Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

at California State University, Dominguez Hills - Carson Campus USA

Students who have academic or professional goals that are not easily met by one of the regular degree programs at CSU Dominguez Hills may find that the undergraduate Special Majors program is more suitable to their unique needs and interests. Through these programs, students will integrate studies from two (or more) departments or colleges, either concentrating on each equally or choosing one department or option as the primary emphasis with the other(s) as secondary.

The undergraduate program in Behavioral Science is designed to provide the student with a broad systematic understanding of human behavior, and of the biological, psychological, cultural, political and social factors that influence such behavior. The program stresses the mastery of key behavioral science concepts; exposure to significant behavioral science theories drawn from psychology, sociology, anthropology and political science; the development and utilization of rigorous investigation, observation and research skills common to the behavioral sciences; and the ability to integrate knowledge across the behavioral sciences. The program provides practical knowledge and skills with enduring career applicability.

Liberal Studies (LBS) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major for students who intend to become elementary and special education teachers or to pursue related graduate work. Courses leading to the B.A. in Liberal Studies focus on the subject areas taught in elementary schools as well as professional preparation and early fieldwork.

The Humanities Graduate Program provides post-baccalaureate students the opportunity to study the traditional humanities fields - philosophy, literature, history, music, and art - in the context of contemporary interdisciplinary topics, as well as in courses devoted to the methodology and current concerns of specific disciplines. Courses enable the critical evaluation of the visual and performing arts, as well as the ideas, cultures and individuals which have shaped our society. Program courses are designed around the theme of the city. Skills in advanced writing, research, and presentation are exercised in seminars and in a final research or creative project.
 
Designed for professionals such as teachers for whom the possession of a master's degree has practical as well as personal value, the program also serves the student who is continuing his/her college education for the enrichment of lifelong learning.

Psychology is about people's behavior and about people's experience. Psychologists teach and do research or applied work on subjects relating to the social and behavioral sciences. In order to discover more about behavior, psychologists study both humans and animals. Psychology covers a wide range of topics, from the way our social environment influences us to the inner workings of our bodies. This diversity of topics is reflected in the psychology curriculum.

The Health Psychology Option will provide students with a solid academic background in health psychology. This specialized track is designed to meet the professional needs of college graduates who plan careers in community health and other health care settings such as rehabilitation centers, primary care centers and hospices. In addition, students enrolled in the Health Psychology Option will learn how to promote wellness in individuals and within organizations, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programs. The goal of concentrated study in health psychology is to provide the student with an understanding of the relationships among biological, psychological, and social factors as they interact to influence mental and physical health. This goal is accomplished through an integrated program of coursework and research training. Students can earn up to 3 units of credit per semester for directed research (PSY 598) and thesis research (PSY 599). Our graduate students have been very successful securing funding for their graduate studies through several opportunities at California State University, Dominguez: Graduate Studies and Research travel fellowships, Graduate Equity Fellowship, PEGS RA/TA fellowships, and PEGS travel fellowships. In the Psychology M.A. (Health Psychology track) the student is required to complete 36 units of credit. In addition, the student must successfully complete a thesis.

The Department of Anthropology offers undergraduate students course work in the five anthropological subdisciplines: ethnology, archaeology, biological anthropology, applied anthropology and anthropological linguistics. In addition, courses focus on contemporary disciplinary research, area studies and societal applications of anthropological knowledge.

The major concentration in Archaeology is designed to provide the undergraduate student with a strong background in general anthropology, archaeology and cultural preservation. It stresses anthropological theory, archaeological methodology, field research, data collection, area studies and applications of the field to cultural resource management. In the face of rapid population expansion and increased development, public concern has grown to protect the quickly diminishing cultural resources related to our ancestral and traditional heritage. In addition to the concentration, the department offers a certificate in Cultural Resource Management to those students who complete the program and demonstrate competence in applied aspects of the field.

The Department of Africana Studies in the College of Arts and Humanities offers a major and a minor in Africana Studies. Africana Studies is primarily a peoples- and culture-based discipline that investigates Africana peoples’ experiences. These experiences range from earliest human civilizations through the tragic era of enslavement, colonization, uprootment, to the forced migration and displacement of African peoples. The intellectual framework that sets Africana Studies apart from other disciplines is that it explores the subject area from the perspective of Africana peoples’ interests, aspirations, possibilities, and envisioned destinies. The foundation of the discipline rests on an understanding and appreciation of African peoples’ worldview and philosophy of life as the starting point for all Africana intellectual inquiry.  The BA degree and minor program offered by the department emphasize an examination of the theoretical and empirical characteristics of the African world experience from both a contemporary and historical perspective.

Information Technology forms the technological infrastructure of modern commerce. It’s the driving force of every industry and permeates everyday life. The ability to combine the power of computing with the management of multimedia information is arguable the key to obtaining ascendancy in any field.

Information Technology is an ever-evolving, expanding field. The Information Technology Program will provide students with the background, knowledge and skills they will need to adapt to the dynamic nature of the marketplace.

The BSIT degree provides a high quality science degree program in information technology that will prepare student for lifelong learning as they pursue professional careers in informational technology and leadership roles in the society in which they serve. It provides our students with a strong foundational base, state-of-the art techniques, methodologies, and tools to specify, design and develop technology-based solutions to complex system problems. This program prepares our students to communicate well, both orally and in writing, on moral and ethical development, in knowledge of the liberal arts, and on commitment to services to others. IT provides opportunities for students to contribute to the body of knowledge that serves the profession, by engaging in activities which support their interest and are in agreement with the goals and objectives of the College, and the university.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program, is designed to accomplish two objectives. The first of these is to prepare students for lifelong professional careers in commerce, finance and industry, as well as for management careers in the public and not-for-profit sectors. A second objective is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to obtain professional, entry level positions in one functional area of the business enterprise, or in some particular field of business.

The Master of Science Program in Biology is a two-year program in which a student must complete a series of both core and elective courses and engage in independent scientific research that culminates in a thesis. This graduate program is designed to be a flexible degree that can help students reach their career goals, whether that be further study in a doctoral program or employment in science education, health sciences or environmental fields.

In the first semester of the program, the student will choose a research mentor who will provide guidance for the thesis research and help the student set their curriculum. Three members of the student's thesis committee, including the research mentor, will need to be selected by the end of the first year of the program.

To accommodate students with other professional commitments, many graduate classes are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening.