Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus and Cuesta College
The Department of Liberal Studies ensures that prospective elementary teachers have excellent content foundations in all subject matters, deep understanding of effective teaching methods and multiple opportunities to reflect on their learning and teaching. The department does this by providing students the opportunity to develop (1) broad-based proficiencies in multiple fields including, but not limited to: science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, technologies, and the fine and performing arts; (2) a sophisticated appreciation of the inter-relatedness of multiple disciplines as they are brought to bear on large historical and contemporary themes; and (3) readiness to serve a diverse and rapidly changing student population.
The BS Liberal Studies degree directly addresses California’s need to produce more and better-trained elementary school teachers. LS graduates will be especially well prepared in the “high-need” teaching areas of science, mathematics, and reading. Students have the opportunity to earn a BS in four years including education classes that are pre-requisites to entering Cal Poly's multiple subject credential program.
A depth of study is required to earn a BS at Cal Poly. Liberal Studies majors select one of the following concentrations or listed minors that count towards a concentration. Students may also choose an individualized course of study with prior approval from the department chair.
Liberal Studies students may take any minor at Cal Poly; however, only the minors listed below will count towards a concentration.
Minors that can be taken in place of a concentration
- Ethnic Studies
- Music
- Spanish
Students in the Liberal Studies major will complete pre-requisite courses for the Cal Poly Multiple Subject teaching credential program. A Multiple Subject teaching credential requires one additional year. Application to credential programs is done during the last two quarters of the BS Liberal Studies degree. Visit Cal Poly’s Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Program for more information.
Concentrations
Environmental Education
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Environmental Education connects students to nature through a variety of experiences and links social, political, and economic factors to help citizens make well-informed decisions about the environment and climate change. Courses in this concentration are interdisciplinary and structured to support the development of environmental literacy, address interrelated issues, and the impacts to society and the world at large.
Human Development
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Human Development concentration provides students with a broad foundation covering a range of issues. Courses focus on psychological, sociological, and emotional development across the lifespan of humans. It also complements professional training and enhances personal development and interpersonal effectiveness. This concentration provides knowledge and skills that can be applied to real world settings such as families, schools, and work places.
Mathematics
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Mathematics as a discipline is structured around conceptual categories of numbers and quantity, algebra, functions, modeling, geometry and probability and statistics. Knowledge in this area is unified through context, coherence, and tasks that develop mathematical “habits of mind.” Courses in this concentration are structured for higher mathematics practices and content to support college and career pathways.
This concentration is aligned to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements for a Supplementary Authorization in Mathematics that can be added to your future credential. See a concentration advisor for more information.
English
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The English language as a discipline is structured around concepts of rhetoric and grammar as they are used to express creative thought orally and in writing. Knowledge in these areas is generated by a study of current and historical rules of rhetoric, grammar and of current and historical works of literature. The term "creative thought" includes poetry, theater, narration and exposition in both oral and written form.
This concentration is aligned to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements for a Supplementary Authorization in English that can be added to your future credential. See a concentration advisor for more information.
Science
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The discipline of science is structured around the understanding of patterns and relationships in the natural world through evidence-based reasoning. This concentration includes courses in all general sciences, with some flexibility for choosing specific topics of interest. Courses will help the student engage with scientific knowledge and the methods scientists use to attain that knowledge.
Students are required to complete a one-year sequence of courses in at least one of the following sciences: chemistry, geosciences, or physics. This requirement may include an extension of major courses, such as the physical science series.
This concentration is aligned to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements for a Supplementary Authorization in Science that can be added to your future credential. See a concentration advisor for more information.
Social Science
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Social Sciences are a variety of academic fields that center around the study of human beings, both as individuals and as members of groups. In this concentration, students use ethnic studies, history, sociology, political science, and geography to develop an in-depth and sophisticated understanding of human society and behavior.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The knowledge and ability to effectively teach a second language is dependent on Linguistics, the scientific study of a language. Coursework in this concentration covers theoretical, methodological and pedagogical issues in second language teaching and learning. A variety of concepts within both theoretical and applied linguistics are developed. Additional coursework is required for certification and students are encouraged to begin taking courses early in their Junior year. Meet with the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program advisor for more information.
Individualized Course of Study
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus and Cuesta College
With department chair approval, students may select one of the minors listed below or pursue a course of study which meets their individual needs and interests; this must be initiated early and all courses must be pre-approved. An individualized course of study consists of 12-14 units with at least one course at the 3000-4000 (upper-division) level. Courses are selected by the student in consultation with an advising faculty member. The list of courses is a contract between the student and the Department.
Program Learning Objectives
- Examine the importance of the physical, social and cognitive development of children and their application to learning.
- Demonstrate subject matter competency in the following domains: Reading, Language and Literacy, History and Social Science, Mathematics, Science, Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education and Human Development.
- Examine and reflect on how knowledge is developed and organized through best teaching and learning practices specific to each domain, with a focus on metacognition.
- Demonstrate effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills in a variety of contexts including the use of appropriate technology.
- Integrate the content of one discipline into another through the development of projects across subject matter areas.
- Synthesize information and integrate experiences that promote personal and professional growth in the field of education.
- Demonstrate ability to self-reflect, engage with diverse populations, demonstrate cultural humility, practice inclusion, and advance principles of social justice, equity and ethical practice.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: Up to 4 units of credit/no credit grading may be selected for courses in Major, Support, or Concentration. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| LS 1201 | Orientation to Liberal Studies | 1 |
| LS 2230 | Field Experience in the Elementary Classroom I | 2 |
| LS 3250 | Field Experience in the Elementary Classroom II | 2 |
| LS 2255 | Children's Literature in a Diverse Society (3B) 1 | 3 |
| LS 2370 | Performing Arts for Children: Theory and Practice (3A) 1 | 3 |
| LS 3211 | Arts in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| LS 3214 | Constitutional Issues and Social/Historical Foundations of U.S. and California Education | 4 |
| LS 3301 | Liberal Studies Career Preparation | 1 |
| LS 3310 | Storytelling: Modern Applications of Traditional Narrative | 3 |
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced History/Social Sciences Integration for the K-8 Classroom | ||
| Advanced Arts Integration for the K-8 Classroom | ||
| Advanced Science/Engineering Integration for the K-8 Classroom | ||
| LS 4461 | Senior Project Seminar | 3 |
| or LS 4462 | Senior Project Research | |
| Concentration or Individualized Course of Study | ||
| (See list of Concentrations and Individualized Course of Study below) | 12-14 | |
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| BIO 3210 | Biology of Plants and Animals for Future Teachers | 4 |
| EDUC/CD 2207 | Children's Learning and Development in Educational Settings | 3 |
| EDUC 4427 | Culturally Responsive Methods and Inquiry for Teaching Emergent Bilinguals | 3 |
| EDUC 4440 | Educating Individuals with Exceptional Needs | 3 |
| ENGL 3391 | Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| HIST 2201 | United States History to 1877 (4A) 1 | 3 |
| HIST 2210 | World History to 1800 (4B) 1 | 3 |
| KINE 3310 | Concepts and Applications in Elementary Physical Education | 3 |
| MATH 3481 | Mathematics for Elementary Teaching I | 4 |
| MATH 3482 | Mathematics for Elementary Teaching II | 4 |
| MATH 3483 | Mathematics for Elementary Teaching III | 3 |
| PHIL 2230 | Philosophical Classics: Knowledge and Reality | 3 |
| or PHIL 2231 | Philosophical Classics: Ethics and Political Philosophy | |
| PSC 1101 | Physical Science for Elementary Educators I (5A & 5C) 1 | 4 |
| PSC 1102 | Physical Science for Elementary Educators II | 4 |
| PSY 2201 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| Select from the following: (2) 1 | 3 | |
| Statistical and Data Literacy | ||
| Applied Statistical Concepts and Methods | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 24 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives | 1-3 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
Concentrations
Environmental Education
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| Cultural and Social | ||
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Plants, People and Civilization | ||
| Climate and Humanity | ||
| Indigeneity and the Land | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| The Global Environment | ||
| Geography of Latin America | ||
| Geography of the Caribbean | ||
| Comparative World Environmental History and Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Energy, Society, and the Environment | ||
| Ecological and Environmental | ||
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Plant Diversity and Ecology | ||
| Wildlife Conservation Biology | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Global Climate Change | ||
| Physical Oceanography | ||
| Education and Communication | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Education Apprenticeship Needs to be taken for 3 units | ||
| Advanced History/Social Sciences Integration for the K-8 Classroom | ||
| Advanced Arts Integration for the K-8 Classroom | ||
| Advanced Science/Engineering Integration for the K-8 Classroom LS 4412 or LS 4411 or LS 4412 also required in major | ||
| Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences | ||
| Environmental Leadership and Community Engagement | ||
| Cal Poly Land: Nature, Technology, and Society | ||
| Capstone | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Literacy: An Integrative STEM Approach | ||
| Selected Environmental Issues of California's Central Coast | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
Human Development
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| Applications to Education and Advocacy | ||
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Developmental Science in Education | ||
| Learning in Out-of-School Time | ||
| Child and Adolescent Mental Health | ||
| Child Abuse and Neglect | ||
| Psychology of Aging | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Positive Psychology | ||
| Teamwork | ||
| Cognition | ||
| Child Development and Growth | ||
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Infant and Toddler Development | ||
| Early and Middle Childhood Development | ||
| Adolescence | ||
| Psychology of Gender | ||
| Social Context and Relationships | ||
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Child, Family, and Community | ||
| Interpersonal Relationships in Childhood and Adolescence | ||
| Children's Development in Diverse Cultures | ||
| Identity and Equity in American Schools | ||
| Personality | ||
| Biopsychology | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Select any CD course | 2 | |
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
-
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| MATH 1261 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 1262 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 2031 | Transition to Advanced Mathematics | 3 |
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Linear Algebra | ||
| History of Mathematics | ||
| Combinatorics I | ||
| Graph Theory | ||
| Number Theory | ||
| Euclidean Geometry | ||
| Technology in Mathematics Education | ||
| Teaching Statistics: Pedagogy, Content, Technology, and Assessment | ||
| Total Units | 14 | |
English
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| ENGL 3311 | Writing With Style | 3 |
| ENGL 3392 | Reading Instruction for the Teaching of Young Adult Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 3393 | Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing | 4 |
| or ENGL 4424 | Teaching English Language Arts in Secondary Schools | |
| Approved Electives | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| American Literature | ||
| Intermediate U.S. Literature: Beginnings to 1865 | ||
| U.S. Literature: 1865 to 1914 | ||
| U.S. Literature: 1914 to 1956 | ||
| U.S. Literature: 1956 to Present | ||
| Women Writers of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries | ||
| Multiethnic Literature of the U.S. | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| British Literature | ||
| British Literature: Beginnings to 1485 | ||
| British Literature: 1485 to 1660 | ||
| British Literature: 1660 to 1798 | ||
| British Literature: 1798 to 1832 | ||
| British Literature: 1832 to 1914 | ||
| British Literature: 1914 to Present | ||
| Introduction to Shakespeare | ||
| Modern English | ||
| The Modern Novel | ||
| Modern Poetry | ||
| Total Units | 14 | |
Science
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| Select from the following: 1, 2 | 7-8 | |
| Chemistry | ||
| World of Chemistry | ||
| Chemistry in Context | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity | ||
| Organic Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications | ||
| Physics | ||
| Contemporary Physics for Nonscientists | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| College Physics II | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Approved Electives | ||
| Select from the following: 2, 3 | 4-6 | |
| Introduction to the Solar System | ||
| Introduction to Stars and Galaxies | ||
| Longitude, Navigation, and Timekeeping | ||
| Plant Diversity and Ecology | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Genetic Engineering Technology | ||
| Teaching Science in Secondary Schools | ||
| General Botany | ||
| Plants, People and Civilization | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity | ||
| Organic Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications | ||
| The Geologic Record: Fossils and the History of Life | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Project Based Learning in STEM Education | ||
| Introduction to Microbiology | ||
| Public Health Microbiology | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| The Oceans | ||
| Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences | ||
| Natural Resource Ecology and Habitat Management | ||
| Contemporary Physics for Nonscientists | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| College Physics II | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Teaching Physics | ||
| Physical Oceanography | ||
| Energy, Society, and the Environment | ||
| Engaging in Sustainable Global Development | ||
| The Learn By Doing Lab Teaching Practicum | ||
| Environmental Literacy: An Integrative STEM Approach | ||
| Selected Environmental Issues of California's Central Coast | ||
| Theory and Practice of STEM Tutoring | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
A minimum of 3 units in CHEM is required. A two-course sequence in Chemistry fulfills the authorization requirement; a Physics course is not needed if this sequence is completed.
- 2
Courses can only be used once for major degree credit.
- 3
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
Social Science
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| California History | ||
| HIST 2208 | Survey of California History | 3 |
| U.S. Government | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | ||
| Politics of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the U.S. | ||
| The U.S. Presidency | ||
| U.S. Congress | ||
| Early U.S. Political Thought | ||
| Contemporary U.S. Political Thought | ||
| Geography | ||
| GEOG 1150 | Human Geography | 3 |
| or GEOG 3308 | Global Geography | |
| Ethnic Studies, History, Sociology, Women, Gender & Queer Studies Electives | ||
| Select from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to American Indian Studies | ||
| Introduction to African American Studies | ||
| Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies | ||
| Introduction to Asian American Studies | ||
| Hip-Hop, Poetics, and Politics | ||
| Beyonce: Race, Feminism, and Politics | ||
| Race and Media Studies | ||
| Gender, Race, Culture, Science, and Technology | ||
| Critical Race Theory | ||
| Social Constructions of Whiteness | ||
| Modern European Thought and Culture | ||
| East Asian Cultures and Civilizations | ||
| Modern United States History | ||
| Modern Middle East | ||
| Modern East Asia | ||
| A Cultural History of Southeast Asia | ||
| Modern Europe: 1789-1914 | ||
| Modern Europe since 1914 | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| Identity and Equity in American Schools | ||
| Global Race and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Units in excess of total will be applied towards major's free electives.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| COMS 3316 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 2290 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| or ENGL 3390 | The Linguistic Structure of Modern English | |
| ENGL 4497 | Theories of Language Learning and Teaching | 3 |
| ENGL 4498 | Approaches to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | 3 |
| ENGL 4499 | Practicum in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | 1 |
| Total Units | 13 | |
Individualized Course of Study
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus and Cuesta College
With department chair approval, students may select one of the minors listed below or pursue a course of study which meets their individual needs and interests; this must be initiated early and all courses must be pre-approved. An individualized course of study consists of 12-14 units with at least one course at the 3000-4000 (upper-division) level. Courses are selected by the student in consultation with an advising faculty member. The list of courses is a contract between the student and the Department.
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 19 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 24 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 5B | Life Sciences 2 | 3 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) (1 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences | 3 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | 3 |
| Total Units | 24 | |