Liberal Studies

Return to: College of Education and Integrative Studies

www.cpp.edu/~ls/

Christina Chávez-Reyes, Chair

The major in Liberal Studies offers a diversified curriculum for those who are attracted to an interdisciplinary program of study. The purposes of a Liberal Studies degree provides a liberal arts-based program focused on developing the intellectual capacities, communicative skills, interdisciplinary knowledge, and civic and professional dispositions needed in today’s workplaces and communities.

This program serves two types of students: (1) undergraduate students preparing to teach in California public elementary schools, and (2) students with multiple disciplinary interests who seek to enter careers in law enforcement,  human services, health professions, and graduate school among others. The program’s core curriculum is focused on understanding the human condition or what it means to be human through different human perspectives and disciplinary lenses, the historical aim of a liberal arts education. This knowledge and skills develop the “soft skill” which employers are expecting employees to have. Adjusting for a 21^st century context, courses in the Liberal Studies Department are organized around program themes of social responsibility/social justice, sustainability and wellness.

Two main subplans are available. The first is a baccalaureate curriculum (subject matter) preparation for the teaching credential program called the Pre-credential subplan, which has emphases in Human Development, History, Visual and Performing Arts, Literature, Kinesiology, Mathematics, and Science. The General Studies subplan is a flexible program of study that assures a breadth of education across disciplines for students who desire to combine two or more disciplinary areas for personal and/or career objectives. It provides a choice of emphasis in Sustainability, Communities Studies, Professional Studies, or General.

For students interested in teaching, admission to a teacher credential program is by separate application, usually in the senior year or as a post-baccalaureate student. Students choosing a career in education, and intending to continue their credential work at CPP, should consult with the CEIS Credential Services Office for entrance requirements to a multiple subject or special education credential program. Future teachers are also advised to take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) in their junior year, or sooner, to appropriately address possible deficiencies prior to graduation or application to the Teacher Credential program. Teacher candidates must also pass the California State Exam for Teacher (CSET) examination, as well as other requirements. Contact the CEIS Credential Services Coordinator (909) 869-2314 or the Liberal Studies Department office at (909) 869-3567 for details, as teacher education requirements are subject to change.

The Pre-Credential curriculum includes academic discipline areas of language and literature, mathematics, science, social science/history, humanities, the visual and performing arts, physical education and human development. Students must have a grade of C or better in each class to graduate in Pre-credential subplans. (This does not apply to the General Studies subplan.) Students interested in teaching after graduating in Liberal Studies may choose either the Education Specialist Credential Program (for special education) or the Multiple Subject Credential Program (elementary education) if they meet the requirements.  Please see Credential Services Office for details. Students who want to teach middle school or high school must major in the academic discipline (e.g. History, Mathematics, English) they wish to teach, where they should speak with a single-subject advisor.

For students in the General Studies subplan, elective courses may be used to satisfy all or part of the requirements for a minor in another subject, an additional major, or a diversified series of courses tailored to the student’s own interests. These students should seek frequent assistance from CEIS college advisors to support students course section to meet requirements for graduation and to determine appropriate course work and activities to prepare for graduate schools or students’ careers of interest. 

Advising: There are three types of advising for Liberal Studies majors: degree advising, career/personal advising, and career counseling.

For curriculum advising - which deals with registration and related issues - Liberal Studies majors will see your College Advisor. Identify your advisor using your last name:

A-Me - Mrs. Marlene Melinte
Mf-Z - Mrs. Berlinda Crawford

Online appointments and drop-in hours can be made following instructions here; other important advising news and resources found here. College of Education and Integrative Studies also has Peer Advisors, Liberal Studies majors trained to help their peers manage basic advising issues. See here for more information.

Liberal Studies students are highly encouraged to see a College Advisor at least twice per year, working with them as partners to progress toward degree completion. Students should take responsibility for their progress by:

• keeping accurate and careful records,
• learning how to interpret their Bronco Direct student information, and
• staying well informed about degree requirements and deadlines.

It is physically impossible for all Liberal Studies majors to have curriculum advising appointments during the few weeks of official “advising” and “pre-registration” periods set by the University. Students should seek advising during non-peak times (e.g., times not during General Registration or add/drop periods) and come prepared for advising sessions to gain the best results. Advising appointments are scheduled throughout the year, including summer.

For career/personal advising - Each Liberal Studies major is highly encouraged to meet with their assigned Liberal Studies Faculty Advisor at least once a year. In these meetings, faculty and students have conversations about their general college experience, career path options, including graduate school, the progress of undergraduate courses, and co-curricular experiences and possible requirements to prepare for careers. Faculty aim to help students develop help-seeking abilities–necessary for a healthy adult life. Students should expect that faculty advisors might refer students to other university resources (e.g. Career Center) to seek advice or information about their desired career or other curricular issues, creating a proactive, informed decision maker.

Below is the alphabetical distribution of students per each faculty advisor:

Estela Ballón - Professor, Email
Faculty Advisor to Liberal Studies Students with Last Names from A-Cook

Christina Chávez-Reyes - Professor, Email
Faculty Advisor to Liberal Studies Students with Last Names from Cool-Gra

Karen S. Langlois - Professor, Email
Faculty Advisor to Liberal Studies Students with Last Names from Gri-Lum

Teresa Lloro-Bidart - Assistant Professor, Email
Faculty Advisor to Liberal Studies Students with Last Names from Lun-Pac

Jeffrey Roy - Assistant Professor, Email
Faculty Advisor to Liberal Studies Students with Last Names from Pad-San

Maya Stovall - Assistant Professor, Email
Faculty Advisor to Liberal Studies Students with Last Names from Saw-Z

For career counseling - The department has a dedicated Career Center Counselor and Liaison, Dr. Cheryl Love, who CEIS students in the college a few times a week. Appointments can be scheduled by contacting the Liberal Studies Office (909) 869-3567 or lsadmincoord@cpp.edu.

Programs

• Liberal Studies, B.A. - General Studies Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Liberal Studies, B.A. - Pre-Credential Subplan/Option: 120 units

Courses

• LS 1020 - Integrating Knowledge, Learning, and Engagement for Success (3)
• LS 2000 - Special Study for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• LS 2011 - History and Purposes of the Liberal Arts: What is a Liberal Studies Mindset? (3)
• LS 2990 - Special Topics for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• LS 2990A - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Activity (1-3)
• LS 2990L - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Laboratory (1-3)
• LS 3011 - Knowledge and Knowing in the Liberal Arts (3)
• LS 3021 - The Humanities and the Liberal Arts (3)
• LS 3031 - The Social Sciences and the Liberal Arts (3)
• LS 3041 - The Natural Sciences and the Liberal Arts (3)
• LS 4000 - Special Study for Upper Division Students (1-3)
• LS 4011 - Liberal Studies Special Topics in Humanities, Social Science or Natural Sciences (3)
• LS 4211 - Arts Integration II (3)
• LS 4601S - Liberal Studies Synthesis Interdisciplinary Perspective on Contemporary Public Education - Service Learning (3)
• LS 4611 - Liberal Studies Senior Capstone – Activating the Liberal Studies Mindset (3)
• LS 4990 - Special Topics for Upper Division Students (1-3)
• LS 4990A - Special Topics for Upper Division Students Activity (1-3)
• LS 4990L - Special Topics for Upper Division Students Laboratory (1-3)

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