Liberal Studies, B.A.: Liberal Arts Concentration

Liberal Studies, B.A. Program (120 units)

Program Description

The Liberal Studies Major aims to provide a rich liberal art educational experience through selected courses from a wide range of academic disciplines, while at the same time allowing students to select a field for in-depth study of their own interest.  The broad-based, interdisciplinary nature of Liberal Studies provides a solid well-rounded undergraduate educational experience, integrating knowledge from arts and humanities, social science, and natural sciences, with analytical and communication skills well suited for many careers and professions.

The major consists of a common core and a choice from three concentrations, designed to meet diverse student interests and needs not only for school teaching, but also for leadership in government, non-profit organizations, and business, and for graduate education in law, counseling, social work and services, public affairs and administration, and educational leadership. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. in Liberal Studies from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

1. demonstrate solid understanding of major contemporary global issues about individuals, society, and nature, by integrating interdisciplinary knowledge of humanity, social science, and natural science, with more in­ depth understanding of one specialized subject area or discipline;
2. apply methods of different disciplines to critically thinking about these issues;
3. communicate ideas clearly and persuasively in speech and writing;
4. work with others in teams collaboratively and productively, showing sensitivity and respect for others, and readiness to learn from others;
5. demonstrate commitment to promoting social justice, diversity, democratic values, and sustainable environment.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

Career Opportunities

Administrator • Business Executive • Customer Service Representative • Educational Leadership • Foreign Service Officer • Human Resources Administrator • Journalist • Lawyer • Manager • Non­profit and Social Advocacy Organizations • Personnel Representative • Salesperson • Social and Human Services • Teacher (K­-6, Pre-K, Early Childhood, Special Education) • Writer

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

• A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
  • The major requirements consists of 71-80 units
  • General Education & Graduation Requirements consists of 57 units ;
  • Free Electives may consist of 0 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.

Liberal Arts Concentration

The Liberal Arts concentration is 24-26 units.  Students must complete the following coursework as outlined below:

• Students must take one (1) of the following two courses for 3-4 units:

• ANTH 110 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-B2
• BIOL 100 - Biology in the Real World Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-B2, GE-B3

•  

  Students must take one (1) of the following courses for 3-4 units:

• ENGL 321 - American Indian Literature Units: 4; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ENGL 322 - African-American Literature Before 1945 Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ENGL 323 - African-American Literature After 1945 Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ENGL 324 - Women’s Literature and Feminist Theory Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ENGL 327 - LGBT Literature and Queer Theory Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ENGL 328 - Latinx Literature Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 302 - Eating The Landscape Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Sustainability
• ES 303 - Debates in Contemporary Native America Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 304 - American Indian Oral Literature Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 305 - Reel Injun: American Indians in Film Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 306 - American Indian Liberation Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 307 - God is Red: American Indian Worldview Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Sustainability
• ES 308 - Cultures of Habitat Units: 3
• ES 320 - The Chicano/a Movement Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 321 - Chicana Feminisms Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 322 - Oral Traditions Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 323 - Latinx and Latin American Film Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 324 - Latin American Immigration Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 325 - Mexico Before Spain Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 326 - Peoples of Central America Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 327 - Decolonize Your Diet Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Sustainability
• ES 328 - Afro-Latinx Cultures, Identities, Histories Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 338 - Asian American Politics Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-F-ES; Social Justice
• ES 340 - Black Literature Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 341 - Enslavement and Resistance in the Americas Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 342 - James Baldwin Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 343 - Black Power Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 344 - Malcolm X: Third World Revolutionary Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 345 - Jazz Cultures and Communities Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 346 - Afrofuturism Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 347 - Black Sexualities Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 360 - Asian American Intimacies and Families Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 361 - Asian Immigrant and Refugee Women in Literature and Cinema Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 362 - Concentration Camps, USA Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice
• ES 363 - Asian American & Pacific Islander Film Festival Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 364 - Asian American & Pacific Islander Communities Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 365 - Asian American and Pacific Islander Environmental Voices Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 366 - Pinayism: Filipina Experiences and Activism Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 370 - South Asian American Communities Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 380 - Queer of Color Histories, Cultures, and Identities Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 381 - Racialized Masculinities Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity
• ES 382 - Women of Color Writers: Race, Sex, and Resistance Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• ES 384 - Interracial Sex and Marriage Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• ES 389 - Engaging Communities of Color Units: 3
• ES 395 - Muslims in the Americas Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Diversity

•  

  Students must take the following course for 3 units:

• HIST 389 - Social Justice and Reform Movements in America Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D; Social Justice

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Undergrad Baccalaureate & Program Requirements  chapter of this catalog. 

Department Courses Listed by Course Type

Liberal Studies Courses

Liberal Studies Program

Courses

Liberal Studies

• •  LBST 101 - CLASS Matters Units: 2
• •  LBST 201 - Introduction to Liberal Studies Units: 3
• •  LBST 223 - Education For Liberation Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-F-ES; Social Justice
• •  LBST 499 - Liberal Studies Senior Seminar Units: 3