1. What is the Liberal Studies major?
2. What else can I do with a degree in Liberal Studies?
3. Where do I go for advising?
4. Which Track do I follow?
5. Is there really a need for teachers?
6. How much money does an elementary school teacher make?
7. When do I get a credential?
8. How do I get a credential?
9. What is a PAWS?
10. What is a Grad Check?
11. What is a Concentration?
12. What is the CBEST test?
13. What is the CSET test?
14. What is the RICA test?
15. Do I need to take the ELM or EPT test?
16. How do I change my major or concentration?
17. Is the Bulletin and Schedule of Classes on-line?
18. What classes can I take at a community college?
19. How do I add or drop classes?
20. How do I remove a hold?
21. What happens when I repeat a class?
22. When am I ever going to be finished with this degree?
23. How do I get a campus email account?
24. How can I pay off some of my student loans?

1. What is the Liberal Studies major?
The Liberal Studies major is especially designed to prepare future primary teachers in grades kindergarten through sixth or eighth grade.

2. What else can I do with a degree in Liberal Studies?
A Liberal Studies degree lets you do much more than teach! Liberal Studies majors have a wide range of career opportunities, including but not limited to, elementary school teaching, pre-law, state and local government, librarians, doctors, social workers, administrators, writers and in various fields within social services, human relations, and many professional positions in private corporations which require a bachelor's degree.

3. Where do I go for advising?

If you are an undergraduate and interested in the Liberal Studies degree and elementary education, stop by the Liberal Studies Advisisng Center in Pfau Library, Room - 241 for information about the Liberal Studies major and also go to the Teacher Education Office in the Faculty Office Building, Room - 125 for information on the teaching credential program.

4. Which Track do I follow?
The General Track leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and is designed for students who plan to become elementary, K-8 school teachers, by completing a fifth year of post-baccalaureate courses in Multiple Subject Teaching Credential after you finish your undergraduate degree. The Spanish Studies Track leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and is designed for students who plan to become elementary, K-8, school teachers but who may wish to teach in a dual immersion (bilingual) classroom. The Integrated Track leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies AND a Multiple Subject Credential. It is designed for students who plan to become elementary, K-8, school teachers AND who want to save time (27 units or about two quarters) by working on the credential preparation along with your B.A. degree. This Arts and Letters Track is an interdisciplinary track that provides breadth of knowledge and allows the student a good deal of flexibility to choose courses in a wide variety of disciplines, while also ensuring some content focus and skill development. This track is designed to be a broad major that would be useful and appealing for those who want a non-specialized degree for their own personal purposes or because they seek employment or advancement in jobs that only require a college degree in any subject for employment or promotion.

5. Is there really a need for teachers?
Teachers at the elementary level will be in demand in the up coming years, especially in this region, and will continue to play a vital role in society with both national awareness of the importance of education and classroom enrollments steadily increasing.

6. How much money does an elementary school teacher make today?
Starting salaries in Southern California range from $39K to $50K in 2007. Experienced teachers can earn up to $90K at the top salary steps. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics for May 2005 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in California go to http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_abo.htm

7. When do I get my credential to teach?
The Liberal Studies major is the degree program an undergraduate should select to best prepare you to teach in the elementary school. After earning your B.A. degree in Liberal Studies and passing the CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers-Multiple Subject), http://www.cset.nesinc.com, to prove subject matter competency, you will need to complete the Multiple Subject Credential program to obtain your credential to teach. This credential work can be completed while you are an undergraduate via the Integrated Track.

8. How do I get my credential to teach?
It is not difficult, but there are lots of steps that must be followed. Listed below will be the steps you will need to follow to begin your credential program:

(1) ...…Apply or reapply to CSUSB, http://www.csumentor.edu,

(2) ...…Purchase a Handbook for the Multiple Subject Credential Program at the Coyote Bookstore,

(3)...…Attend an Informational Meeting scheduled through the Teacher Education Office, FO-125, (909)537-5650, as listed in each quarterly Schedule of Classes,

(4) ...…At the Informational Meeting, you will be assigned an education advisor, you will eventually visit with this advisor.

(5) ...… In your Handbook, there will be information concerning the completion of your Program Admission File (P.A.F.), you must submit your completed P.A.F. to the Credential Assistance for Students in Education Office (C.A.S.E.) in Chaparral Hall Room 123 (909) 537-5609, at least one quarter prior to enrolling in any credential course.

(6) ...…You must have successfully completed all lower-division courses and the prerequisite courses: a.) English 311, The English Language (4 units) and one of the following: b.) EELB 301, Growth and Development in Socio-Educational Contexts (4 units) or Human Development 240, Introduction to Child Development (4 units) and c.) Human Development 245, 246 or 247, the observation course of Human Development 240.

(7) ...…You must have successfully completed or be currently enrolled in the pre/co requisite courses: a.) Health Science 100, Concepts in Health (2 units) and one of the following: b.) ESPE 350, Introduction to Special Populations for General Education Teachers (4 units) or Psychology 350, Development of Exceptional Children (4 units) with a passing grade of "C-" or better.

(8) ...…Written verification of a passing score on the required California Basic Educational Skills Test (C.B.E.S.T.) or Sub-Section IV on the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (C.S.E.T.).

(9) ...…Complete the application form (PAF);

(10) .…Written verification of a passing score on the C.S.E.T. (your credential must be completed within five years of passing the C.S.E.T.);

(11) .…Two written recommendations by persons who can address your scholastic performance and suitability for teaching;

(12) .…Prepare a written, personal narrative that you will give to your assigned education advisor;

(13) .…Complete the teacher education interview and obtain the signature of the advisor; you will be assessed on your oral and written English language usage, professional aptitude, personality and character;

(14) .…You will need to show verification of your negative tuberculin examination within the last four years,

(15) .…Your transcripts must verify your undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.67 cumulative or 2.75 in the last 90 quarter units attempted,

(16) .…Documentation of 45 hours of experience in K-12 classrooms,

(17) .…You will need to show verification of your application for a certificate of clearance (fingerprints) or show evidence of your permission authorizing public school teaching in California,

(18) .…Show proof of completion of a college computer course,

(19) .…You will also need to show verification of completion of the upper-division writing requirement either at CSUSB or the equivalent at another accredited institution or passing score on the CSUSB Writing Requirement Exemption Evaluation (WREE) test or passing score on the written portion of the C.B.E.S.T.

(20) .…You will need to show verification of fulfilling the United States Constitution requirement or successful completion of an examination through the College of Extended Learning at CSUSB,

(21) .…Completion of all credential course work with a grade point average of 3.0 ("B").

9. What is a PAWS - Program Advising Worksheet for Students?
The Office of Records, Registration and Evaluations will evaluate any previous college work, if any, to determine its applicability to the requirements of the university. All undergraduate Liberal Studies degree candidates will be issued a credit summary called PAWS (Program Advising Worksheet for Students), indicating requirements which remain unfilled. Once issued to a student, the credit summary (PAWS) remains valid as long as the student matriculates (enrolls) for the term specified, pursues the degree and remains in continuous attendance.

10. What is a Grad Check?
Liberal Studies students must request a Graduation Requirement Check at the Office of Records, Registration and Evaluations at least three quarters prior to the end of the term of their expected graduation. Liberal Studies students should not request the grad check until they have accumulated 135 quarter units toward their degree, which may include work in progress.

11. What is a Concentration?
Standard 3 of the Subject Matter Requirement for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential requires a depth of study in a specific academic field. The program offers a set of concentrations each of which relates directly to one or more of the major subject areas of study. You will need to select and complete a concentration in order to develop a strong understanding of the conceptual foundations of the subject as well as an understanding of how knowledge is created and organized in the subject.

12. What is the C.B.E.S.T?
The CBEST is designed to test basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills found to be important for the job of an educator; the test is not designed to measure the ability to teach those skills. You can find out more about the CBEST exam at http:///www.cbest.nesinc.com/.

13. What is the C.S.E.T.?
This is a standardized test over all subjects covered by the Liberal Studies major. The examinations of the CSET reflect the most current K-12 California Student Academic Content Standards and needs to be passed before entering a California credential program. You can find out more about the CSET-Multiple Subject exams at http://www.cset.nesinc.com/.

14. What is the R.I.C.A.?
The purpose of the RICA is to ensure that candidates for Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials possess the knowledge and skills important for the provision of effective reading instruction to students and is taken during your credentialing process. You will take the RICA as part of your Multiple Subject Credential Program after you have completed courses in reading instruction methods.

15. Do I need to take the ELM and/or EPT test?
These diagnostic exams are designed to assess the level of reading, writing and mathematic skills of entering undergraduate students so that they can be placed in appropriate baccalaureate-level courses. They must be completed by all entering freshman who have not completed an approved college-level course in English or math.

16. How do I change my major or concentration?
In order to declare or change a major and/or a concentration, you will need to process a Change of Major form through the Office of Records, Registration and Evaluation.

17. Is the CSUSB Bulletin or quarterly Schedule of Classes on-line?
The university's Bulletin of Courses is available at http://catalog.csusb.edu/ which represents the university's course descriptions and requirements at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
You will also find important information on university policies and procedures, deadlines, faculty, and academic departments and programs. We recommend, however, that you purchase at the Coyote Bookstore. This is a valuable source of information on university policies, procedures and requirements for each major.

The Class Schedule, issued prior to each quarter, lists courses to be offered during that term or future terms, see http://info001.csusb.edu/. You may also pick up a printed copy in the Coyote Bookstore on-campus.

18. What classes can I take at a community college?
Go to http://www.assist.org and select your community college and our campus. Then, select Liberal Studies for your major; the track within Liberal Studies is unimportant, the LDTP is the same for them all. You will see all the courses listed. Or, use one of the Transfer Guide Sheets produced by our campus for all of our local community colleges. The Guide Sheet contains exactly the same information available from ASSIST. The Guide Sheets are available from our own web site http://www.csusb.edu/liberal and are often provided in hard copy form at the community colleges.

19. How do I add or drop a class?
During the Open Enrollment and Schedule Adjustment period (see the Class Schedule for specific dates) students may add or drop classes by following the Registration Instructions detailed in the Class Schedule. You cannot add or drop a course after The Census Date which is the last day classes can be dropped without a record on the student's transcript. The specific dates are printed in the current Class Schedule. (Census is always the 15th day of instruction for each quarter).

20. How do I remove a hold?
Releasing the hold will be the responsibility of the office placing the hold. If the hold applies to a particular term and/or process and changes in the student's record imply the hold is no longer needed, the office placing the hold is responsible in releasing the hold or deferring the hold to the appropriate term or time period.

21. What happens when I repeat a class?
The discounting of a grade in a repeated course is by petition only available in Records, Registration and Evaluation. You may repeat a course only once in order to have the first grade discounted.

22. When am I ever going to be finished with this degree?
Liberal Studies students who plan to finish their undergraduate degree requirements in four years by attending three quarters each year must complete a minimum of 15-16 units per quarter. Students may carry up to 19.5 quarter units per term (Note: to receive the maximum amount of financial aid and veteran benefits, you must enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter; however, by taking only 12 units a quarter will delay graduation by a year).

23. How do I get a campus email account?
You should automatically receive an email account at CSUSB as part of the admission's process; however, if you should encounter a problem, go to this site: http://rre.csusb.edu/index.html.

24. How can I pay off some of my student loans?
The basic APLE program assumes up to $11,000 in educational loans in association with four consecutive years of full-time teaching in a designated teacher shortage field of eligible California K-12 public school.