Degrees & Programs Liberal Studies

Westmont students connect with elementary students

Your Path to Teaching Elementary School

If you desire to pursue a career in elementary education, the Liberal Studies major is a great choice. The major helps you develop expertise in all subjects normally taught in the elementary classroom and prepares you for the CSET (subject-matter exams) required for entrance into a California Teacher Credential Program.

With a Liberal Studies degree, you are well-positioned  to earn a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. On the regular track, you return for a fifth year to earn a teaching credential. With careful planning and hard work, you may be able to complete both the Liberal Studies major and earn a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at in four years at Westmont’s Teacher Credential Program

Maria Hernandez teacching

What is Liberal Studies?

In California, unlike most other states, those who wish to pursue a career in elementary education generally choose a multi-disciplinary major called Liberal Studies. The Liberal Studies major is a degree primarily in academic content, allowing you to develop expertise in all of the subjects that are normally taught in the elementary classroom.

Westmont’s Liberal Studies major is a state-approved program for Elementary Subject Matter, aligned with the CSET examination that allows entry into a teacher preparation program for a Multiple Subject (Elementary) credential.

Liberal Studies Handbook

Sample Tracks

Regular Track Five-Year Sample Plan   

Fast Track Four-Year Sample Plan

Sample Tracks by Year

Regular Track
Fast-Track
Fall (13 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • ENG 2: Composition (4)
  • HIS 7: US to 1877 (4)
  • PE 32:  Fitness for Life (1)
SprinG (13 units)
  • ENG 6: Studies in Lit. (4)
  • LS 12: Life Science (4)
  • Concentration elective (4)
  • PEA (1)
Fall (17 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • ENG 2: Composition (4)
  • HIS 7: US to 1877 (4)
  • PHS 11: Physical Science (4)
  • PE 32: Fitness for Life (1)
Spring (17 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • ENG 6: Studies in Lit. (4)
  • LS 12: Life Science (4)
  • Concentration elective (4)
  • PEA (1)
Mayterm (3-4 units)
  • Foreign Language
Regular Track
Fast Track
Fall (16 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • MUS 184:  Music for Children (4)
  • PHS 11: Physical Science (4)
  • Concentration elective (4)
Spring (16 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • ED 172:  Children’s Literature (4)
  • ENG 104:  Modern Grammar and Composition (4)
  • Foreign Language (4)
Fall (19 units -- overload)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • MA 160: Fund. of Math (4)
  • ED 105: Cultural Diversity (4)
  • Concentration Elective (4)
  • ED 160: Technology for the Classroom Teacher (2)
  • PEA (1)
Spring (18 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • MA 165: Fund. of Math II (2)
  • ED 172: Children’s Literature (4)
  • ENG 104: Modern Grammar and Composition  (4)
  • ART 180: Art for Children (4)
Regular Track
Fast Track
Fall (14 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • ENG 106:  Language Acquisition (4)
  • PHS 114:  Earth Science (4)
  • KNS 155:  Fundamentals of Movement (2)
Spring (15 units)
  • HIS 178: CA History (4)

  • ART 180:  Art for Children (4)
  • PSY 115:  Child Development (4)
  • ED 160:  Technology for the Classroom Teacher (2)
  • PEA (1)
Fall (18 units)
  • GE Common Context (4)
  • PHS 114: Earth Science (4)
  • PSY 115: Child Development (4)
  • Concentration elective (4)
  • KNS 156: Health Education (2)
Spring (19 units -- overload)
  • HIS 178: CA History (4)

  • ED 100: Explorations in Teaching (4)
  • ENG 106: Language Acquisition (4)
  • MU 184: Music for Children (4)
  • KNS 155: Fundamentals of Movement (2)
  • ED 109: Liberal Studies Seminar (1)
Regular Track
Fast Track 
Fall (18 units)
  • ED 105:  Cultural Diversity (4)
  • >MA 160: Fund. of Math (4)
  • KNS 156:  Health Education (2)
  • Elective (4)
  • Elective (4)
Spring (15 units)
  • ED 100:  Explorations in Teaching (4)
  • MA 165: Fund. of Math II (2)
  • Concentration Elective (4)
  • Elective (4)
  • ED 109:  Liberal Studies Seminar (1)
Fall (18 units)

Graduate with 124 units in December

  • ED 110: Educational Psychology (4)
  • ED 120: Social Studies/Science Instruction (4)
  • ED 150: Math Instruction (4)
  • ED 170: Reading and Language Arts  Instruction (4)
  • ED 130: Special Education (2)
Spring (15 units )

Post graduate units

  • ED 190: Student Teaching (12)
  • ED 195: Student Teaching Seminar (3)

 

Real-world experiences in learning

Career Paths

Graduates teach in a variety of K – 12 classroom settings from public to private, and many teach in international schools. After several years teaching in the field, graduates often pursue educational administration, school counseling, or even add an additional credential.

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