The School of Liberal Studies

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo

The School of Liberal Studies

Humanities Building, Room 410
Telephone: (415) 338-1830
Website: https://liberalstudies.sfsu.edu

Director: Dr. Jose Acacio De Barros

The School of Liberal Studies houses the following interdisciplinary programs:

• California Studies (minor)
• Comic Studies (minor)
• Liberal Studies (B.A.)

• Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Preparation (B.A.)

Our faculty are accomplished scholars with contributions to a wide range of fields of academic knowledge, such as education, physics, literature, performance, arts, comics studies, anthropology, psychology, environmental sciences, geography, mathematics, and philosophy. This array of intellectual interests allows our School to offer innovative interdisciplinary courses and curricula for students seeking to further their studies, enter the workforce, or simply better themselves.

In our School, we offer the following options for students interested in a B.A.

Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies (L.S.) is the ideal major for students who plan to become elementary school teachers or seek intellectual exploration and advancement without being tied to a single discipline. The B.A. in Liberal Studies is a rigorous and comprehensive interdisciplinary program grounded in academic inquiry in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Liberal Studies students learn to approach complex problems by integrating knowledge from multiple perspectives. Drawing from various academic fields, L.S. students think about issues creatively in ways not restrained by traditional approaches. Liberal Studies classes often consider the relationship between significantly distinct topics, such as indigenous movements and biology, creative arts and social movements, human rights and education, or mind and culture. Because of its interdisciplinarity and breadth of approaches, Liberal Studies graduates are well-positioned to enter a wide range of careers. Many employers and professional schools prefer candidates with an L.S. graduate's richly diversified education and integrative skills. The Liberal Studies major is also highly recommended for aspiring elementary school teachers. Students with a B.A. in Liberal Studies satisfy the subject matter proficiency for multiple-subject credentials and are exempt from taking the CSET exams.

Career Outlook

The Liberal Studies major prepares students for future employment in various fields, including education, government or public service, the arts, management, communications, humanities, social sciences, and work involving multicultural communities. The teacher preparation emphasis provides the broad academic background necessary for teaching in an elementary classroom and as part of a student's preparation for the multiple-subject credential program. The major is also appropriate for various professional and graduate programs such as business, counseling, law, librarianship, medicine, and disciplinary or interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Students interested in becoming elementary school teachers are strongly encouraged to choose the Liberal Studies major and its Teacher Preparation emphasis for their 12 units beyond the core.

• Each student should consult with an advisor at least once a year to discuss the major, selection of courses, and preparation of the planning worksheet.
• For additional information on the program, go to liberalstudies.sfsu.edu/.

Transfer Courses Included in the Liberal Studies Major

With advisor approval, courses transferred from other institutions may be used to fulfill the major's Core requirements if they are upper-division and equivalent to the major's required courses. Lower- and/or upper-division courses transferred from other institutions may be used in the Emphasis Pattern so long as at least six units are upper-division and the content of the courses is equivalent. All residence requirements stipulated in the Bulletin must be met.

Students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at S.F. State must fulfill the Complementary Studies requirement as defined by the major department. Students should consult with a Liberal Studies advisor about how transfer units and S.F. State units can best be applied to this requirement to ensure degree completion within 60 units.

Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Preparation

The Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Preparation (LS-ITEP) is a blended Liberal Studies B.A. and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program. This program focuses on future teachers, and its classes are selected to provide an optimal pathway for students who plan to become elementary school teachers. LS-ITEP students may complete all the required Liberal Studies and credential requirements within four years while at the same time going through a rigorous and comprehensive interdisciplinary program grounded in academic inquiry in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. 

Career Outlook

The Liberal Studies major prepares students for future employment in various fields, but predominantly in education. Because of its teacher preparation emphasis, LS-ITEP provides a broad academic background and a multiple-subject credential for teaching in an elementary classroom. 

• Each student should consult with an advisor at least once a year to discuss the major, selection of courses, and preparation of the planning worksheet.
• For additional information on the program, go to liberalstudies.sfsu.edu/.

Transfer Courses Included in the Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Preparation Major

Before declaring LS-ITEP as their major, students should check whether there are transfer articulations between their originating institution and SFSU. Because the LS-ITEP has many requirements, if no articulations exist, transfer students are encouraged to contact a Liberal Studies adviser before deciding to transfer to this major. With advisor approval, courses transferred from other institutions may be used to fulfill the major's Core requirements. Lower- and/or upper-division courses transferred from other institutions may be used in the Emphasis Pattern so long as at least six units are upper-division and the content of the courses is equivalent. All residence requirements stipulated in the Bulletin must be met.

Students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at S.F. State must fulfill the Complementary Studies requirement as defined by the major department. Students should consult with a Liberal Studies advisor about how transfer units and S.F. State units can best be applied to this requirement to ensure degree completion within a reasonable timeframe.

Major

• Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies Integrated Teacher Preparation

Minors

• Minor in California Studies
• Minor in Comic Studies

Certificate

• Certificate in Creative Nonfiction Comics Making

Comic Studies courses

Liberal Studies

Comic Studies