Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

at California State University - Monterey Bay USA

The Communication Design B.S. helps you to develop skills in visual design, web design, game design and interactive media to fulfill the needs of these industries. You’ll gain a broad-based understanding of current technologies and applications along with knowledge of design, communication, and management skills.

The Mathematics major prepares you to analyze complex discipline-based issues, synthesize information from multiple sources and perspectives, communicate skillfully in oral and written forms, and use appropriate technologies. The flexibility of the major gives you enough freedom to mold your degree along your particular interest toward a career or graduate school. Many mathematics majors pursue careers in industry (e.g. engineering, finance, business), teaching, and government service immediately upon graduation. Others continue on to graduate school, then pursue careers in research and university teaching.

In the Psychology major, you’ll develop a solid understanding of human behavior and mental processes using a scientific approach. You’ll explore the ways in which human biology, psychological experience and cultural contexts combine to influence our actions and thoughts.

The Human Development & Family Science major focuses on human development from infancy through old age. Students will examine how family and community dynamics affect the development of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences. Through fieldwork, program evaluation, and service-learning, students become prepared to work with children, youth, families, and elders in education or social service programs.

To learn more about the major, visit the Human Development and Family Science Department.

The Master of Arts in Education prepares strong education professionals to have an informed understanding of complex learning; the knowledge and skills to promote such learning; and the disposition to advocate effectively for the learning, living and growth of students, especially those who bring cultural, linguistic and other diversity to schools. The program coursework challenges educators to analyze and improve their instructional practice to better serve students with diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as students with special needs.

The Teaching Credential emphasis combines initial studies in teaching and learning with graduate level scholarship for prospective teachers who seek a teaching credential and a Masters of Arts in Education Degree.

Program features

• Motivated candidates can complete the program in 24 months.
• Credential earned in 1 year, ability to teach and finish Master of Arts courses in final year.
• Year-long Field Placement in K-6 classrooms.

The Liberal Studies (LS) B.A. program is designed for students who desire to become elementary or special education teachers. There are different pathways to choose from, depending on your interests:

LS BA Traditional Pathway - This pathway is for the Liberal Studies BA degree only. Upon graduation, students on this pathway may pursue a credential at CSUMB or another institution.

Business Administration prepares you for careers in business and social enterprise and government sector where management, ethics, technology, critical thinking, and communication skills are essential. Our graduates’ entrepreneurial and leadership traits, combined with their business skills and knowledge, have enabled them to launch their own businesses or move into high-potential jobs.

Our goal is for you to graduate with not just a solid foundation in business knowledge and skills, but also with the behavioral attributes that give you a competitive advantage in either your chosen career path or graduate school. We promote our students’ success in their chosen careers with business knowledge and skills developed through engaged teaching and learning. We provide integrated, hands-on education and responsible engagement with real-world challenges.

The ability to communicate with Japanese speakers and appreciate Japanese culture gives you an advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Japanese language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the global community.

The B.A. in Japanese Language and Culture prepares you to be an active participant in an ever-shrinking and increasingly interdependent world society by developing your literacy in global matters, multiculturalism and cultural diversity, as well as guiding you to achieve a higher level of language proficiency (Intermediate-High level according to the ACTFL guidelines). You will be able to communicate effectively in Japanese with well-rounded Japanese cultural knowledge in such areas as arts, history, humanities, literature, and social sciences.

The program prepares you for successful careers in professions such as teaching, business, technology, travel, tourism, foreign policy, governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as for graduate study in Japanese studies, linguistics, Asian studies, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management, environmental sciences, business management, law school, and business administration.

The B.A. in Music is a hands-on program that prepares students for careers in performance, composition for acoustic and electronic/interactive media, sound engineering, audio programming, and music education, across commercial, independent, and community sectors: Music students produce concerts, mixes, musicals, scores, performances, sound installations, texts, talks, electroacoustic compositions, and interactive and experimental multimedia work in a variety of collaborative, independent, and cross-disciplinary projects. Courses develop skills and experience in all aspects of music-making, including producing, performing, analyzing, composing, songwriting, mixing, editing, documenting, marketing, and programming.

Rooted in the liberal arts tradition of critical, interdisciplinary thought and practice, the degree emphasizes well-rounded musicianship through a balance of experience in performance, composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, acoustics, and music technology - each characterized by its own ways of thinking and doing - complemented by rigorous, fundamental training in critical listening, sight-singing, keyboard skills, and the fluent reading, writing, and digital engraving of Common Western Music Notation. Beyond these fundamentals, students craft a personal, inquiry-driven degree emphasis in response to a chosen research and creative agenda, leading to an ambitious scholarly-creative capstone thesis project in a chosen area of expertise.

In the CS program, you will learn fundamental computer science concepts while applying your knowledge to solve real-world problems. Collaboration, team work, and communication skills are infused into the learning experiences with heavily project-based courses in a state-of-the-art technological environment.

You’ll begin by taking a set of common core courses to establish a strong foundation in computer science, followed by coursework in one of four concentration areas: Software Engineering, Network and Security, Data Science, or Game Development. The curriculum provides you the opportunity to learn concepts and develop skills in more than one concentration, helping you to become a well rounded computer science professional.