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The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Child Development (Double Major)

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor or view it and other current advising information at http://em.csuchico.edu/aap/ProgramSearch.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

The General Education requirements for the Liberal Studies major are unique. By completing the Liberal Studies major, students also satisfy General Education requirements. Partial completion of the major may not satisfy completion of these requirements. Courses required for the major that are marked below with a GE may be applied toward General Education by students changing to another major program.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

For Liberal Studies majors these requirements are met by successfully completing SOSC 302 and SOSC 303.

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the (double) Major: 128 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the major core program requirements.

Liberal Studies Major Courses: 61 units

19 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: NSCI 141 or faculty permission.
Study of the nature and interactions of living things on the planet. Includes cell organization; diversity and physiology of plants and animals; DNA and genetics; ecology; and evolution. Intended for Liberal Studies majors or others interested in K-8 teaching. 6 hours activity. (020915)
Prerequisite: NSCI 102.
Plant and animal morphology, classification, and ecological relationships examined through field and laboratory study. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001158)
Prerequisites: English Placement Test.
Instruction and practice in writing university-level expository prose. 3 hours discussion.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly ENGL 130. (003383)
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; ENGL 375 recommended.
Advanced practice in writing and in using writing in the classroom for single- and multiple-subject credential candidates. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (003436)
Prerequisites: ENGL 333 strongly recommended.
Basic concepts involved in the study of literature, interpretation and criticism of literary works, and suggestions for helping others understand and appreciate literature. Required of multiple-subject credential candidates. 3 hours lecture. (003433)
An introduction to linguistics. Topics include language acquisition, language structure, language variation, and languages of the world. This course is required for CLAD and BCLAD credentials as well as credential programs beginning in the fall of 2003 under SB 2042 standards. 3 hours lecture. (003450)
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 110 recommended.
Basic concepts of motion, force, energy, chemical change, and their interactions. Intended for Liberal Studies majors. 1 hour lecture, 4 hours activity. (004132)
Prerequisites: NSCI 141, NSCI 142, or faculty permission.
Fundamental concepts in (1) the solar system and the universe, (2) the structure and composition of the solid Earth, and (3) Earth's atmosphere and water. Intended for Liberal Studies majors and students pursuing a single subject teaching credential in science. 1 hour lecture, 4 hours activity. (004144)
Examination of the political, economic, religious, and social structures of the ancient civilizations that are the focus of the sixth-grade history/social science curriculum in California public schools: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Kush, the Hebrews, Greece, India, China, Rome. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004492)
Examination of the political, economic, religious, and social structures of the medieval and early-modern civilizations that are the focus of the seventh-grade history/social science curriculum in California public schools: the Islamic world, China, Japan, Europe, the Americas, Ghana, and Mali. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004493)
An overview of Western Culture from 1500 C.E. to the present, with selected reference to concurrent developments in India, China, Japan, Africa, and The Americas. Serves as a broad introduction to the major forms and types of artistic expression: sculpture, architecture, painting, philosophy, literature, drama, dance, film, and music, and includes comparative analysis of primary texts (theatre, philosophy and religion, literature, history, and political science). 3 hours lecture. (015845)
This course is designed to present a knowledge base of physical education that includes the analysis of movement skills and movement patterns, physical fitness, and how physical education is inherently linked to health and wellness. Also studied in this course will be children's motor development and how emotional, cognitive, and social growth characteristics influence motor development. 3 hours lecture. (006877)
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.
Structure of the real number system, operations on real numbers, number theory. Not acceptable for a mathematics major or minor. 3 hours discussion. (005522)
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement, one year of high school geometry.
Problem-solving, probability and statistics, measurement and the metric system, geometry. Not acceptable for a mathematics major or minor. 3 hours discussion. (005523)
Prerequisites: MATH 110, MATH 111.
An intuitive investigation into mathematics to find recurrent themes. Problem-solving techniques and a search for patterns will be used throughout a discussion of topics such as modular arithmetic, complex numbers, mathematical sequences and their applications. Not acceptable for a mathematics major or minor. 3 hours discussion. (005542)
Prerequisite: NSCI 102.
Plant and animal morphology, classification, and ecological relationships examined through field and laboratory study. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001158)
Prerequisites: NSCI 141, NSCI 142, or faculty permission.
A course designed to introduce basic principles and concepts in environmental science. Field investigations in the local environment provide a natural setting for scientific inquiry and student research on environmental processes and conditions that shape the local landscape. Intended for Liberal Studies majors and students pursuing a single subject teaching credential in science. 1 hour lecture, 4 hours activity. (020916)
A practical course in clear thinking and sound reasoning, which includes training in recognizing and avoiding the most commonly made mistakes in reasoning. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (007151)
This course covers the five themes of geography (location, place, human-environmental interaction, movement, and region) for use in the K-12 classroom. The impact of these themes on physical geography, human culture, and economic development is also emphasized. Skills include mapping of data, using appropriate georaphical software, creating charts and diagrams, and interpreting information contained in an atlas. This course is required for Liberal Studies majors and History-Social Science single subject credential students. 3 hours lecture. (009059)
This is an exploration of the fundamental concepts of human biological, social, and cultural evolution. It is a comparative study of adaptation, social organization, religious and other ideological systems in contemporary non-Western societies. With a multidisciplinary approach, the course covers the biological basis of human social behavior, fossil evidence for human evolution, and relevant ethnographic and archaeological evidence of human social evolution. This course is required for Liberal Studies majors. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (009062)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Effective oral communication. Introduction to human communication theory. Practice in gathering, organizing, and presenting material in speeches to persuade, inform, and interest. 1 hour lecture, 2 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (002206)
This course examines communication in small group processes such as group development, group climate, leadership and roles, problem solving, and conflict. Participation in an in-class small group helps facilitate individual and group improvement. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (002208)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Examination of social and cultural influences on emotional, social, and intellectual development. Specific emphasis on children raised in lower socio-economic environments as well as children of American Indian, Mexican-American, and black cultures. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (007889)
An introduction to the major world religions and an analysis of legal, intellectual, and educational issues that arise in connection with the study of religions in American public schools. 3 hours lecture. (008168)

Courses Required in Both Majors: 15 units

4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Survey of American history. Development of the United States and its political, economic, social, and cultural institutions. From colonial times to the present. Satisfies requirement in California Administrative Code, Title 5, Education, Sec. 40404. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (004500)
An investigation of Who gets What, When, and How in national, state, and local politics. Also includes principles of American governmental institutions, federal systems, congress, president, and courts. Fulfills California state graduation and credential requirements for the American Constitution. (Satisfies requirement in California Administrative Code, Title 5, Section 40404.) 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (007475)
This course focuses on the immigration and subsequent history of California's different ethnic groups. It explores their interactions and the effects on the social, political, and economic development of the state. The course is required for Liberal Studies majors. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved US Diversity course. (009060)
Development of the skills for effective dramatization of literature in the elementary classroom or children's theatre, including creative dramatics, storytelling, oral interpretation and group readings. 3 hours discussion. (009224)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing or faculty permission.
An exploration of art-making skills; developing creative, standards-based art lessons and units; and enhancing understanding of theory, history and practice in art education Pre-Kindegarten (P) through Eighth (8) grade levels. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (000803)
Analysis of sequential concepts necessary for understanding the structural elements of music. Development of skills needed to promote musicality in children. 3 hours discussion. (006136)

Professional Prerequisites: 15 units

6 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prospective teachers acquire planned, structured observations and experiences in K-12 classrooms. Placements are made in selected schools and classrooms that demonstrate exemplary practice as described in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and represent California's diverse student population. Dialog/discussion sessions assist prospective teachers in making connections between subject matter courses, personal, social and emotional growth, and life in the K-12 schools. Prospective teachers are encouraged to begin introductory school experiences as early as possible in the subject matter program. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (015812)
Prospective teachers examine socio-political issues of education relative to current demographics of California schools, integration of multicultural education, and promotion of social justice. Candidates identify, analyze, and minimize personal and institutional bias and explore the complexities of living and teaching in a pluralistic, multicultural society. Candidates identify barriers English Learners experience in becoming full participants in the school program and strategies for assisting students in overcoming these barriers. 3 hours lecture. (002977)
Prerequisites: ENGL 371.
Introduction to major issues in second language acquisition and teaching. 3 hours seminar. (003540)
Addresses major health issues affecting the child, including, but not limited to, health promotion and disease prevention, nutrition, substance use and abuse, and sexuality. Overview of health instruction framework for California public schools. Fulfills the state health education requirement for a preliminary teaching credential. 3 hours discussion. (004393)
Physical, mental, social, and emotional factors of human growth and development from infancy through adolescence. Supervised experience working with children is strongly encouraged. 3 hours lecture. (007925)
Prerequisites: A course in developmental psychology, faculty permission.
Applications of principles of the psychology of human learning and development and counseling to educational practice. Prospective teachers analyze their motivations, personal value systems, role conceptualizations, and self-attitudes in relation to demands of the teaching profession. Concepts of emotional, social, and cognitive development as well as of childhood learning and motivation are applied to development of learning experiences for elementary school children. Enrollment is restricted to second-semester juniors, seniors, and graduates. 3 hours seminar. (007900)

Child Development Major Courses: 37 units

For those who wish to take a double major in Liberal Studies and Child Development, this is the pattern you should follow to complete the double major.

10 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: Registration in CHLD 251 for Child Development majors and minors.
A study of the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children from conception through adolescence. The course examines genetic, biological, and environmental influences including cross-cultural issues. Scheduled observation in the Associated Students Children's Center/Child Development Laboratory is met through enrollment in CHLD 251. 3 hours discussion. (001440)
Prerequisites: concurrent registration or prior completion of CHLD 250 or CHLD 252.
This course includes acquisition and application of basic observation skills regarding children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. (Required for students enrolled in CHLD 250.) 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (001441)
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252, CHLD 251.
This course examines the role of curriculum in effective learning programs for children's development. Students gain skills in applying knowledge of children's growth and development to appropriate experiences in the creative arts, play, math, science, literacy, and language. Planning, implementing, and evaluating curriculum activities are key components of the course. Students in the class work directly with children in an approved community program approximately 3 hours a week. 3 hours discussion. (001447)
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; GE Pathway Foundation Quantitative Reasoning (MATH 110, MATH 111 for Liberal Studies majors); CHLD 250 or CHLD 252, CHLD 251.
Students learn the fundamentals of scientific methodology, increase their knowledge of qualitative research methods, and acquire quantitative skills in measurement and statistical evaluation. These skills are applied through reviewing, evaluating, and communicating research. Students also identify the major dimensions of research strategies used in child development and related fields. 2 hours seminar, 2 hours activity. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (001448)
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or PSYC 355.
This class examines the physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial aspects of growth during the school-aged years (ages 5 through 12), as well as contextual influences (e.g., family, school, peer group) on children's development. Particular attention is paid to the implications of developmental patterns for those who work with school-aged children. 3 hours lecture. (001449)
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252, CHLD 251, CHLD 282, CHLD 353, junior standing.
This course examines and appraises current and professional issues affecting the field of child development. Cultural and political influences on the practices of professionals in the field are explored and analyzed. 3 hours lecture. (020216)
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252, CHLD 251, CHLD 282, CHLD 353; NFSC 100 or HCSV 450; junior standing; faculty permission.
This course emphasizes early childhood curriculum design and practice in a supervised student teaching experience in the Associated Students Child Development Laboratory (ASCDL). Students plan and implement a developmentally effective program for young children, practice the role of teachers, assess children's developmental progress, and evaluate their own teaching/learning effectiveness and professional development. Enrollment is limited. 2 hours activity, 9 hours laboratory. (001455)
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252, CHLD 251, CHLD 282, CHLD 353, and GE math with a grade of C- or higher.
This course provides an overview of child and family assessment. The course offers the student both research-based theory and practical applications in these areas. Students apply the knowledge gained during class sessions and readings to relevant assigned projects and papers. 3 hours lecture. (001459)
Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 318; CHLD 392, senior standing, faculty permission.
This class is a guided internship for majors in Child Development. Based on individually determined internship learning objectives, students select a community-based agency placement that matches their career interest in children from birth through 18 years of age and/or their families. Students spend a minimum of 6 hours a week in their internship placement for 12 weeks. Enhanced Internet course; WebCT access is required for this course. 1 hour lecture, 4 hours activity. (001467)

Note: Meets 45 hour early public school experience requirement.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 318; CHLD 392, senior standing, faculty permission.
This capstone seminar integrates the perspectives of various disciplines concerned with the developing child. Its emphasis is on physical, cognitive, personality, and social development of the child in relationship to the family, community, and society. From a research framework, the topics include program practices, professional ethics, collaboration, case management, effective communication, leadership styles, self evaluation, and professional responsibilities. Students also complete comprehensive portfolios as part of the course requirements. 3 hours seminar. (001468)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or CHLD 255 or PSYC 355, faculty permission.
This course is an advanced study of the interpersonal relationships among family members. Topics of reading and discussion include theories and research on family structure and function, family crises, child raising patterns, family finances, and other related topics as per instructor choice. 3 hours discussion. (001462)
A philosophical investigation of the moral and legal dimensions of parenting. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (007212)
This course examines the family as an institution and as a personal and intimate arena of meaning and interaction. With an emphasis on the U.S. and their own experiences, students examine issues of race/ethnicity, sex/gender, and social class; historical changes in family structure and function; and power relations within the family and society at large. 3 hours lecture. (008961)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: One biological sciences course.
The inheritance, expression, and evolution of the genetic material in humans. Topics include genetic engineering, gene therapy, prenatal diagnosis, cancer, the human genome project, genetic influences on human behavior, such as homosexuality and mental illness, and the social and ethical consequences of the new technologies. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (001140)
Prerequisites: One biological sciences course.
Basic biological principles, including the scientific method, reproduction, development, physiology, and anatomy. The biological basis of childhood diseases, immunity, nutrition, issues of health and well-being, and the relevance of biological information in social, political, and ethical decision making regarding children. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (001151)

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 should also check with their advisor on applying elective courses to requirements for authorizations which permit teaching in grades 7 through 9 in a departmentalized setting.

Students working toward a credential may use credential program prerequisite courses as elective units towards the Liberal Studies degree.

(a) Students who plan to enter the Bilingual Program must also take SPED 343 and EDTE 440.

(b) Students who plan to enter the Special Education Concurrent Program must complete the Special Education minor to satisfy all program prerequisites.

(c) Students who plan to enter the General Multiple Subject Program must take EDTE 520 and EDTE 526.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

The University requires a grade of C- or higher in CMST 131, CMST 132, ENGL 130, ENGL 333, MATH 110, MATH 111, and PHIL 102 or approved equivalents for graduation.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Catalog Cycle:12