Academic Catalog 2025-2026

Liberal Studies

College of Education

Program Description

Liberal Studies (LBS) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major for students who intend to become elementary and special education teachers or plan to pursue related graduate work. Courses leading to the B.A. in Liberal Studies focus on the subject areas taught in elementary schools as well as professional preparation and early fieldwork. LBS is a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Program (ESM). 

Highlights of a Liberal Studies Degree

Liberal Studies is focused on preparing students to become elementary or special education teachers.The Liberal Studies curriculum covers a broad spectrum of liberal arts and sciences to give future teachers a solid foundation of knowledge and ideas to use in diverse classrooms. The curriculum is grounded in theoretical frameworks and sustaining pedagogies that foster critical thought around equity, access, and justice.

Depth of Study: Students pursue an area of deeper learning in an approved option within the Liberal Studies Program. This allows them to add more specialized knowledge in a particular area to their well-rounded liberal arts education.

Accelerated Completion of a Credential Program:

  • The program is an approved Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Program (ESM) meaning that students who successfully complete the Liberal Studies major requirements with a grade of “C” or better will not need to take the CSET.
  • Liberal Studies students complete the multiple subject credential program in two semesters instead of three and may also complete all prerequisite requirements towards a credential in special education.

Responsive Curriculum: Faculty in the Liberal Studies department are continuously addressing the curriculum to meet the needs of students while also maintaining quality standards, high expectations, and relevant, required content in all of our courses.

Preparation

Students preparing to enter the Liberal Studies major should focus on building a strong GPA to facilitate their future entry into credential programs. The Associate Degree for Transfer in Elementary Education is the preferred pathway for community college transfer students who plan to enter the Liberal Studies Major. Community college students planning to transfer should know that several General Education (GE) courses "double-count" in the Liberal Studies major. These courses are listed at www.assist.org.

Academic Advisement

Liberal Studies students are encouraged to meet with an advisor every semester to stay on track with graduation and update your plan. The College of Education Student Success Center is the primary source for academic advising and is located in COE 1401. Call 310.243.2276 or email coe_success@csudh.edu for more information. The Liberal Studies Department Chair and faculty are also available by appointment to discuss your academic goals or to support you on your academic journey. Students may email lbs@csudh.edu or call (310) 243-3832 for information about the major, questions about their classes, or other academic issues or campus procedures. 

Graduation with Honors

Undergraduate majors are eligible to graduate with honors in Liberal Studies (honors in the major) if they meet the following criteria:

  1. Complete a minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills.
  2. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all upper-division coursework (300 and 400 level) used to satisfy the requirements for the Liberal Studies major (Core and Option).

Note: Honors in Liberal Studies is different than university honors; see catalog:https://www.csudh.edu/registrar/graduation for details on university honors.

Overall Program Structure

The major consists of two parts:

  1. Core Course Requirements. Students take specific courses in each of five areas: Language and Literature; Mathematics and Science; History and Social Science; Visual and Performing Arts; and Professional Development. These specific courses provide the subject matter background for elementary and special education teachers.
  2. Option or Depth of Study Course Requirements. Students study a subject area within the major in depth and may choose any approved option. (Integrated Option also requires Depth of Study).