Liberal Studies
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Interim Dean: Daniel Bernardi
Liberal Studies Program
BH 238
Phone: 415-338-6927
Web Site: www.sfsu.edu/~ls
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
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 www.sfsu.edu/~ls/program.html.
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://www.sfsu.edu/~ls/.
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)
- LS 300 GW Perspectives on Liberal Studies - GWAR
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)
- LS 400 Social Sciences Core I
- LS 401 Social Sciences Core II
Area IV—Creative Arts and Humanities (6 units)
- HUM 425 Thought and Image: Humanities
- LS 426 Thought and Image: Creative Arts
Culminating Experience (3 units)
- LS 690 Liberal Studies Senior Seminar
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://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 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.
Transfer 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 Complementary Studies requirements for their major only if these courses are included in the minimum units required for the major. Students should consult with a major advisor.
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
-
LS 300 GW Perspectives on Liberal Studies - GWAR
(Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent.)
Area I—Communication, Language, and Literature
Literature—Select one:
- AA S 322 Chinese American Language and Literature
- AA S 352 Filipina/o American Literature, Art, and Culture
- AA S 512 Asian American Children's/Adolescent Literature
- AFRS 411 African and African American Literature
- CWL 400 GW Approaches to Comparative Literature - GWAR
- CWL 440 "Typical American": Narratives of Multiculturalism in the Americas from 1492 to the Present
- ENG 475 Fundamentals of Literary Analysis
- ENG 554 Modern American Novel
- ENG 555 The Short Story
- ENG 583 Shakespeare: Representative Plays
- ENG 584 Shakespeare-Selected Plays
- ENG 614 Women in Literature: Authors and Characters
- ENG 636 Greek and Roman Myth and Modern Literature
- ENG 655 Literature and the Adolescent Reader
- LTNS 560 Contemporary Latina/o Literature
- WGS 541 Women Writers and Social Change
- WGS 548 Literature by U.S. Women of Color
- WGS 551 Queer Literatures and Media
Communication Studies—Select one:
- COMM 351 Public Speaking (4)
- COMM 352 Women and Words (4)
- COMM 353 Speech for the Classroom Teacher (4)
- COMM 362 Introduction to Oral Interpretation (4)
- COMM 363 Oral Interpretation of the First Person Voice (4)
- COMM 364 Oral Interpretation of Children’s Literature (4)
- COMM 365 Argumentation and Debate (4)
- COMM 366 Persuasion (4)
- COMM 521 Group Discussion (4)
Area II—Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics
Life Science—Select one:
- BIOL 300 Nature Study
- BIOL 310 Biology for Today's World
- BIOL 313 Principles of Ecology
- BIOL 318 Our Endangered Planet
- BIOL 326 Disease!
- BIOL 327 AIDS: Biology of the Modern Epidemic
- BIOL 330 Human Sexuality (BIOL 322 is not a substitute)
Physical Science—Select one (or approved alternative):
-
CHEM 380 Chemistry Behind Environmental Pollution
(Prerequisite: CHEM 115) - GEOL 302 The Violent Earth
- LS 309 Physical Sciences for Elementary School Teachers
- METR 302 Extreme Weather in a Warming World
Area III—Behavioral and Social Sciences
-
LS 400 Social Sciences Core I or approved alternative
and
LS 401 Social Sciences Core II or approved alternative
Area IV—Creative Arts and Humanities
-
HUM 425 Thought and Image: Humanities
and
LS 426 Thought and Image: Creative Arts
Culminating Experience
-
LS 690 Liberal Studies Senior Seminar
(LS 300 GW is a prerequisite)
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://www.sfsu.edu/~ls/) 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
-
LS 300 GW Perspectives on Liberal Studies - GWAR
(Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent.)
Area I—Communication, Language, and Literature
Literature—Select one (or approved alternative):
- AA S 512 Asian American Children's/Adolescent Literature
- CWL 400 GW Approaches to Comparative Literature - GWAR
- CWL 440 "Typical American": Narratives of Multiculturalism in the Americas from 1492 to the Present
- ENG 475 Fundamentals of Literary Analysis
- ENG 636 Greek and Roman Myth and Modern Literature
- ENG 655 Literature and the Adolescent Reader
Communication Studies—Select one (or approved alternative):
- COMM 353 Speech for the Classroom Teacher (4)
- COMM 364 Oral Interpretation of Children’s Literature (4)
Area II—Life Science, Physical Science, and Mathematics
Life Science
-
BIOL 310 Biology for Today’s World
or approved alternative
and
Physical Science
-
LS 309 Physical Sciences for Elementary School Teachers
or approved alternative
Area III—Behavioral and Social Sciences
History/California—Select one:
- AFRS 312 Kalifia: The Black Heritage in California
- AIS 410 Perspectives of Native California Indians
- AA S 510 Asian Americans in California
- GEOG 600/ Environmental Problems & Solutions
- ENVS 600 Environmental Problems & Solutions
- HIST 450 History of California
- LTNS 315 Latina/os in California
- LS 401 Social Sciences Core II
and
Psychocultural/Family Studies/Human Development—Select one:
- AFRS 525 Black Child Development
- AA S 323 Chinese American Identities
- AA S 333 Japanese American Identities
- AA S 355 Filipina/o American Identities
- AA S 301 Asian Americans of Mixed Heritage
- ANTH 310 Family, Kin, and Community
- CFS 320 Children and Families
- HIST 469 American Childhoods: Past and Present
- L S 460 Childhood, Nature, and Society
- PSY 330 Child Development
- RRS 625 Mixed Race Studies: A Comparative Focus
- LS 400 Social Sciences Core I
- AMST 300 Perspectives on American Culture
- SOC 464 Families and Society (4)
Area IV—Creative Arts and Humanities
-
HUM 425 Thought and Image: Humanities
and
LS 426 Thought and Image: Creative Arts
Culminating Experience
-
LS 690 Liberal Studies Senior Seminar
(LS 300 GW is a prerequisite)
Elementary Teaching Preparation Emphasis (15 units)
-
MATH 165 Concepts of the Number System
and
MATH 565 Concepts of Geometry, Measurement, and Probability
or approved alternative
Choose three from below, or approved alternative:
- ART 450 Art for Children
- E ED 603 Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Development
- HIST 114 World History to 1500
- KIN 401 Elementary School Physical Education, K–5
- MUS 601 Music for Children
- TH A 451 Storytelling and Folk Literature
