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. 

Liberal Studies Handbook

Sample Tracks

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 Sample Plan     Fast Track Sample Plan
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 Sample Plan Fast Track Sample Plan
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 Sample Plan Fast Track Sample Plan
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)

 
Regular Track Sample Plan Fast Track Sample Plan
Real-world experiences in learning
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.

Faculty Highlights

Michelle Hughes, Ed.D.

Promotes compassion, reflection, gratitude, and joyful learning

Read more

Carolyn Mitten, Ph.D.

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

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

Elyssa (Daludado '16) Probart

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

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."

See career paths for graduates who majored or minored in liberal studies at Westmont.