Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies - English Literature Option

at California State University, Dominguez Hills - Carson Campus USA

History as an academic and professional discipline continually looks for the best ways to help us understand times, people, and places very different from our own.  It also provides tools to identify and analyze the processes of historical development that have shaped the world we live in today. One cannot understand the present without carefully studying the past.

The CSUDH History Department offers three degree programs: a 45-unit Bachelor of Arts, a 63-unit Bachelor of Arts Education Option, and a minor. Students in both major degree programs complete two lower-division pre-requisite courses in world history before attaining upper-division status.

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 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 Biological Anthropology is designed to provide the undergraduate student with a strong background in general anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology and research methods. It stresses biological anthropology research methodology, field research, data collection and statistical methodology.

The Earth Science major is one of two programs housed in the Department of Earth Science and Geography. The Earth Science degree is a cross-disciplinary program that trains students for careers involving earth system science, which broadly includes the physical science behind the interactions of the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The Earth Science program also examines the contribution of those systems to natural landscapes and geological hazards, during the modern era and through geological time. Importantly, it also considers the relationship of human populations to these geosystems.

If you are curious about the answers to the following questions, Earth Science might be the right major for you:

• How and when did the Earth form? How has Earth evolved? What is the history of life on Earth? When did the mass extinctions occur, and what caused them?
• What is plate tectonics, and how do tectonic plates interact? How do mountains form? How, where and why do volcanoes form? What causes earthquakes? Can we predict them? Why or why not? How do tsunamis form?
• What are the different drainage patterns for river systems? How do flowing water and ice sculpt the landscape? How does the generation of hydroelectricity change the characteristics of flowing rivers?
• What is groundwater, why is it important to humans, and what are the implications of groundwater contamination?
• What has Earth’s climate been like in the past? How might climate change in the future? What is the greenhouse effect and ocean acidification? What is the carbon cycle, and why is it important?
• What are the differences between non-renewable, renewable and perpetual natural resources? What is the nature of supply vs. demand in regard to water, petroleum, coal, minerals, and other natural resources? What are the pros and cons of various energy sources including nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and carbon-based fuels?

The Spanish Language has become an important global language and those who hold a degree in Spanish is of invaluable asset in California, across the country and the world. Over 534 million people worldwide speak Spanish as a first and second language. More than 41 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish. The US Census Bureau reports that the population of Latino origin is expected to jump to 119 million by 2060. Moreover, the employment opportunities for Spanish majors continue to grow with both the passage of Proposition 58, which removes restrictions on bilingual education programs for California, and with the Global California 2030 Initiative that calls for the expansion of the teaching and learning of world languages and the number of in more than one language over the next 12 years.

The MA program prepares candidates to assume advanced roles in the field of education. The coursework provides broad conceptions of curriculum theories and design, development, and instruction supported with evidence-based best practices.

The Department of Art and Design programs at California State University, Dominguez Hills are characterized by a unique and close correlation among the Art History, Studio Art, and Design Options, and by a strong coordination among the different studio areas. These Options introduce students to potential careers in the art world as well as providing personal fulfillment through creative and scholarly endeavors. Although a minor is not required, those who foresee a career in art are encouraged to complete a minor in the Department of Art and Design.

The Studio Art Option offers students a solid background in both traditional and contemporary media in closely supervised small classes.

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.

Comparative and evolutionary, scientific and humanistic, Anthropology provides a unique opportunity for broadening and integrating one’s view of human existence. Goals of the major concentration in General Anthropology include an understanding of cultural heritage along with a general overview of the significance of cultural change, whether that change be ongoing, from the past, or anticipated in the future. Acquainting students with the cross-cultural perspective and cultural pluralism also are major goals of the General Anthropology concentration.

The field of Child Development is dedicated to understanding how individuals change over time from conception through adolescence. Knowledge of developmental processes and the factors that influence development is essential for effectively working with children and for making sound decisions regarding their welfare and for promoting individual success. The program in Child Development includes in-class and field experiences to prepare students to become knowledgeable and effective child and family professionals. Foundational coursework prepares students to master the basics of development across different developmental periods. As students advance through the program, they take specialized courses to develop a deeper understanding of the factors related to development, its study, and its application.

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.