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 the ways 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, K-8 self-contained classrooms, and special education K-12 school settings.
Elementary Subject Matter Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at Chico State satisfies the Elementary Subject Matter requirements to enter a multiple subject credential program according to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Graduates who complete a liberal studies degree are not required to take the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subjects.
Liberal Studies Options
Students who complete the general option are prepared to enter a 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.
Transfer students who live outside the Chico area and are prepared to study fully online can choose the general online degree completion option in liberal studies. The courses and degree are identical to the general option in liberal studies, and it is ideal for full-time working students.
Students who select the bilingual/cross-cultural Spanish 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 in local elementary school settings. The option is closely aligned with courses that satisfy a minor in Spanish. Students interested in declaring a Spanish minor should contact the Languages and Cultures department.
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.
Some courses require a minimum grade to progress in the program. Minimum grade requirements, including those listed on course requisites, are considered graduation requirements.
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: 62-85 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.
Select at least one of the following options to complete 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. Consult with an advisor to help select courses that provide breadth to your University experience and possibly help satisfy credential, professional, or graduate school prerequisites or support completion of a 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) and Laboratory (5C).
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) requires you to take four Writing (W) courses, two of which are upper-division courses designated for your major. Specifically, you must:
Take one Writing (W) course.
Take one Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) course.
Complete a GE English Composition (1A) course before taking the GW course.
Earn a grade of C- or higher to receive GW credit.
See Writing and Math Requirements for details on additional writing requirements you need to complete for graduation.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are clear, measurable statements that describe how students demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, and values of the discipline as appropriate to the degree. Graduates of this program are expected to achieve the following PLOs:
Have foundational knowledge and recognize significant ideas, concepts, structures, and values within and among the disciplines.
Explore the interconnections and relationships among the various disciplines’ methodologies as they attend to theoretical, ethical, and practical implications.
Communicate clearly and effectively (both verbally and in writing) with a variety of audiences, using appropriate academic discourse and technology.
Through coursework and education-based experiential learning opportunities, develop interpersonal and collaboration skills, as well as develop an awareness of culturally diverse perspectives.
Acquire the qualities needed to become lifelong learners who can critically analyze, reflect on experiences, and apply their learning to develop research skills to draw conclusions.
