Liberal Studies, B.A.

Whether you’re looking to excel in your career as an educator or pursue further education to expand your opportunities, the Liberal Studies program will equip you with the pedagogical skills, multicultural and social justice mindset, focus on innovation and technology, and competency in subject matter content that will set you apart.

Educational Objectives

Our immersive field-based learning experiences will enable you to apply what you’ve learned in real-world K-8 classroom settings, as well as the opportunity to learn from experienced, credentialed teachers.

Our integration of technology and innovation, including our “Teaching and Learning with Technology” course, will position you to thrive as an educator using the most advanced tools to create engaging learning experiences and enhance outcomes for today’s tech-minded students

Our commitment to staying ahead of the curve in terms of current and emerging curricular trends and best practices ensures that you’re gaining the most relevant knowledge and skills possible and will be well-equipped to adapt to the evolving landscape of teaching and learning.

Our focus on the demonstration of subject matter proficiency will offer you the significant advantage of coursework in content areas that, once successfully completed, means you won’t need to take and pass the subject matter exam known as the CSET, saving you time and money.

Complete all of the following courses:

• LS 242S - Service Learning in Public Schools Units: 3
• LS 300 - Advanced Reading and Writing in Education Units: 3
• LS 350 - Teaching and Learning with Technology Units: 3
• LS 386S - Service Learning for Social Change in Education Units: 2

Complete all of the following courses in Content Area 1 (Reading, Language, Literature, History, and Social Science):

• GS 214 - Global History I: Ancient Times to 1500 Units: 3
• HCOM 251 - Introduction to US History Units: 3 Or take  SBS 111 - United States History to 1890  Units: 3
• SBS 386 - Social and Political Histories of California Units: 3
• LING 392 - Nature of Language & Language Acquisition Units: 3
• LING 393 - Language, Power, and Literacy in Education Units: 3
• LS 390 - Culturally Sustaining Literature for Elementary and Middle Grades Units: 3

Complete all of the following courses in Content Area 2 (Math and Science):

• PHYS 121 - Integrated Physical Science Units: 3
• PHYS 121L - Integrated Phy Science Lab Units: 1
• BIO 204 - Introduction to Life Science Units: 3
• GEOL 210 - Earth Science for Teachers Units: 3
• MATH 100 - Quantitative Literacy Units: 3
• MATH 308 - Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Perspective A Units: 3
• MATH 309 - Elementary Math - Adv Viewpt B Units: 3

Complete all of the following courses in Content Area 3 (Physical Education, Human Development, Visual and Performing Arts):

• HDFS 200 - Introduction to Child Development Units: 3
• LS 233 - Arts in the School and Community Units: 3
• KIN 373 - Health and Physical Education Units: 2
• KIN 373L - Health and Physical Education Lab Units: 1

LS BA Traditional Pathway

Complete all of the following courses:

• LS 398 - Social Foundations of Multicultural Education Units: 3
• LS 400 - Senior Capstone Units: 4

Complete the following Advanced Inquiry in Education course:

• LS 380 - Teaching for Social Change Units: 3

Complete one of the following Advanced Inquiry in Education courses:

• LS 311 - Educational Issues and the Latino Community Units: 3
• LS 363 - Immigrants & Equity Issues in Education Units: 3

Complete one of the following courses, not previously taken:

• LS 311 - Educational Issues and the Latino Community  Units: 3
• LS 363 - Immigrants & Equity Issues in Education Units: 3
• LS 383 - Innov Approaches to Schooling Units: 3
• LS 384 - Issues in Comparative and International Education Units: 3

Our location in Monterey County offers the unique opportunity to forge partnerships with a variety of local schools which, for you, means exciting applied learning experiences through service learning in diverse educational settings. 

These partnerships include publics and charter schools with distinct educational approaches such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Waldorf-inspired, and dual-immersion programs. This exposure to varied teaching environments will deepen your level of preparation and uniquely position you to meet the educational needs of different student populations through a broadened range of educational philosophies and practices.