Liberal Studies - Social Science Concentration, B.A.

Liberal Studies Program Director: Whitney Wall Bortz, Ph.D.

Concentration Program Director: Marshall Johnston, Ph.D.

Overview

Within the context of the Fresno Pacific Idea, the liberal studies major at Fresno Pacific University exists to prepare people with a foundation of knowledge needed to become community builders, peacemakers and advocates for change in roles requiring broad liberal arts scholarship. The major seeks to build:

• The ability and desire to understand, evaluate and communicate ideas.
• The ability and desire to discover ideas through disciplinary processes.
• The ability and desire to engage in intensive study and service.
• A sense of interrelatedness among knowledge, experience, responsibility and values.
• A respect for diversity.

The liberal studies major is an interdisciplinary major that provides the content background for multiple subject candidates wishing to enter teacher education programs for teaching at the elementary level in the state of California. Additionally, the liberal studies major provides a rounded course of study in the liberal arts appropriate for preparation in numerous vocations.

Students must prepare a senior project in their last semester prior to graduation that is reviewed by undergraduate faculty and professional educators. In addition, students planning to enter the FPU teacher education program must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better during their baccalaureate program. 

The liberal studies major meets the elementary subject matter requirement for entry into a credential program in the state of California. Therefore, liberal studies majors no longer must pass the CSET prior to receiving a multiple-subject credential.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will use background knowledge and value structures to interact critically, appreciatively, and interpretively with oral, written, symbolic, and artistic language, expressing themselves clearly, persuasively, and creatively.
2. Students will apply various modes of inquiry and disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge to the pursuit of comprehension of linguistic, artistic, technological, mathematical, scientific, historical, political, philosophical, theological, sociological, psychological, literary, and physical modes of inquiry and world views.
3. Students will engage in intensive and orderly study within their concentration through use of significant literature of a field, application of sound methodological procedures, and possession of in-depth knowledge of the contributions of their concentration to the community.
4. Students will develop a personal philosophy of life that gives meaning and wholeness to learning and promotes a life of service, peacemaking, and responsibility.
5. Through community engagement students will actively promote an understanding of and respect for ethnic and cultural diversity, demonstrating flexibility and effectiveness in relating to and communicating with a variety of people in a variety of situations.

Locations Offered

Main Campus Fresno

Degree Pathway

Liberal Studies - Social Science Concentration, B.A. Four Year Pathway  

Concentrations/Minors

Concentrations permit the candidate to specialize in areas of interest and depth. All students must complete a concentration of 12 or more units, a minor, or a double major. Once declared, the minor or double major replaces the need for a concentration.

Seven of the concentration options (art, English, math, physical education, science, social science, and Spanish) should prepare students to apply for a supplementary authorization in the subject area. This means that if the student goes on to apply for a multiple-subjects credential, these courses will allow the student to apply for an authorization to teach the chosen content area in a single-subject position through the ninth grade. 

An eighth concentration in Education allows the student to begin taking credential classes during the B.A. This leads to the completion of a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a multiple-subject credential in only four years. 

Note: The supplementary authorizations are granted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Thus, FPU cannot guarantee that this authorization will be granted.