Liberal Studies

Undergraduate Studies
Dean: Gail G. Evans

Liberal Studies Program
BH 238
415-338-6927
Web Site: www.sfsu.edu/~ls
Program Director: Cristina Ruotolo
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

Assistant Professors—Augsburg, de Barros, Chitewere, Hennessy

Program

B.A. in Liberal Studies

Program Scope

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies requires 120 units for graduation. The 46-unit liberal studies 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. The liberal studies program is also recommended as preparation for students who aspire to become elementary school teachers.

Before meeting with an individual adviser, liberal studies majors are expected to review the information in this Bulletin and on the web by going to www.sfsu.edu/~ls/program.html.

Career Outlook

The liberal studies major is applicable to a variety of fields. The teacher preparation emphasis, along with recommended general education courses (listed after the major courses), 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 must consult with an adviser to discuss the liberal studies major, selection of courses, and preparation of the planning worksheet.

Each student's planning worksheet must be approved by an adviser and the advising coordinator before the student has completed 100 units. The approved worksheet must be on file in the Liberal Studies Office before the graduation application will be signed.

Liberal Studies majors who successfully complete LS 300 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://www.sfsu.edu/~ls/.

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

Before beginning the Core courses, students should have completed Segment I of General Education, including ENG 214 or equivalent (e.g., AIS 214, 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 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://www.sfsu.edu/~ls/ 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 adviser 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.

Courses used to meet General Education Basic Subjects (Segment I) requirements in Written Communication, Oral Communication, and Critical Thinking may not be used to meet any part of the liberal studies major. A maximum of twelve units used to meet General Education requirements in Segment II and/or Segment III may be included as courses in the Core, Emphasis Pattern, or Units on Advisement categories.

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 Segment I of General Education, including ENG 214 or equivalent (e.g. AFRS 214, AIS 214, or ENG 1B at a community college). LS 300 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.

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 adviser 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://www.sfsu.edu/~ls/) and consult with a major adviser 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	German	Russian
  	Classical Languages	Italian	Spanish
  	French	Japanese

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	Cross-cultural Studies
  	Asian Cultural Studies	European Cultural Studies
  	Cities Studies

• Philosophy
• Philosophy and Religion

INTEGRATED STUDIES

• Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
• California Studies
• 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 adviser. 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 plus the recommended general education courses listed below. By completing these courses, students will have studied all of the subject matter areas covered by the CSET. 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 Services Teacher Preparation 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 Teacher Preparation Center in BH 244.

Required Core Courses

Before beginning the Core courses, students should have completed Segment I of General Education, including ENG 214 or equivalent (e.g. AFRS 214, AIS 214, or ENG 1B at a community college). LS 300 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.

Recommended General Education Courses for Liberal Studies majors planning to be Elementary School Teachers (students who are not interested in pursuing teaching may choose from the entire list of General Education courses outlined in the Undergraduate Education section of the Bulletin):