Bachelor of Science in General Studies
The Bachelor of Science in General Studies is the program of choice for the student who plans to become a skilled elementary classroom teacher. The General Studies program emphasizes:
- awareness of the school's culture-building role in a free and productive society,
- selection and use of the appropriate model of teaching and instructional materials to achieve the objective of a lesson,
- awareness of the language, economic, racial and ethnic experiences that affect teaching and learning, and the professional skills to account for diversities,
- transformation of academic content to pedagogy,
- development of relationships with colleagues.
Requirements for the degree meet the state's requirements for a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development Emphasis. This credential authorizes a person to teach in a regular classroom or a classroom with limited-English-proficient students.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements are: a completed university application with an indication of GNST (General Studies) as the major and a grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0) in any previous undergraduate work. Admission decisions are made on the full application and not on any one criterion.
Unit Requirements
The total unit requirement for graduation is 128 units, including 14 units of electives.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A 2.75 grade point average must be maintained for all courses taken in the major.
Advisement
Each student, immediately after admission may be assigned a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor is available to the student throughout the student's stay at USC and is ready to discuss topics of mutual professional interest
Each student also has a staff advisor in the School of Education who can provide technical assistance regarding program requirements and procedures. Checkpoints with staff advisors have been established to assure regular, accurate advisement. These are: summer orientation and welcome by staff advisors; mandatory advisement for the first 24 units at USC; CTSE 130 Introduction to Curriculum Frameworks (1 unit) or a passing score on the examination during the first year at USC; Credential Essentials Workshop prior to enrolling in CTSE 410 The Teaching of Reading and Writing (4 units); student teaching interview, prior to enrolling in CTSE 424ab-425ab Curriculum and Methods in Elementary Education, and Observation and Directed Teaching in Elementary Schools; exit interview prior to application for the credential.
Notification of these events are sent by mail and/or announced in classes.
The advisement office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located in Waite Phillips Hall, Room 1001. The phone number is (213) 740-3471.
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 new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing, foreign language and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.
All students who (1) entered the School of Education as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) began college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later; or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students who began college full-time before summer 1997 and enter USC before summer 2000 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead, which is outlined here.
Course Requirements
Subject Areas 62 units Concentration 16 units Subject Area/Professional 9 units Professional 27 units Electives 14 units ______ Total 128 units Subject Areas
Requirements Units General Education* 24 Writing 8 Foreign Language I, II and III 12 Mathematics MATH 040x Basic Mathematical Skills, or Placement Examination 0 MATH 200 Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint 4 U.S. History and Constitution HIST 200 The American Experience, or GEOG 222 Geography of American Politics 4 Physical Education EXSC 202L Introduction to Nutrition 2 EXSC 203 Individualized Exercise Prescription 2 *Students must choose science courses to cover earth, life and physical sciences content areas.
Humanities
One course each from two of the following areas not completed with general education (6 units): literature, hands-on art, hands-on music:
Literature ENGL 230x Introduction to Shakespeare ENGL 246x Introduction to African-American Literature ENGL 250x Literary Classics of the United States ENGL 254x Women Writers in English ENGL 260x English and American Literature since 1900 ENGL 261 English Literature to 1800 ENGL 262 English Literature since 1800 ENGL 263 American Literature ENGL 268x Introduction to Literature and Society ENGL 276x Literature and Film: Narrative Forms
Hands-on Art FA 101a Drawing I FA 102 Design Fundamentals FA 105 Painting I FA 106 Sculpture I FA 112 Ceramics FA 207a Two-Dimensional Art Workshop FA 209a Photography
Hands-on Music Units MUED 330x Fundamentals of Music MUED 479x Music for the Elementary Classroom Teacher
Concentration
Concentrations are available in these areas: English, fine arts, geography, history,
mathematics, music, earth sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, Spanish or
theatre. Students select one area and meet the specified requirements.
English Units ENGL 263 American Literature 4 ENGL 440 American Literature to 1865 4 ENGL 445 The Literatures of America: Cross-cultural Perspectives 4 LING 411x Linguistics and Education 4
or Fine Arts Units Required: AHIS 121 Western Art after 1500 4 Three of the following: FA 101a Drawing I 4 FA 102 Design Fundamentals 4 FA 106a Sculpture I 4 FA 105 Painting I 4 FA 112 Ceramics 4 FA 209a Photography 4
or Geography Units Required: GEOG 160L Geosystems 4 GEOG 205 Geopolitics 4 Two of the following: GEOG 120 Introduction to Human Geography 4 GEOG 260L Natural Hazards 4 GEOG 300 Social and Population Geography 4 GEOG 305 Economic Geography 4 GEOG 310 Approaches to the Study of Cities 4 GEOG 331 Geography of the United States and Canada 4 GEOG 335 Geography of Latin America 4 GEOG 340 Geography of the Chicano Southwest 4 GEOG 345 Conservation of Natural Resources 4 GEOG 365L Fundamentals of Weather and Climate 4 GEOG 370 Marine and Coastal Zone Geography 4 GEOG 410 Urban Geography 4 GEOG 419 Environment and Health 4 GEOG 431 Geography of California 4 GEOG 437 Geography of Mexico 4 GEOG 477 Water Resources 4
or History Units One course from each of the following four categories. No more than one
of the four courses can be taken at the lower division (100 or 200) level.1. U.S. History: Making a New Nation HIST 200 The American Experience 4 HIST 457 The American West 4 HIST 475 Colonial America 4 2. U.S. History: Growth and Conflict, 1785 to the Present HIST 250 History of the Black American 4 HIST 343 Work, Leisure, and Violence in Industrializing America 4 HIST 352 The American Civil War 4 HIST 356 The Old South 4 HIST 378 Introduction to Asian American History 4 HIST 478 The United States, 1789-1850 4 HIST 483 The United States, 1877-1919 4 3. World History: Ancient Civilization HIST 101 The Ancient World 4 HIST 301 The Greek World 4 HIST 335 History of Japan to 1550 4 HIST 338 China to 960 A.D. 4 4. World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times HIST 102 Medieval Civilization 4 HIST 103 The Emergence of Modern Europe 4 HIST 311 France and Europe in the Age of Louis XIV 4 HIST 316 The Renaissance 4 HIST 320 Russian and Soviet Rebels: The Moral Dilemma and the Continuity of Dissent 4 HIST 325 History of England and Great Britain to 1603 4 HIST 326 History of England and Great Britain since 1603 4 HIST 339 China, 960-1800 A.D. 4 HIST 353 Outlaws and Outcasts in the European Past 4 HIST 405 Intellectual History of the Middle Ages 4 HIST 406 Special Periods in Medieval History 4 HIST 408 History of Ancient and Medieval Science 4 HIST 410 The Age of Humanism and Reformation 4 HIST 415 History of Russia to 1861 4 HIST 419 Poland and Its Neighbors in the Middle Ages 4 HIST 423 Europe, Africa and Asia: Maritime Relations 1415-1789 4 HIST 431 Tudor and Stuart England 4 HIST 432 Britain in the 18th Century 4
or Mathematics Units Required: MATH 125 Calculus I 4 MATH 126 Calculus II 4 Two of the following: MATH 430 Theory of Numbers 4 MATH 434 Geometry and Transformations 4 MATH 450 History of Mathematics 4
or Music Units MUED 301 Introduction to Music Education 1 MUED 330x Fundamentals of Music 4 MUED 400 The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity, Issues, and Experiences 4 MUED 479x Music for the Elementary Classroom Teacher 3 MUHL 200x Introduction to Concert Music 4
or Science The science areas of concentration can be satisfied by four courses in earth,
physical or life sciences selected with the advisement of appropriate science
department faculty.The courses which fulfill the concentration must be coherently related; must
include exposure to the scientific method, basic scientific concepts, historical
and contemporary scientific relevance; and must not have significant overlap.
or Spanish Units Prerequisite SPAN 240 Spanish IV or equivalent 4 Required SPAN 265 Spanish and the Media, or SPAN 266 Spanish through Literature 4 SPAN 420 Spanish Applied Linguistics 4 one course each from two of the following categories: Literature SPAN 304 Survey of Spanish and Spanish American Prose, or SPAN 305 Survey of Spanish and Spanish American Poetry and Drama 4 Contemporary Issues SPAN 311 Advanced Spanish through Contemporary Issues: Oral Emphasis, or SPAN 312 Contemporary Issues: Advanced Reading and Writing 4 Culture and Civilization SPAN 360 Culture and Civilization: Spain, or SPAN 370 Culture and Civilization: Spanish America 4
or Theatre Units Sixteen units from: THTR 122 Improvisation and Theatre Games 2 THTR 201 Introduction to the Theatre 4 THTR 300 Introduction to Modern Drama 4 THTR 310 Theory and Practice of World Theatre I, and THTR 311 Theory and Practice of World Theatre II 4-4 THTR 478ab Theatre for Youth 2-2 THTR 488 Theatre in the Community 3 Subject Area/Professional
Requirements Units Senior Year CTSE 415ab Content to Pedagogy: Mathematics in the Elementary School 1-1 CTSE 416 Content to Pedagogy: Art, Music, and P.E. 3 CTSE 417ab Content to Pedagogy: From Science Content to Science Curriculum 1-1 CTSE 418ab Content to Pedagogy: From Social Sciences to Social Studies 1-1 Professional
Requirements Units Freshman Year CTSE 130 Introduction to Curriculum Frameworks (1 unit or examination) 0 Sophomore Year CTSE 203 Teaching and Learning in School Settings 4 Junior Year CTSE 409 Foundations of Language Education 3 CTSE 410 The Teaching of Reading and Writing 4 Senior Year CTSE 413 Methods and Models of Instruction for Language Minority Students 2 CTSE 424ab Curriculum and Methods in Elementary Education 3-3 CTSE 425ab Observation and Directed Teaching in Elementary Schools 4-4 Directed Teaching
Each student must meet the following requirements before enrolling in the directed teaching courses:
(1) 80% completion of a state-approved Subject Matter Competency Program leading to the MST or SST credential.
(2) Successful completion of CTSE 130, 203, 409 and 410; and HIST 200 or GEOG 222.
(3) An overall pass on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). We recommend that the CBEST be taken during the second year. Information may be obtained from the USC Testing Bureau, telephone (213) 740-7166.
(4) References from three professional studies instructors.
(5) A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0).
(6) A Certificate of Clearance.
(7) Verification of tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray.
(8) An interview with the Admissions Committee.
Credential Application
Credential application materials must be completed toward the end of the semester in which all requirements will be met. Application materials may be obtained from and submitted directly to the Office of Student Services, Waite Phillips Hall 801.
Credential requirements may change due to state law. Students are advised to consult periodically with Teacher Education Advisement, Waite Phillips Hall, Room 1001, for current credential requirements.
Professional Clear Credential Requirements
For completion of the Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching credential program, a fifth year of course work is required.
The requirements are admission to the master's program, and CTSE 432 Use of Instructional Technology in Curriculum, CTSE 533 Student Health and Welfare, CTSE 565 Participation of Exceptional Children in Regular School Programs, CTSE 593ab Master's Seminar and 15 additional units of graduate study in education, approved in advance by the advisor. Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required. Admission to the master's program requires a 3.0 grade point average and submittal of Graduate Record Examinations scores.
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 either in public school classrooms or as instructors in other settings.
There are two tracks of study available in this minor including one for students interested in teaching at the elementary level and another for secondary teaching.
Elementary and Secondary Track
Foundation Requirements Units CTSE 203 Teaching and Learning in School Settings) 4 CTSE 409 Foundations of Language Education 3 CTSE 410 The Teaching of Reading and Writing 4
Secondary Track Requirements Units CTSE 413 Methods and Models of Instruction for Language Minority Students 2 CTSE 450ab Curriculum and Methods in Secondary Education 3-3 CTSE 451ab Observation and Directed Teaching in the Secondary School 4-4 ______ Total 27 units Secondary track students are required to complete 27 units while those in the elementary track must also complete the following courses for a total of 36 units.
Elementary Track Requirements Units CTSE 413 Methods and Models of Instruction for Language Minority Students 2 CTSE 415ab Content to Pedagogy: Mathematics in the Elementary School 1-1 CTSE 416 Content to Pedagogy: Art, Music and P.E. 3 CTSE 417ab Content to Pedagogy: From Science Content to Science Curriculum 1-1 CTSE 418ab Content to Pedagogy: From Social Sciences to Social Studies 1-1 CTSE 424ab Curriculum and Methods in Elementary Education 3-3 CTSE 425ab Observation and Directed Teaching in Elementary Schools 4-4 ______ Total 36 units Additional credential requirements are listed under Teaching Credentials, Entering as an Undergraduate.
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.
The requirements for the minor include five courses plus directed research (22 units). The two-unit directed research course (EDPT 490x) provides an opportunity for students to write a paper on a critical issue in education.
Students will select courses from each of the following components: Societal Issues Affecting Education and Creating Successful Learning Environments. Students may choose one 200-level course from component A or component B, but not from both.
Component A: Societal Issues Affecting Education
(two courses)GEOG 350 Race and Environmentalism 4 POSC 233x Stigma and Society: Physical Disability in America 4 POSC 442 The Politics of Human Differences: Diversity and Discrimination 4 PSYC 300 Human Diversity: The Psychology of Individual Differences 4 SOCI 342 Race Relations 4 SOCI 360 Social Inequality: Class, Status, and Power 4 SWMS 384 Overcoming Prejudice 4
Component B: Creating Successful Learning Environments
(three courses plus EDPT 490x)CTSE 203 Teaching and Learning in School Settings 4 EDPA 302 Global Education 4 EDPA 308 Politics and American Education 4 EDPT 310 Parental Influences on Children's Educational Development 4 EDPT 490x Directed Research (2 units to be taken after the completion of at least one course in each of the two components) Educational Placement
The Office of Career Counseling and Educational Placement has, as its name implies, two principal functions: career counseling and assisting students and alumni in securing professional employment. The office has an excellent record of assistance to teachers, administrators and other educational specialists seeking positions in schools and universities and other education-related organizations.
The placement record for USC graduates in education has been exceptional. Although the office has placed graduates in other states, and to some extent in foreign lands, the office primarily places graduates within the state of California. Because the placement of graduates is a matter of high priority within the School of Education, graduates hold a high percentage of leadership positions in Southern California.
The services of the office are available to all students and graduates of the school, both for assistance in locating professional employment and for advisement about career advancement opportunities. The director and staff assist graduates in obtaining educational administration positions as well as teaching, counseling and other specializations. The placement office also assists graduates interested in community college and four-year college teaching and administration positions.
Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Career Counseling and Educational Placement, Waite Phillips Hall 802, (213) 740-2773.
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