Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Programs BA/Preliminary Multiple Subject Teacher Preparation Program

The Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program is a multidisciplinary major for students who wish to prepare themselves to teach in elementary schools. The Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program integrates a variety of perspectives from humanities, science, mathematics, social science, and pedagogy. As a result, the Program equips students to make a difference—not just as teachers, but also as members of society.

The Program, taught by faculty from the Schools of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Health and Natural Sciences; and Education and Counseling Psychology, provides prospective elementary teachers with a deep understanding of the subject matter they will teach, appropriate methods for conveying it, and opportunities to draw connections between the academic content and sound pedagogy. Courses in the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program are drawn from across the disciplines, reflecting the Program’s commitment to multidisciplinary and multicultural education. The Program strives to provide intellectual tools and insights that enable students to live and teach in a diverse world.

Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation students observe and participate in local elementary schools from their earliest days in the program and engage in weekly seminars that blend theory and practice, knowledge and application. Early advisement and continuous field experiences guide prospective students for the transition into the student teaching portion of the program in their Senior year.

The culminating work of the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program is the completion of the Becoming a Teacher Website and the Capstone Project. The Becoming a Teacher Website and the Capstone Project require a synthesis of theory with practical application in the field of education.

Students who enter the Program as first-year students and successfully follow the prescribed course sequence without needing remedial coursework may complete the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation and the Multiple Subject Credential Program in four years.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will prepare for teaching in the 21^st century by demonstrating their:

Academic content knowledge in the following subject areas: Reading/Language Arts, History/Social Science, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education/Health, Visual/Performing Arts, and Human Development,
Awareness of the nature and characteristics of teaching in California schools and the ability to participate successfully in elementary school classrooms,
Ability to engage in the Big Ideas of Education using the 21^st century skills of collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking in written and oral communication, and
Sense of personal and social responsibility by respecting others, conducting themselves in a professional manner and modeling ethical behavior.

In addition to the above outcomes, Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation majors will also demonstrate competency in the Multiple Subject Credential Program Learning Outcomes. (See description in Graduate Degree Programs/Teaching Credentials section of this catalog.)

Prior to advancement to the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Program, a prospective elementary teacher must demonstrate a competent understanding of subjects commonly taught in the elementary schools by successfully completing an approved Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Program and by receiving passing scores on the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) or equivalent and California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET). The Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program at Dominican University of California is endorsed as an Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Program by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Liberal Studies Majors Requirements

Prior to receiving the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation (LS/TP) and the Multiple Subject Credential, students must demonstrate a competent understanding of the subjects commonly taught in the elementary schools. At Dominican University of California, the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Subject Matter Preparation Program as endorsed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires students to:

Have an overall minimum GPA of 3.0;
Receive at least a ‘C-’ (2.0) grade in all courses for the major (identified Subject Matter Courses);
Receive at least a ‘B-’ grade in the LS seminars and a ‘B’ in EDUC courses;
Participate (years 1, 2, 3) in an end-of-each-semester review and evaluation of their Becoming a Teacher Website.
Successfully complete fieldwork and the required documentation;
Pass the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) (or equivalent) and the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) prior to entering the student teaching portion of the Program;
Pass Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) and the California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA) prior to applying for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential.

Important Notes

The Program includes the required hours of work experience in a public elementary school classroom.
Summer course work may be necessary to complete the Program requirements in four years.
General Education requirements are met by completing the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation curriculum. Course work taken at other colleges will be accepted as part of the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Major, if they are reasonable equivalents, in content and area of study, of courses listed in the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation curriculum. Transfer credit decisions are subject to approval of the Registrar and the Chair of the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program. For course descriptions, consult the listings of individual programs within this catalog.
Students interested in fulfilling the requirements of the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Subject Matter Preparation Program and Multiple Subject Credential Program must consult a Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation advisor as soon as possible.
Requirements for this program may undergo changes during the two years covered by this catalog. See the Chair of the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Program for the most current requirements. Indications of semester offerings are subject to change based on enrollment.

Appeals Process

Students may appeal a failure to meet any of the above requirements by submitting a written statement to the Chair of the Liberal Studies—Teacher Preparation Subject Matter Preparation Program and the Dean of the School of Education and Counseling Psychology within 30 days of the date of receiving notice from the Chair. The Chair will respond in writing within 10 working days of receipt of the student’s written statement.