Liberal Studies, 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 Liberal Studies major with a concentration in Elementary Education prepares students to work in a variety of careers within the field of education or enter a post-baccalaureate credential program. Student interest and career goals are central to selection of their individually designed depth of study coursework. The Liberal Studies major with a concentration in Elementary Education is designed for students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree only or who have not met the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) credential admission requirements.

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 (120 Units)

The Liberal Studies major with a concentration in Elementary Education requires 63 units of core courses and 57 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

Elementary Education Concentration (57 Units)

Lower Division

LSEE 101 - Foundations of Education Units: 4
LSEE 211 - Developmental Literacy Units: 4
LSEE 212 - Language and Literacy Units: 4

Upper Division

CRGS 313 - Community Activism Units: 3
or
EDUC 313 - Community Activism Units: 3
LSEE 314 - Science for Elementary Education Field Practicum Units: 1
LSEE 315 - Social Studies for Elementary Education Units: 4
LSEE 316 - Language Arts for Elementary School Units: 4
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
LSEE 333 - English Language and Bilingual Development Units: 4
LSEE 377 - Education of Exceptional Individuals Units: 4
LSEE 421 - Critical Multicultural Education Units: 4
LSEE 443 - Action Research I Units: 4
LSEE 453 - Senior Seminar I Units: 3

Depth of Study

Complete 12 units in one of the following areas: child development, creative dramatics, English as a second language, music, physical education, social justice, history/ social science, mathematics, psychology, Spanish, studio art or science.

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