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Liberal Studies Major FlyerProgram Review
Education Department

Degrees & Programs Liberal Studies

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. 

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

First 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)

Regular Track Sample Plan   

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

 Fast Track Sample Plan

Second Year
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)

Regular Track Sample Plan

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)

Fast Track Sample Plan

Third Year
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)

Regular Track Sample Plan

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)

Fast Track Sample Plan

Fourth Year
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)

Regular Track Sample Plan

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)

Fast Track Sample Plan

 

  • First Year
  • Second Year
  • Third Year
  • Fourth Year
Real-world experiences in learning
Previous
Buddy Day

Students in the Cultural Diversity class pair up with students at a largely Latino elementary school to build relationships, listen to one another’s stories, and ultimately write the stories in a class book.

Prairie Day

Students in the Children’s Literature class host a Prairie Day (story telling, games, dancing, prairie picnic, craft-making) for local elementary students.

Explorations in Teaching

In the Explorations in Teaching class, students engage in a real-world discussion about selecting scholarship recipients. Students also complete a 40-hour fieldwork placement at a local school.

Let's Talk Teaching

Student teachers promote the teaching profession by connecting with students alternate years by visiting a local high school education academy or inviting high school students to campus for a "Let's Talk Teaching" conference.

next

Faculty Highlights

Michelle Hughes, Ed.D.

Promotes compassion, reflection, gratitude, and joyful learning

Read more

Carolyn Mitten, Ph.D., Department Chair

Passionate about math education and STEM accessibility

Read more

Andrew Mullen, Ph.D.

Loves history, biology, literature—and K-12 students

Read more

All Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Meet the Staff

Heather Bergthold

Email: hbergthold@westmont.edu
Tel: (805) 565-6165
Office: Porter Center, Room 1

Career Paths

Most Liberal Studies majors pursue a teaching credential

Jenn Sanchez '14

"Teaching cultivates my own love of learning. I seek to inspire students with innovation, collaboration, and perseverance in learning."

Ashley Guajardo '15

"I love guiding curious young minds as they grow and develop with new exciting challenges."

Sarah Phillips '13

"My favorite aspect of teaching is the relationships I build with students and seeing how this positively influences their learning."

Nicole Aoki '19

The Westmont Teaching Credential Program provided me with relevant and engaging tools, and research-based strategies.  I developed into a professional educator through hands-on learning, dynamic instruction, and immense faculty support. 

Elyssa (Daludado '16) Probart

"Eager hands waving and minds full of thoughtful wonder about the world is why I love to teach."

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.

Westmont Magazine & Horizon Stories
Previous
Stand-out Student Now Stands as Teacher

Allison Judy ’19 discovered that Westmont prepared her in more than one way to become a teacher. “The faith-filled teachings and relationships with friends and teachers cultivated the compassion and perspective necessary for approaching teaching from the heart,” she says. 

Read More
Teaching Outside the Zoom Box

During the pandemic, nine Westmont student teachers used their creativity during this unique and challenging season while learning to teach. Placed in four schools in the Santa Barbara Unified and Hope School Districts, the students took credential courses at Westmont, both online and in person, while collaborating with their cooperating teachers in a remote K-12 classroom.

Read More
A lover of learning and cross-cultural conversation

Anna Luce '22, a liberal studies major who values culture and language, hopes to incorporate both into her future teaching career. 

Read More
next

Students Receive Awards

Outstanding Liberal Studies Seniors

Anna Luce '22

Anna Luce is a conscientious, bright, and determined student who enthusiastically pursued a major in Liberal Studies and a minor in Spanish. Anna cares deeply for marginalized students and will pursue a credential at Westmont in 2022-23.

 

 

Amanda Keelin '21

Education Faculty describe Amanda as a conscientious student who takes on leadership roles confidently, while at the same time acknowledges and respects the voices of her peers. She is articulate and thoughtful and loves working with young children.

Linda Ngo '21

Education Faculty describe Linda as a thoughtful student who cares deeply for others and desires to promote equity as a future teacher. She is always engaged in classroom conversations, asks great questions, and is a leader when working with her peers. She will pursue a credential at Westmont in 2021-22.

 

 

Kate Chase '20

Kate Chase models being a lifelong learner, she will make a difference with children and will be a change agent for good.

Katie Judson '20

Katie Judson is pursuing a teaching credential at Westmont in 2020-21. She brings resilience, fresh ideas and passion to the teaching profession. 

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