The liberal studies major is designed for students who intend to teach at the elementary or middle school level. Individuals learn to think critically, analyze evidence thoughtfully, and write clearly and effectively. Graduates develop a rich understanding of the major subject areas—literature, history, mathematics, science, and the visual and performing arts—including how practitioners create and evaluate new knowledge. They learn to identify and understand the developmental stages of children and to observe, interview, and tutor children effectively in classroom settings.
When deciding where to attend college, what should you look for?
The liberal studies major at SDSU satisfies the Senate Bill 2042 requirements for Elementary Subject Matter programs. It was approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in September 2001. The subject matter closely matches the content assessed by the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) exam and the standards taught in California public elementary schools.
Since 2003 when the CSET became a requirement for subject matter authorization, 88% of SDSU Liberal Studies majors have passed the CSET subtest in their area of specialization on their first try.
Of the freshmen who first enrolled in fall 2000, thirty-one percent graduated as Liberal Studies majors in four years and sixty-eight percent graduated in five years. Of freshmen who enrolled in fall 2001, thirty-three percent graduated as Liberal Studies majors in four years.
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TRADITIONAL, INTEGRATED, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS
Recognizing that students have a variety of needs and goals, the SDSU Liberal Studies Program now offers three options. These options differ primarily in terms of the specialization; i.e., the special 9 to 12 units that focus on a specific subject area or the credential methods courses plus one history of art, music, literature, science, math, etc. course.
Traditional Program
The specialization consists of 12-units in a given discipline. In some specializations, one course from the upper division major may be double counted. Specializations focus on the major subject areas taught in the schools or human development.
Integrated Program
The Integrated Program is designed for students who wish to teach elementary school, especially the primary grades (K-3). Students who qualify are able to complete the Liberal Studies major and credential coursework in nine semesters (135 units). The ninth semester may be completed at the post-baccalaureate level.
Middle School Option
The Middle School Option is designed for students who want the flexibility of being able to teach either at the elementary or middle school level. Because of the shortage of teachers with single subject credentials in mathematics and science, Liberal Studies graduates have been especially successful in obtaining middle school positions in these two subject areas. Students complete the traditional Liberal Studies major, one of the specializations required for the traditional program (see above), plus additional coursework in the same subject area sufficient to qualify for a 32-unit Introductory Subject Matter Authorization from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. If students plan carefully, they are able to finish this special version of the Liberal Studies major in approximately eight semesters and the post-baccalaureate credential program during a ninth and tenth semester. Advising sheets are available at the Liberal Studies Office.
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The major includes a number of courses specifically designed for future elementary teachers including children’s literature, linguistics, mathematics, inquiry-based science, early world and United States/California history for teachers, hands-on art and performing arts courses, physical education of children, and child development. The content covered in the courses closely matches the content that they will ultimately have to teach in the schools as well as the content assessed by the California Subject Exam for Teachers-Multiple Subjects (CSET-MS) examination.
SDSU freshmen's favorite course is Mathematics Education 212, Children's Mathematical Thinking. In this half-semester course, students spend four or five days at an elementary school. Working with a partner, they interview children to determine how the children think about specific math problems. After each interview, they meet with their class to discuss what the children said and what they did if given manipulatives. The Liberal Studies students try to figure out what kind of thought processes the child was using to solve each problem. Research completed by Dr. Randy Philipp and his team as part of a National Science Foundation grant has found that students who complete this course concurrently with their Math 210 and 211 courses are much more motivated to learn math. They realize that they will have to understand math thoroughly if they are to be able to help both the very gifted and the struggling students in their future classes. The Math 210 Number Systems in Elementary Mathematics and Math 211 Geometry in Elementary Mathematics courses help students learn how to explain conceptually the principles of mathematics.
The sophomores' favorite class is General Studies 130, Child and Family Development from a Cultural Perspective. In this exciting child development class, students apply the theories they are learning to interpret the behavior of third graders from Adams Elementary, an ethnically diverse San Diego elementary school. When thinking about physical development, students view a CD-based video of three girls participating in the PE activity. Later, they may see one or two of the same children when answering questions about cognitive, social, psychological, or moral development.
The music or dance activity courses and the physical education of children courses are two other lower division favorites. In Music 102 students learn the basic elements of music (melody, rhythm, and harmony) via singing, the keyboard, and simple instruments and how to implement music in their future classrooms. Taking this course during their freshman year helps students meet other Liberal Studies pre-majors and provides a connection to their future teaching. Starting in fall 2006, credit by exam may be earned by students who know how to read music, play an instrument, and sing. (See Music 102 Challenge Test under Handouts.) In Dance 102, a new option, students learn the basic elements of dance. Exercise and Nutritional Science 241A and 241B, Physical Education of Children: Theory and Activities is available for sophomores. This pair of 1-unit courses provides the fundamentals of physical education of children with a focus on life-long fitness. In the activity part, students create lesson plans, which they teach to their peers.
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The various content courses in the major revolve around a core that form a framework for integrating knowledge and fieldwork. These core courses help students discover how they will ultimately use their knowledge in the classroom.
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SUPPORTIVE, EFFECTIVE SUPPORT STRUCTURE
The Liberal Studies Coordinator, advisers, Office Manager, and the Assistant Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Studies believe that students need "tough love" if they are to succeed. Thus, all students are required to attend orientation before they receive individual advising. At orientation they learn how the major is structured, how to choose a specialization or the Integrated Program, how to use the many electronic advising resources SDSU provides, how to choose and sequence courses effectively, and how to get help in the future.
Once students have attended orientation, they are invited to make an appointment to set up an advising file and discuss individual goals and concerns. Students who have advising files are welcome to visit during Tuesday and Wednesday walk-in advising hours. However, they and any other interested students are strongly encouraged to organize their questions and send them via the program's e-mail advising system. So many students have discovered that the e-mail advising system is both efficient and effective that the program leaders suspect that more than half of all advising occurs via e-mail. The e-mails provide an excellent method of tracking decisions and documenting plans.
The program keeps students up-to-date on their responsibilities via a series of workshops. During the second semester, the coordinator visits ED 200, Teaching as a Profession, classes to help the second semester freshmen plan for their sophomore year. When students take LIB S 300, Introduction to Liberal Studies, during their junior year, the coordinator and the College of Education require that students attend a workshop on dealing with the CSET exam and the Liberal Studies assessment, planning for a credential program, and exploring financial aid opportunities including the APLE program. When students take Liberal Studies 498, Assessment in Liberal Studies, during the first semester of their senior year, the coordinator and assessment coordinator discuss strategies for passing the CSET and provide the support needed to pass the Liberal Studies assessment projects.
The steady improvement in graduation rates that has been observed over the last two years shows that implementation in 2001 of these required workshops and our own Liberal Studies advising staff (office manager, advisers, and assistant dean) has provided the type of supportive enviroment that leads to student success.
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The growing diversity of the American classroom is one of the realities of the 21st century. How do students prepare themselves to teach students from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds? Understanding cultural differences and knowing how to communicate are essential qualifications for future teachers, and studying abroad helps them achieve these goals.
SDSU has made a commitment to meet these challenges by offering Liberal Studies majors unique opportunities to spend a summer or semester abroad while earning credit to fulfill their SDSU requirements. Because of the nature of the program, Liberal Studies and the Education Abroad Office encourage students to participate in such programs their sophomore year. Some additional options include completing language requirements or their upper division specialization. Opportunities also exist to participate in supervised classroom instruction abroad; however, the units earned do not count toward graduation.
Fluency in a language other than English is not a requirement in most cases, and financial aid is available. Sometimes, study abroad is CHEAPER than spending a term here at SDSU. Studying abroad is important and affordable.
Contact:
Robert Carolin
Assistant Director for
Education Abroad
SDSU International Student Center
TEL: (619)
594-1982/3440
rcarolin@mail.sdsu.edu
http://www.sdsu.edu/studyabroad
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