| San Diego State University | Division of Undergraduate Studies |
Transitioning to the Upper Division Major
Second semester sophomores and first semester juniors are in the pre-major code. They may take upper division Liberal Studies courses that are listed on the tentative sequence chart under Junior Semester I. These courses are open to pre-majors and majors. They may also take most specialization courses. They may not take Liberal Studies courses that are listed in Junior Semester II, Senior Semester I, or Senior Semester II; these courses are not open to Liberal Studies pre-majors. Footnotes in the Class Schedule tell whether or not a course is restricted. Remember that lower division courses are numbered 100 to 299; upper division courses are numbered 300-499; graduate courses open to seniors are numbered 500 to 599.
To move to the upper division major code, students in the 2003-2004 and later catalogs must complete the following requirements:
When students have completed Math 211, they should take the Liberal Studies Mathematics Proficiency Assessment. (See the Study Guide.) For Part I, they have 25 minutes to answer 18 questions on numbers and operations; some questions require estimation. For Part II, they have 45 minutes to answer 18 geometry questions. To pass, they must earn 11 points on each part. If students don't pass, they need to take Math 215-Mathematics Placement Examination: Part LS Review (1 unit) to improve their math skills. Math 215 is only offered during fall and spring semester, not summer.
Students also need to make sure their GPA is 2.50 or higher. If it isn't, they should talk to an adviser about using course forgiveness and other strategies to improve their GPA.
When students have satisfied all the impaction criteria, they should e-mail the Liberal Studies program via the e-mail link on the home page. A typical message might say, "I have just passed the Mathematics Part LS exam. Please change me to the upper division major code."
Students can check that their code has been changed by looking at their unofficial
transcript on the web portal. On the top left, where the portal lists "major," they will see either PRE-LIBERAL STUDIES or LIBERAL STUDIES. The
latter indicates the student is in the upper-division code and can register for classes that have a footnote saying either:
"Open only to Liberal Studies majors (49015, 49081)" or
"Not Open to Liberal Studies Pre-Majors (49015, 49081)."
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The program encourages students to study abroad the second semester of their sophomore year. Students who choose to attend Deakin University (Geelong campus) in Melbourne, Australia, or Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, may follow the programs that have been preapproved. See Overview, Deakin, and Simon Fraser for details. Other programs are also possible.
Students should check the SDSU International Student Center web site for current possiblities and procedures. TELEPHONE: (619) 594-1982/3440. When they have decided on a plan, they should meet with Dr. Roeder to obtain approval for specific courses and have her sign the agreement form.
Which specialization students choose depends in part on whether they wish to earn a special education, bilingual, or regular multiple subject credential and whether or not they wish to apply for the fast-track Integrated Program (4.5 years total), complete the traditional program (4 years of LIB S plus 1 year of credential), or add a subject matter authorization to a regular credential in order to teach in middle school. Students should use the Specialization Flow Chart to determine which specialization best matches their needs.
Students in the traditional program will complete an upper division specialization consisting of 9 to 12 units in a specific subject area. Students should consider an area that they will thoroughly enjoy so that they can later share their enthusiasm and knowledge with the children they will ultimately teach. The specializations match the subject matter areas that are taught in the school:
|
SPECIALIZATIONS | |||
| Subject Area | Specialization 1 | Specialization 2 | Specialization 3 |
| Reading, Language, and Literature | Literature (9 units) | Linguistics (9 units) | Spanish (12 units plus prereq) |
| History and Social Science | Social Science (9 units) | Ethnic Studies (12 units) | -- |
| Mathematics | Mathematics (10 units plus prereq) | -- | -- |
| Science | Science (10 units) | -- | -- |
| Visual and Performing Arts | Art History or Studio Arts (9 units plus prereq) | Music (12 units) | Theatre (9 units) |
| Physical Education | Physical Education (10-12 units) | -- | -- |
| Human Development | Human Development (15 units) | -- | -- |
For some specializations, an upper-division course in the major may double count in the 12-unit specialization. See the General Catalog. Thus, the shortest specializations require only 9 units beyond the courses in the major.
Handouts for individual specializations are available.
Students are strongly encouraged to choose specializations that improve their knowledge of the subject matter that they will teach. Elemenatary school principals tell us that they prefer to hire students with specializations in mathematics and in science.
The Human Development specialization should be used as a route to the Special Education credential. Students seeking the Special Education Credential must choose SPED 500, 501, and 502.
The Spanish specialization should be used primarily as a route toward the bilingual credential. See the Spanish Specialization handout for information on placement exams. Students who already know Spanish, including how to write Spanish, should consider taking the Spanish Language and Culture exam early. (Contact the Policy Studies Department.) If they pass this exam, they should choose a different specialization so that they gain additional experience writing in English about subject matter content.
Students who only take evening classes should choose carefully. The social science specialization probably allows the greatest flexibility in choosing classes. Most other specializations will not work.
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The highest priority must be completing all the lower division requirements and satisfying the impaction criteria. Students will have very limited course options once they complete the courses in Junior Semester I if they do not complete these requirements.
Junior pre-majors who have completed their lower division requirements should choose courses from junior semester I on the sequence chart; these courses are open to pre-majors. If they wish to take courses from later semesters, they should read the footnotes in the class schedule carefully to determine whether a given course or section of a course is open to LS pre-majors. The following courses are normally open to junior pre-majors.
Students who are having difficulty changing to the upper division major must deal with whatever problems they are facing. It they are desperate, students with 60 or more units may take Special Education 450 (2 units) and Education 451 (3 units) provided they intend to enroll in one of the SDSU credential programs or some other program that accepts these specific prerequisites.
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