The Liberal Studies Program at Cal State East Bay aims to provide a rich liberal arts educational experience through selected courses from a wide range of academic disciplines, while at the same time allowing students to select a field for in-depth study of their own interest. The broad-based, interdisciplinary nature of Liberal Studies provides a solid well-rounded undergraduate educational experience, integrating knowledge from arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with analytical and communication skills well suited for many careers and professions.
The major consists of a common core and a choice from three concentrations, designed to meet diverse student interests and needs not only for teaching in schools, but also for leadership in government, non-profit organizations, and business, and for graduate education in law, counseling, social work and services, public affairs and administration, and educational leadership. The Teacher Preparation Option provides excellent preparation for K-8 teaching. The Early Childhood Education Option prepares students to teach in TK-3rd grade settings. The Liberal Arts Option provides well-rounded preparation for graduate work and law school, and for employment in business, non-profit, and government organizations. Please see Opportunities and TK-8 Teaching Credential Information for jobs and workshops.
Liberal Studies works closely with PACE (Program for Accelerated College Education) in offering the Liberal Studies major (Liberal Arts Option) for working adults with classes in evenings or online.
The Liberal Studies Program is housed in the Department of Ethnic Studies, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. The faculty have doctorates and teaching experience in ethnic studies, education and history. In 2022-23 we will hire an additional tenure-track faculty member with expertise in early childhood and/or elementary education.
Cal State East Bay is located on the unceded land of the Yrgin Chochenyo Ohlone people. The Sogorea Te' Land Trust is a community-based organization in the East Bay run by Ohlone and Indigenous women working to rematriate Chochenyo and Karkin Ohlone lands to the Ohlone people.
