Course Requirements (Areas of Study)

In the courses required for the Liberal Studies major you will study:

Literature and writing in courses such as
ENG 105 Advanced Composition or ENG 109 Writing: Voice and View and
ENG 25/125 Mythmaking: The Quest for Meaning or
ENG 28/128 Contemporary Issues in World Literature and
ENG 134 Children’s Literature; ENG 102 Linguistics and SPE 10 Speech

Two courses in mathematics;
One course in life science;
A course in health;
two courses in physical science, which include at least four of the physical sciences— physics, chemistry, geology and astronomy);

Once class in computer
May be fulfilled by ART 15 Computer Graphics, ART 116 Websites or CIS 1 Introduction to Computers (depending on your interest and skill level)

Courses in the social sciences, including 
HIS 25 Cultural Geography;
POL 1 American Government and Institutions;
HIS 188 California History;
HIS 103 World History;
a course in U.S. History, such as HIS 106 Cultural History of the United States or
HIS 191 Major Issues in the United States — Women’s History, and
SOC 161 Majority/Minority Relations

Ten units of human development and psychology, including one course in physical education in the elementary school and PSY 113 Learning in Children and Adolescents across Cultures.

Nine units in art, music, drama and dance,
including an art appreciation course which may be selected from
ART 170 History of Art: Ancient through Medieval to
ART 172 History of Art: Modern World or
ART 173 Multiculturalism and the Visual Arts or
ART 174 Women in contemporary Art.

One unit courses in art, music, and drama and dance are included to help future teachers prepare for introducing elementary school children to the fine arts:
ART 145 Arts and Crafts in the Classroom,
MUS 130 Creative Music Experience, and
INT 194A Introduction to Drama and Dance.

The fifteen units of philosophy and religious studies required for general studies double count for the Liberal Studies major and provide important knowledge in the areas of lifelong learning and ethics.

Liberal Studies majors complete the study of two semesters of a language other than English. Students are encouraged to continue the study of Spanish in order to assist those in their classrooms who will be English-language learners with Spanish as their home language.

To successfully complete the Liberal Studies major and to further explore their interest in teaching before embarking on the Concurrent Program of Teacher Preparation, students include the course EDU 106 School and Society in their program.

EDU 106/206 School and Society (3)
This course explores major concepts and principles regarding the historical and contemporary purposes, roles and functions of formal education in American society. Three primary areas are examined: (1) the social and cultural conditions of K-12 schooling, especially as it related to persistent inequalities in schools and the role of teachers in the creation of equitable classrooms; (2) the underlying principles, values, and history of the content areas taught in K-12 schools in the U.S. and (3) legal and ethical obligations of teachers and schools in today's society.

Go to the Education Department to see the Course Descriptions for other courses in Education.

These upper division courses in Education, as well as supervised teaching, double count to meet the 45 upper division units required for graduation.

Students who decide to complete the teacher preparation program as graduate students or whose personal situations does not allow a program quite as time-consuming and compressed as the Concurrent Program of Teacher Preparation select another major for their B.A. degree. After graduation these students apply to the Mount St. Mary’s College Graduate Education Program for their elementary teaching credential.

Learn more about the Graduate Teacher Preparation Program taken concurrently with a Masters Degree in Education

In addition to the courses required in the various academic subject areas, the Mount offers a set of three seminars taken at the beginning, middle, and end of the program. From your first semesters of study, you will be introduced to the “Liberal Studies” not as a check off list of requirements, but as a unified program of subject matter preparation for your future.

Go to the “Liberal Studies Seminars” for student responses to the seminars and descriptions.