Liberal Studies, Child Development / Elementary Education Concentration, B.A.

The Liberal Studies, B.A. has a core set of courses that focus on 21st century teaching approaches and emphasize the traditional disciplines taught in elementary schools. The Child Development/ Elementary Education Concentration is designed for students who wish to become elementary school teachers in grades K-6. Students take courses in traditional disciplines taught in elementary schools alongside courses focusing on developmental characteristics of children.

Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill General Education & All-University Requirements , residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . This major includes a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course.

Requirements for the Major

The Liberal Studies major with concentration in Child Development / Elementary Education requires 57 units of core coursework and 63 units of concentration specific courses.

Liberal Studies Core (63 Units)

The Liberal Studies core includes courses which are approved to satisfy all General Education (with upper division GE area D met by major), American Institutions, and Diversity and Common Grounds. Students must pass all courses for the major with a letter grade of C- or better. An overall GPA of 2.67 or above is required for admission to either of the ITEP concentrations.

BIOL 104 - General Biology Units: 3
CD 209 - Middle Childhood Development Units: 3
COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication Units: 3
COMM 103 - Critical Listening and Thinking Units: 3
ENGL 104 - Accelerated Composition and Rhetoric Units: 3
ENGL 105 - Literature, Media and Culture Units: 3
ES 105 - Introduction to U.S. Ethnic Studies Units: 3
or
ES 106 - Introduction to Black Studies Units: 3
or
ES 107 - Chican@/Latinx Lives Units: 3
GEOL 109 - General Geology Units: 4
HIST 104 - Western Civilization to 1650 Units: 3
HIST 110 - United States History to 1877 Units: 3
MATH 103 - Mathematics as a Liberal Art Units: 3
or
MATH 103I - Mathematics as a Liberal Art with Integrated Support Units: 3 and
MATH 3 - Support for Mathematics as a Liberal Art Units: 1
MUS 204 - Music in the K-8 Classroom Units: 3
PSCI 110 - American Government Units: 3
TA 105 - Acting 1: Principles of Performance Units: 3
ART 307 - Arts Integration in the Elementary Classroom Units: 3
CD 310 - Perspectives: History and Theory Units: 3
DANC 354 - Teaching of Dance Units: 2
LSEE 308 - Algebra, Geometry, and Data in the Elementary Classroom Units: 3
LSEE 313 - Science for Elementary Education Units: 3
LSEE 317 - Number Sense and Operations in Elementary School Math Units: 3
LSEE 475 - Health and Physical Education Units: 3

Child Development / Elementary Education Concentration (57 Units)

Lower Division

CD 257 - Supervised Work with Children I Units: 4

Upper Division

CD 350 - Perspectives: Life-Span Development Units: 3
CD 354 - Methods of Observation Units: 3
CD 355 - Language Development Units: 3
CD 356 - Curriculum Development for Early Childhood Units: 3
CD 357 - Early Literacy Units: 3
CD 358 - Supervised Work with Children II Units: 4
CD 366 - Exceptional Children and Their Families Units: 3
CD 446 - Structure and Content of Children’s Thinking Units: 3
CD 469W - Contemporary Issues in Child Development Units: 3
CD 479 - Policy Analysis and Advocacy Units: 3
CD 482 - Directed Field Experience/Internship Units: 1-4 (3 units required)
HIST 200 - World Cultures and History: Prehistory to 1500 CE Units: 3
LSEE 314 - Science for Elementary Education Field Practicum Units: 1
LSEE 318 - Number Sense and Operations in Elementary School Math Practicum Units: 1
LSEE 319 - Algebra, Geometry, and Data in the Elementary Classroom Practicum Units: 1

Depth of Study

Complete 13 units of approved elective courses.

Students should choose their electives to complement their program and support whatever “Depth of Study” (as defined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing) they are developing within their program. Examples of Depth of Study may include American Indian Education, American Sign Language and Special Populations, Family Studies, etc. Continued advising by department faculty is required every semester to help students make sure they are getting the correct coursework and experiences to support their professional development.

Liberal Studies Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will have:

demonstrated an ability to work effectively with diverse students, parents, colleagues, staff, and others in the community;
developed and maintain safe, positive, and productive educational environments;
used research-based practice to inform their work;
demonstrated a coherent theoretical framework of learning and human development that supports reflection on their practice;
collaborated on efforts to improve education opportunities for all students