CLA Designated Courses

CLA Designated Courses

College Based Courses

General Education

The College of Liberal Arts offers much of the campus general education program. Most general education courses are offered by specific departments and bear department designations such as “English 100”. Check out specific departments for information about these courses.

Note that General Education Category A requirements must be completed prior to taking any upper division courses. Category A includes:

  • Communication in the English Language
  • Oral Communication
  • Critical Thinking

A number of courses in several departments satisfy these requirements. See the University catalog or a schedule of classes for a listing of courses. This requirement is monitored during registration.

There is one exception to the Category A requirement for upper division classes. Students may take upper-division foreign language courses if they meet upper-division course prerequisites and/or competencies for advanced study. Please see the catalog for details.

College of Liberal Arts Courses

While most courses are offered by departments and bear department designations, a few interdisciplinary courses bear the College designation, “CLA”. These are listed below.

-LOWER DIVISION-

250. Elementary Statistics (4)

  Prerequisites: Knowledge of mathematical procedures usually covered in elementary high school algebra. Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics and their applications in social and behavioral science research; performance of statistical exercises by interactive computer.  Emphasis upon knowledge of which statistical tests to use and how to interpret their results.

Not open to students with credit in ANTH 302, MATH 180, PSY 210 or SOC 255. (Discussion 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours.) Same course as HDEV 250.


-UPPER DIVISION-

General Education Category A must be completed prior to taking any upper division course except upper division language courses where students meet formal prerequisites and/or competency equivalent for advanced study.

305. British Life and Culture (3)

This series of lectures with follow-up discussion and written responses is a required part of the London Semester Program. The lectures are designed to offer in-depth information on a wide range of social, artistic, and intellectual issues relevant to contemporary England. Although the course is specifically geared to students participating in the London Semester Program, the materials covered are closely related to many topics covered in classes offered during the rest of the students’ work on campus.


310. Film and Culture (3)

  Prerequisites: Upper division status, ENGL 100. An exploration of the ways films create, pattern, shape, reinforce and/or change culture. A variety of view points, derived from contemporary critical and culture studies, highlight the relationship between a culture and its images. Co-taught by instructors from several disciplines. Course fee: $20.


314I. Introduction to Contemporary Europe (3)

  Prerequisites: ENGL 100 or its equivalent and upper division status. An interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary European cultures and related issues through a combination of travel and study. Students will be introduced to some principles and methods useful for analyzing cultures and their own interactions with them. Traditional grading only.


315I. Contemporary European Society (3)

  Prerequisites: ENGL 100 or its equivalent and upper division status. An interdisciplinary approach to understanding cultural and political developments in contemporary European societies. Although the study of history serves as the foundation of the course, the perspectives and methodologies of several other social science disciplines are an important component of the course. Traditional grading only.


350I. California Culture (3)

  Prerequisites: ENGL 100 or its equivalent and upper division status. This course examines the culture of California from several distinct disciplinary perspectives including history, political science, geography, sociology, art, and literature. It seeks to integrate the knowledge and methodologies of these disciplines as they converge on the study of California. The course is team-taught and modular in format. Students take three four-week intensive modules and a final three-week synthesizing module.


400. Evaluating Literacy (3)

  Prerequisites: Limited to students in the Liberal Studies major, Track I, who have completed all AREA I Core requirements with a “C” or better grade and passed the WPE, or consent of Program Director. Study of contemporary literacy theory and practice with focus on language, culture, literature, and development of literacy. Students will gain greater, more precise understanding of literacy assessment and its implications, determinations and effects as they are themselves assessed for language competencies. Traditional grading only.


403. Civic Issues and Values (3)

  Prerequisites: Limited to students in the Liberal Studies major, Track I, who have completed all Area IV Core requirements with a “C” or better grade. Provides subject opportunities and experiential activities for students to learn to confront controversial issues, solve problems cooperatively, examine issues from multiple and dialogical points of view, and practice listening with understanding and empathy. Student literacy in the social sciences and ability to recognize and deal with the dynamics of a multicultural, multiethnic community will be assessed.


444I. European Culture Today (3)

  Prerequisites: ENGL 100 or its equivalent and upper division status. An interdisciplinary study of contemporary Europe (post-1945). The course combines the substance and the methods of the social sciences and those of the hermeneutic disciplines. The topics include: the stabilization of Europe into an East-West division after World War II and the transformations of the late 1980s and early 1990s; social trends; the relation of culture and economy; the bases of culture in general; intellectual trends; literature; the arts and the place of popular culture. Traditional grading only.


485. Oral History Methods (1)

Through a series of workshops and through field experience, skills in oral history will be developed which will enable students to use oral history either for their own personal use in family history or for class projects. Credit/No Credit grading only. Same course as HIST 402.


490. Special Topics (1-3)

Topics of special interest in the social sciences for intensive study. Topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 units with different topics.


491. Special Topics (2)

Topics of special interest in the liberal arts for intensive study.  Topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes each semester.


492A. Internship in Liberal Arts (3)

  Prerequisites: Upper division standing, consent of instructor, and a formally declared major in one of the programs included in the College of Liberal Arts. EPIC field experience. Students qualifying can be placed in major or career-related volunteer assignments in private industry or public agencies. An organized plan utilizing a series of seminars and learning agreements is required, accompanied by selected assignments. (Minimum 120 hours work per semester.) May be repeated to a maximum of six units. No more than six units total in 492 A and B. Traditional grading only.


492B. Internship in Liberal Arts (3)

  Prerequisites: Upper division standing, consent of the instructor, and a formally declared major in one of the programs included in the College of Liberal Arts. Co-Op field experience. Students who qualify can be placed in major or career-related community-based, pre professional experiences as employees in private industry or in public agencies. An organized plan utilizing a series of seminars and learning agreements is required, accompanied by selected assignments. (Minimum 120 hours work per semester. May be repeated to a maximum of six units. No more than six units total in 492A and B. Traditional grading only.


495. Social Science for Teachers (3)

  Prerequisites: Students must have completed all course work in the Social Science Matter Program. A capstone course for students in the Social Science Subject Matter Program, to be offered just prior to student teaching. Examination of issues in social science education in accord with topics highlighted in the California History/Social Science Framework. A grade of “B” or better is required for advancement to student teaching. Traditional grading only.


498. Directed Studies in Oral History (1-6)

Permission of faculty required. Directed study on a research topic using the methodology of oral history. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units. (Same course as HIST 498O.)