USC
University of Southern California
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Undergraduate Degree

Bachelor of Science in General Studies

The Bachelor of Science in General Studies is the content preparation program of choice for students who plan to become skilled elementary classroom teachers. Credential requirements may change due to state law. Students are advised to consult periodically with the Undergraduate and Teacher Education Programs Office in Waite Phillips Hall 1004, (213) 740-3471.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the General Studies major is based on the following: (1) overall GPA; (2) GPA in prerequisite courses (EDUC 200, EDUC 204L and EDUC 205L); (3) completion of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST); (4) three recommendations (two must be academic references); and (5) interview with the Teacher Education faculty.

All pre-teaching majors are expected to complete EDUC 200 as a sophomore. Incoming transfer students must complete EDUC 200 during their first USC semester.

For information on the admissions process or to obtain an application, contact Teacher Education.

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. Click here and here for more information.

Major Requirements

Students must meet general education and subject matter requirements in reading, language and literature; history and social science; mathematics; science; visual and performing arts; physical education; and human development. Successful completion of these required courses will prepare students to take the state-required California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET). Passing CSET is required for all multiple subject credential candidates to demonstrate subject matter competency.

Required CoursesUnits
Reading, Language and Literature (16 units)
Fulfill General Education writing and Category V requirements described in the General Education Program12
LING 275L Language and Mind4

History and Social Science (12 units)
CLAS 150The Greeks and the West, or
HIST 101The Ancient World4
HIST 200The American Experience4
HIST 458History of California4

Mathematics (8 units)
MATH 108Introductory College Mathematics4
MATH 200Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint4

Science (12 units)
Choose three courses that satisfy the General Education Category III requirement described in the General Education Program.

Visual and Performing Arts (8 units)
THTR 201Introduction to the Theatre4

Choose one:
FA 102Design Fundamentals4
FA 150Visual Culture and Literacy4

Physical Education (4 units)
EXSC 310Sociopsychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity4

Human Development (4 units)
Choose one:
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology4
PSYC 336LDevelopmental Psychology4

Professional Core I (15 units)UNITS
EDUC 200Introduction to the Teaching Profession2
EDUC 204LSociological Foundations of Education3
EDUC 205LChild Development and Learning in Schools3
EDUC 409Foundations of Language Education3
EDUC 410The Teaching of Reading and Writing4

Credential Track

Students seeking eligibility for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential must apply for advancement to student teaching. Specific criteria for advancing to student teaching include: (1) passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST); (2) passing the Subject Matter Examination (CSET); (3) completion of Professional Core I course work; (4) overall GPA of 3.0; (5) three recommendations from teacher education faculty; (6) Certificate of Clearance issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing; (7) verification of the tuberculosis skin test; and (8) an interview. Applications are available in WPH 1004.

Professional Core II (24 units)units
EDUC 413Methods and Models of Instruction for Language Minority Students2
EDUC 415Content to Pedagogy: Mathematics in the Elementary School2
EDUC 416Content to Pedagogy: Art in the Elementary School2
EDUC 417Content to Pedagogy: From Science Content to Science Curriculum2
EDUC 418Content to Pedagogy: From Social Sciences to Social Studies2
EDUC 419Content to Pedagogy: P.E. for Elementary Students2
EDUC 424abCurriculum and Methods in Elementary Education2-2
EDUC 425abObservation and Directed Teaching in Elementary Schools3-3
MUED 479xMusic for the Elementary Classroom Teacher2

Summative Assessment of Competence

To be recommended for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, which is valid for five years, students must complete the following requirements: (1) earn the Bachelor of Science in General Studies degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0; (2) pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET); (3) pass the Reading Instruction Competency Assessment (RICA); (4) have a teaching performance assessment with the teacher education faculty; and (5) present a professional portfolio.

Portfolio specifications and credential application materials are available in WPH 1004.

Non-Credential Track

Students seeking completion of the degree only, but not recommendation for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, may pursue the non-credential track of the General Studies major. Requirements include completion of: (1) the major requirements; (2) Professional Core I course work; and (3) 20 additional units.

Course RequirementsUnits

Select two courses from the following (8 units):
EDPA 308Politics and American Education4
EDPT 310Parental Influences on Children’s Educational Development4
URBN 375 The Urban Neighborhood4

Select three courses from the following (12 units):
EDCO 324Asian American Psychology4
GEOG 350Race and Environmentalism4
HIST 455Advanced Topics in African-American History4
POSC 333Stigma and Society: Physical Disability in America4
POSC 427Black Politics in the American Political System4
POSC 442The Politics of Human Differences: Diversity and Discrimination4
PSYC 300Human Diversity: The Psychology of Individual Differences4
SOCI 305Sociology of Childhood4
SOCI 342Race Relations4
SOCI 355Immigrants in the United States4
SOCI 356 Mexican Immigrants in a Diverse Society4
SOCI 360Social Inequality: Class, Status, and Power4
SWMS 364Racial and Ethnic Women in America4
SWMS 384Overcoming Prejudice4

Minor in the Teaching Profession

Education increasingly drives societal advancement and economic development. Important to our future is a broader core of professional teachers with knowledge and passion for their disciplines. The teaching profession minor is designed to prepare capable students with an in-depth foundation and clinically developed skills to teach at the secondary level in public school classrooms and to obtain USC recommendation for the Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential.

Admission Requirements
Admission to the teaching profession minor is based on the following: (1) overall GPA of 3.0; (2) 3.0 overall GPA in prerequisite courses (EDUC 200, EDUC 204L and EDUC 205L); (3) completion of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST); (4) three letters of recommendation (two must be academic references); and (5) interview with the Teacher Education faculty.

For information about the admissions process or to obtain an application, contact the Undergraduate and Teacher Education Program Office, WPH 1004, (213) 740-3471.

Program Requirements
The requirement for the minor is 29 units. In addition to required course work, students must also apply for advancement to student teaching prior to starting Core II courses. Specific criteria for advancing to student teaching include: (1) passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST); (2) completion of the Subject Matter Requirement via examination or course work; (3) completion of Professional Core I course work; (4) overall GPA of 3.0; (5) three letters of recommendation from Teacher Education faculty; (6) Certificate of Clearance issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing; (7) verification of tuberculosis skin test; (8) U.S. History requirement by course work or examination; and (9) an interview. Applications are available in WPH 1004.

Professional Core I units
EDUC 200Introduction to the Teaching Profession2
EDUC 204LSociological Foundations of Education3
EDUC 205LChild Development and Learning in Schools3
EDUC 409Foundations of Language Education3
EDUC 411Reading and Writing Instruction in Secondary Schools4
15

Professional Core II*units
EDUC 413Methods and Models of Instruction for Language Minority Students2
EDUC 450Curriculum and Methods in Secondary Education3
EDUC 451abObservation and Directed Teaching in the Secondary School3-3
EDUC 452Curriculum and Methods in Secondary Subjects3
14

* Students must apply for advancement to Student Teaching prior to starting CORE II courses.

Summative Assessment of Competence
To be recommended for a Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential, students in the teaching profession minor must complete the following: (1) a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0; (2) all subject matter course requirements or submit a passing score on the appropriate California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET); (3) Professional Core II course work; (4) an interview with the Teacher Education faculty; and (5) presentation of a Professional Portfolio.

Portfolio specifications and credential application materials are available in WPH 1004.

Minor in Education in a Pluralistic Society

This minor emphasizes the relationship between school and society. Students will study educational problems and issues and learn how they can participate, as individuals and as members of organizations, in the improvement of educational programs in their communities.

The minor will be of interest to students from a variety of backgrounds and interests: students majoring in social science areas such as anthropology, sociology, psychology and political science; future parents who will be sending their children to our nation’s schools and participating in school improvement programs; international students who want to study the American educational system; and students entering professions such as law, medicine, social work, public administration and business where their work both impacts and is affected by the quality of students’ educational experiences.

Required courses are two from Component A, three from Component B and the capstone course EDPT 490x. Twenty units of course work are required.

Component A: Societal Issues Affecting Education (two courses)
EDCO 324Asian American Psychology4
GEOG 350Race and Environmentalism4
HIST 455Advanced Topics in African-American History4
POSC 333Stigma and Society: Physical Disability in America4
POSC 427Black Politics in the American Political System4
POSC 442The Politics of Human Differences: Diversity and Discrimination4
PSYC 300Human Diversity: The Psychology of Individual Differences4
SOCI 305Sociology of Childhood4
SOCI 342Race Relations4
SOCI 355Immigrants in the United States4
SOCI 356Mexican Immigrants in a Diverse Society4
SOCI 360Social Inequality: Class, Status, and Power4
SWMS 364Racial and Ethnic Women in America 4
SWMS 384Overcoming Prejudice4

Component B: Creating Successful Learning Environments (three courses)
EDPA 302Global Education4
EDPA 308Politics and American Education4
EDPT 310Parental Influences on Children’s Educational Development4
EDUC 204LSociological Foundations of Education, or
EDUC 205LChild Development and Learning3
EDUC 409Foundations of Language Education3

Capstone Course (enroll after at least one course in each component)
EDPT 490xDirected Research 2

Minor in Urban Neighborhood Studies

The focus of this minor is on the quality of urban life at the scale of the neighborhood or district. This is the location of the places of residence and work, of education and religion, of everyday life. The minor is supported by the four “urban schools” of USC: Architecture, Education, Social Work, and Policy, Planning and Development. See Interdisciplinary Programs for course requirements.

Honors in Multimedia Scholarship

This program offers qualified undergraduate students an opportunity to approach their discipline(s) of study through the critical application of multimedia expression and scholarship. The student experience will be characterized by smaller classes taught by leading faculty members and enriched by a program of lecture series, visiting scholars, symposia and conferences. For complete program requirements, see Interdisciplinary Programs for course requirements.