least three courses from a single group.
Complete 12 units from:
Pathway A – Breadth – Choose coursework from EACH of the following groups:
Pathway B: Depth – Choose an option and take three courses in that option:
Earth Science Option:
Life Science Option:
Physical Science Option:
Additional Coursework:
U.S. Multicultural Studies
Students should learn from their earliest school years that our nation is composed of people whose backgrounds are rooted in cultures from around the world, and they should develop respect for the dignity of all people and ways of life. This concentration will help potential teachers to recognize that the history of community, state, region and nation must reflect the experience of men and women of different racial, religious and ethnic groups in our pluralistic society. (The following core course is REQUIRED for students choosing this concentration: AIS, ASAM, AFRS, CHLS or WGSS 319 in Area IV, A, Group 3. Courses selected should include all four major U.S. ethnic groups. No more than 3 units of lower division (100-200) course work may apply toward the concentration and no course used to satisfy a core requirement may be used to satisfy a concentration requirement.)
Complete 15 units from:
Visual and Performing Arts
Allows development of skills in responding to the arts as well as in creating and performing. Examines history of traditional Western fine arts as well as role the arts play in another cultural tradition. All four components of the California Framework for the Visual and Performing Arts are addressed: Aesthetic perception, creative expression, arts heritage and aesthetic valuing.
Complete 15 units from:
