Below, transfer students planning a career as an elementary educator can find a sample two-year plan that illustrates how one might combine a Liberal Studies, B.A. with a Natural Sciences Education minor and satisfy remaining GE requirements.
By combining this major and minor program, students will:
- Satisfies Basic Skills B.A. requirement (LBST B.A.)
- Satisfy Subject Matter Competency for a Multiple Subject credential, eliminating the need to take the CSET (LBST B.A.)
- Complete required fieldwork hours for admission to credential programs (NSED 025/026, 045/046)
- Make accelerated progress toward a Multiple Subject credential, with 8 units that count toward both major and minor requirements and satisfy required credential coursework in UC Merced’s Teacher Preparation Program (NSED 100, 120)
This is just one illustration, and there are multiple ways that students might map a graduation plan across two years. We have an advising team that is ready to help students plan their pathway!
| FALL | SPRING |
|
Major Lower Division Cornerstone Requirement (4 units) |
Minor Lower Division Seminar Requirement (1 unit each) **must be taken concurrently NSED 045: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in Middle School - Seminar **Note: Coures numbers will be changing Spring 2027 to NSED 085/086, as an integrated middle and high school seminar + fieldwork course. |
|
Minor Lower Division Seminar Requirement (1 unit each) **must be taken concurrently NSED 025: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in Elementary School - Seminar NSED 026: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in Elementary School - Fieldwork
|
Major Upper Division Elective Requirement/Minor Core Requirement (4 units) |
| Major Upper Division Elective Requirement (4 units) |
Major Upper Division Elective Requirement (4 units) |
| Major Upper Division Elective Requirement (4 units) |
Open Elective (4 units) |
| 14 UNITS | 14 UNITS |
| Fall | Spring |
|
Major Upper Division Elective Requirement/Minor Core Requirement (4 units) NSED 100: Project Based Instruction: Assessment and Management for Beginning Teachers (satisfies Upper Division GE Writing in the Disciplines) |
Major Capstone Requirement (4 units) LBST 191: Capstone in Liberal Studies (satisfies Upper Division GE Culminating Experience) |
|
Major Upper Division Elective Requirement/Minor Core Requirement (4 units) PSY 130: Developmental Psychology (prereq: PSY 001) OR PSY 134: Adolescent Development (prereq: PSY 001)
|
Minor Core Requirement (3 units) |
|
Major Upper Division Elective Requirement (4 units) |
Minor Upper Division Fieldwork Requirement (1 unit) |
| Open Elective (4 units) | Open Elective (4 units) |
| Open Elective (4 units) | |
| 16 UNITS |
16 UNITS |
Other things to keep in mind:
- The Liberal Studies, B.A. (no emphasis track) is the recommended major for future teachers. Students who declare an emphasis track will not satsify Subject Matter Competency and will need to take the CSET.
- Transfer students can delcare a minor degree after completing their first semester (or summer session) and establishing an academic record at UC Merced. Transfer students can still take coursework that applies to a minor degree before declaring the minor.
- Students who do not have the bandwidth to complete the full NSED minor can prioritize NSED 025/026/045/046, 100, and 120 courses. These will still leverage toward Teacher Preparation Program and can satisfy LBST major requirements (see above).
- Transfer students should make sure to identify one course within major or open upper division elective course choices that satisfies the GE Upper Division Crossroads requirement. LBST major and NSED minor coursework already satisfy GE Upper Division Writing in the Disciplines and Culminating Experience requirements.
- Students planning to enter a credential program should be sure they have taken a course that satisfies the U.S. Constitution requirement for a California Teaching Credential. At UC Merced, these courses are HIST 016 and POLI 001. Assist.org can confirm if a course completed at a CCC articulates to one of these courses. Additionally, other CCC courses may satisfy this U.S. Constitution requirement. Consult with CalTeach Advisor Melissa Amarillas with any questions.
