The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is among the oldest majors at California State University, Chico, continuing the longstanding tradition of preparing future teachers and teacher leaders for educational careers. This interdisciplinary major provides a strong knowledge base of multiple disciplines (English, math, science, history/social science, art, music, theatre, physical education, and psychology) and how these disciplines are applied in elementary school settings. Students are well prepared to enter multiple subject credential programs with the goal of teaching in elementary, bilingual Spanish elementary, self-contained classrooms, and special education K-12 school settings.
Elementary Subject Matter Waiver
The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at Chico State is a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved Elementary Subject Matter waiver program. Graduates who complete either liberal studies option may not be required to take the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subjects to enter a credential program in California.
Liberal Studies Options
The general option. Students who complete this option are prepared to enter the Multiple Subject Credential program. The major core courses of the program combined with General Education fulfill the requirements for establishing subject matter competency as established by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. Students may use electives to complete a minor, a second major, or study abroad.
The program is designed to be completed in four years for incoming first-time students and two years for transfer students. Additionally, transfer students living outside of Chico can choose to complete the program online.
The bilingual/cross-cultural Spanish option. Students who select this option are interested in teaching in elementary bilingual or dual-immersion classroom settings. This option, which prepares students for admission into the Bilingual Multiple Subject Credential program at Chico State, includes courses in Spanish, Mexican/Latinx history and culture, and teaching English as a second language. This option offers interdisciplinary knowledge and hands-on field experiences working with bilingual students and in local elementary school settings.
Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
All courses taken to fulfill credential course requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.
Must attain a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
Courses must be completed within seven years of applying for the credential.
Course Requirements for the Major: 63-83 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
Students must select at least one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
General Option
The major core courses listed above combined with General Education fulfill this option. Additionally, transfer students living outside of Chico can choose to complete the program online.
Online Degree Completion
Online students must have taken lower-division pre-approved equivalent courses at community colleges or other four-year institutions. Only 70 units from community colleges can count toward the 120-unit BA degree requirement. A total of 50 units must be taken from a four-year institution, 30 of which must be taken from Chico State to fulfill the university's residency requirement. The 45 units of upper-division major courses can be taken fully online from Chico State.
SPAN 201 may be waived through demonstrated language competence or high school or community college study. Consult with the Languages and Cultures Department for placement.
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Students working toward a credential may use credential program prerequisite courses as elective units towards the liberal studies degree.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
This major has approved GE modifications. See below for information on how to apply these modifications.
SCED 141 is an approved major course substitution for Physical Science (5A).
SCED 142 is an approved major course substitution for Biological Science (5B).
ENGL 341 is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Arts and Humanities (UD-3).
HIST 333 is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences (UD-4).
SCED 343 is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Physical and Biological Sciences (UD-5).
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Many courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
For liberal studies majors these requirements are met by successful completion of HIST 101 and SOSC 302.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Writing and Math Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
Any upper-division Writing (W) course.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE English Composition (1A) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
