BA in Liberal Studies/Undergraduate Education K-8 Program
84 units
Mission
The liberal studies major equips future teachers and other professionals by integrating coursework and service-learning experiences with the application of a Christian worldview as it relates to life vocation. It promotes awareness of cultural diversity issues and studies multiple curricula with an emphasis in specific subject areas aligned with Common Core standards for subject matter while fostering a holistic understanding of knowledge.
Program Overview
The Liberal Studies/Undergraduate Education K-8 program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies aligned with California Common Core subject matter standards in order to prepare undergraduate students seeking careers as elementary school teachers with the breadth of content knowledge needed to teach in a K-8 setting.
The liberal studies degree provides future elementary school teachers with opportunities to teach in a self-contained classroom environment. Opportunities are available to take additional units toward a Supplementary/Subject Matter Authorization, if the student desires to teach content up to a ninth-grade level. Consult the Liberal Studies/Undergraduate Education K-8 program in the Division of Teacher Education for complete information.
During the first two years of college, it is suggested that undergraduate liberal studies majors complete university General Education requirements and prerequisites to upper-division coursework, which is embedded in the program’s four-year plan. Students may want to explore the teaching field by taking EDLS 200 or EDLS 202 as sophomores, juniors, or seniors, along with EDLS 405, EDLS 495, and EDLS 496. Students in this program participate in a minimum of 75 hours of teacher-oriented, service-learning field experience and observation through several core liberal studies/undergraduate education K-8 courses.
APU liberal students students prepare to work in schools as teachers, and they must know and demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to help all K-8 students learn. Completion of the liberal studies major meets the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) subject matter requirement for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential or Education Specialist Credential. The liberal studies major is not a CTC-approved educator preparation program. Liberal studies students seeking to complete a CTC-approved educator preparation program need to complete the BA in Liberal Studies with Integrated Credential program or one of the master’s or credential programs offered by the Division of Teacher Education
Career Opportunities
Though most liberal studies graduates enter teaching credential programs and find teaching positions in public and private schools locally, nationally, and abroad, demand exists in the business and communication fields as well because of the increasing need for college graduates with broad and diverse academic backgrounds. Potential teaching careers exist in multiple subject, single subject, and special education.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Education and Human Development | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Teaching as a Profession K-12 1, 2 | ||
| Introduction to Teaching as a Profession (7-12) 1, 2 | ||
| PSYC 290 | Human Growth and Development 1, 3 | 3 |
| EDLS 405 | Diversity in the Classroom 1, 4 | 3 |
| EDLS 495 | Foundations of Education Capstone 1, 5 | 3 |
| EDLS 496 | Writing 3: Education and Professional Ethics 1, 6 | 3 |
| English/Language Arts | ||
| COMM 111 | Public Communication 7 | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | Studies in Literature 8 | 3 |
| THTR 115 | Introduction to Theater 9 | 3 |
| ENGL 402 | Principles of Language | 3 |
| ENGL 434 | Children's Literature 1 | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Algebra 10 | ||
| Introduction to Statistics 10 | ||
| MATH 201 | Mathematics Concepts for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| Science | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Biology and Society 11 | ||
| General Biology I 11 | ||
| PHYC 115 | Physical Science for Teachers | 3 |
| PHYC 125 | Earth Science Concepts and Applications | 3 |
| BIOL 400 | Science and Children 1 | 4 |
| Social Science | ||
| HIST 121 | World Civilizations Since 1648 12 | 3 |
| HIST 201 | World Civilizations and Geography to 1648 | 3 |
| HIST 202 | United States History to 1930 1, 13 | 3 |
| HIST 338 | History of California | 3 |
| Physical Education | ||
| PE 450 | Physical Education in Elementary Schools, K-6 1 | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | ||
| ART 310 | Fundamental Art Experiences 1, 9 | 3 |
| MUS 432 | Music in the Elementary Schools 1 | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Select one concentration from the list below. | 12 | |
| Total Units | 84 | |
- 1
This is a core liberal studies course. The 38 units of core liberal studies coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- 2
Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.
- 3
Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement.
- 4
Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.
- 5
Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.
- 6
Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.
- 7
Meets the General Education Oral Communication requirement.
- 8
Meets the General Education Humanities: Literature requirement.
- 9
Meets the General Education Humanities: Fine Arts requirement.
- 10
Meets the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement.
- 11
Meets the General Education Natural Sciences requirement.
- 12
Meets the General Education Humanities: History requirement.
- 13
California Education Code Section 44335 requires all candidates for a teaching credential to demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution by completing a college-level course or a college-level examination in the subject; successful completion of either with a grade of C or higher meets this California Education Code requirement.
Students in the liberal studies major are limited to completing only one concentration from those listed below. A concentration course cannot double-count to meet a concentration requirement and a major requirement listed above.
Art Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ART 145 | Drawing I 1 | 3 |
| ART 146 | Painting I | 3 |
| Select one of the following art history courses: | 3 | |
| History of Ancient Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| Writing 3: History of Modern Art and Architecture 2 | ||
| History of Contemporary Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| History of Early Christian and Medieval Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| History of Renaissance to Rococo Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| Select one of the following crafts courses: | 3 | |
| Ceramics I 1 | ||
| Printmaking: Serigraph | ||
| Sculpture I | ||
| Multicultural Art 1 | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Meets the General Education Humanities: Fine Arts requirement.
- 2
Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.
English Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 404 | Approaches to Grammar | 3 |
| ENGL 406 | Writing 3: Advanced Composition 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following English or world literature courses: | 3 | |
| English Literature to 1789 2 | ||
| World Literature to the Renaissance 2 | ||
| English Literature Since 1789 2 | ||
| World Literature Since the Renaissance 2 | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Contemporary Global Writers | ||
| British Novel | ||
| Select one of the following American literature courses: | 3 | |
| American Literature to 1865 (Select one of the following American literature courses:) 2 | ||
| American Literature Since 1865 2 | ||
| American Ethnic Literature 3 | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| American Novel | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.
- 2
Meets the General Education Humanities: Literature requirement.
- 3
Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.
Human Development: School Psychology Concentration
PSYC 290 and MATH 130 are prerequisite courses for the upper-division courses in this concentration.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MATH 130 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| PSYC 345 | Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development 2 | 3 |
| PSYC 360 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Brain and Behavior | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Cognition | ||
| Psychology of Learning | ||
| Psychology of Exceptional Children | ||
| Neurological and Behavioral Disorders | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Meets the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement.
- 2
Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement.
Human Development: Special Education Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDLS 303 | Introduction to Special Populations | 3 |
| EDLS 304 | Introduction to Teaching Special Populations | 3 |
| PSYC 410 | Psychology of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| PSYC 430 | Intervention Strategies with Children | 3 |
| Total Units | 12 | |
Math Concentration
See the Department of Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics for updated schedules.
Note: Students must begin their mathematics coursework at the level for which they qualify as determined by their SAT/ACT score, previous university coursework, or the APU mathematics placement assessment. Some students require one or more courses prior to calculus.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MATH 165 | Calculus I | 3 |
| MATH 280 | Discrete Mathematics and Proof | 3 |
| MATH 340 | Geometry | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistics 1 | ||
| Introduction to Modeling with Probability | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Meets the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement.
Music Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MUS 101 | Beginning Voice Class | 1 |
| MUS 103 | Beginning Piano Class 1 | 1 |
| MUS 121 | Music Theory I 2 | 3 |
| MUS 133 | Practical Musicianship I | 1 |
| MUS 201 | Introduction to World Music 3 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History and Literature of Commercial Music | ||
| Ancient, Renaissance, and World Music Literature | ||
| Writing 3: Baroque, Classical, and Early Romantic Music Literature 4 | ||
| Late Romantic and 20th-Century Music Literature 5 | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Or 1 unit for each Applied Piano (permission by audition only).
- 2
Meets the General Education Humanities: Fine Arts requirement.
- 3
Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.
- 4
Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.
- 5
Meets the General Education Humanities: History requirement.
Science Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 151 | General Biology I 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 152 | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHEM 123 | General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry for the Health Sciences 1 | 4 |
| Optional Elective | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences I 1 | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Meets the General Education Natural Sciences requirement.
Social Science Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| POLI 150 | American Government 1, 2 | 3 |
| HIST 210 | World Geography | 3 |
| Select one of the following non-Western courses: | 3 | |
| Modern Africa | ||
| History of the Middle East I: Early and Medieval Islam | ||
| History of the Middle East II: Modern Middle East | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Ritual and Re-enactment in Modern Latin America | ||
| History and Politics of the Non-Western World | ||
| Select one of the following social science courses: | 3 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics 3 | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Contemporary Social Problems | ||
| Education and Society | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
- 1
Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.
- 2
California Education Code Section 44335 requires all candidates for a Teaching Credential to demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution by completing a college-level course or a college-level examination in the subject; successful completion of either with a grade of C or higher meets this California Education Code requirement.
- 3
Meets the General Education Social Sciences requirement.
Spanish Concentration
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 301 | Spanish Conversation and Community 1, 2 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Literary Masters 3 | ||
| Survey of Spanish Literature | ||
| Survey of Latin American Literature | ||
| Spanish Language Poetry and Short Story | ||
| Writing 3: Survey of the Literature of the Spanish-Speaking World 4 | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |