Liberal Studies 498; CSET

To develop Liberal Studies majors’ understanding of how practitioners in the five major subject areas—the visual and performing arts, literature, science, history, and mathematics— produce new ideas and confirm new knowledge.
Outcomes

1.1 Liberal Studies students clearly and succinctly explain what types of issues or topics practitioners in the different subject areas explore and what types of products they produce. Science and visual art were the topics for spring 1006.

To think critically and write clearly and effectively
Outcomes

2.1 Liberal Studies students organize and present a reasonable argument supported by examples from multiple sources.
2.2 Students use standard grammar and punctuation.

To develop a more robust knowledge of the concepts taught in specific Liberal Studies subject areas. Linguistics and history were the focus for spring 2006. The specific courses will rotate each semester.
Outcomes

3.1 Students will be able to discuss concepts from linguistics and show how they apply to real-world situations.
3.2 Students understand the role of evidence and interpretation in history.

To develop a more robust knowledge of the concepts taught in all Liberal Studies subject areas.
Outcomes

4.1 Lib S students will do satisfactorily in all the subject areas assessed by the CSET.
4.2 Most LIB S majors will pass the various sections of the CSET on their first attempt.

Reservations for CSET Preparation - Deadline: June 18, 2007.

Preparation is targeting those taking the test on July 21, 2007.
Please note site location has been changed to EJE Elementary Academy Charter in El Cajon.
More information is on Master the CSET-MS flier

Candidates seeking a Multiple Subject Credential in the state of California must satisfy subject matter competency by passing all three subtests of the California Subject Examination for Teachers-Multiple Subjects (CSET-MS). For specific information about each subtest, select "Test Guides" on the left hand menu of the CSET web site.

Subtest I: Reading, Language, and Literature + History and Social Science.
Subtest II: Science + Mathematics.
Subtest III: Physical Education, Human Development, + Visual and Performing Arts.

Passing these exams is not required for graduation from the Liberal Studies major; however, passing is required prior to entering one of the SDSU crednetial programs. Students are introduced to these examination during the LIB S 300 workshop, which they attend during their junior year. Students typically take Subtest III during their penultimate semester (November, March, or May) and Subtests I and II between the penultimate and final semester (January or July). Most students use one of the commerically available study guides when preparing for these exams.

The program collected information on pass rates during spring, summer, and fall 2005, at which time the CSET subtest in the student's area of specialization was required as a part of the LIB S portfolio. The first-time pass rate stayed consistently at 85-89 percent. Students performed best in mathematics and worst in the visual and performing arts. (The VPA subject area requires a huge breadth, which no program can completely cover.) The lower scores in VPA were usually compensated for by high scores in Human Development and Physical Education; thus, most students passed Subtest III in spite of lower scores in VPA. Special attention to VPA while using the study guide is recommended.

Liberal Studies students no longer complete a portfolio. Instead, they complete their senior-level assessment as a part of the LIB S 498 (0.5 unit) course, during their penultimate semester. The assessment currently requires

a three-part capstone project on the nature of two of the disciplines,
a reflection connected to a specific artifact (sample from a course) on one of two possible subjects, and
an in-class essay (currently on the specialization).

These projects deal with at least three of the subject areas that graduates will eventually teach. They tell the program faculty how well Liberal Studies seniors have mastered their ability to do focused research, to support or refute--or modify--a proposed thesis, and to write clearly and effectively with minimal distracting grammar and punctuation errors.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are strongly encouraged to save artifacts from courses: tests, homework, lab write-ups, projects, etc. In addition to the samples already mentioned, students are encouraged to save their syllabi (with the instructor's name), lecture notes, course readers, and as many textbooks as possible. These items will form the foundation for students' future teaching. They also serve as samples and background materials for Liberal Studies 498 and as resources when studying for CSET.