Suggested Coursework

Liberal Studies majors · Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

Suggested courses for pre-teaching credential students

For Liberal Studies majors planning to pursue a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. These courses satisfy admissions or credential requirements, as well as major breadth and elective requirements.

Suggested, not required. Every course on this page is a suggestion. You are not required to take any specific course listed here.

Spring 2027 marks lower-division courses offered in Spring 2027. Every upper-division elective listed is offered in Spring 2027.

Credential requirements

Suggested courses toward the credential

Meets the U.S. Constitution requirement for a California Teaching Credential

  • HIST 016 Forging of the U.S.: 1607–1877
    or
    POLI 001 Introduction to Political Science

Provides required fieldwork hours for admission to teacher preparation programs

  • NSED 25 + NSED 26 Introduction to Teaching Elementary School Science and Math, seminar with fieldwork (2 units)
  • NSED 45 + NSED 46 Introduction to Teaching Middle School Science and Math, seminar with fieldwork (2 units)

Dually satisfies required credential coursework with UC Merced’s Teacher Preparation Program

  • NSED 100 Project-Based Instruction: Assessment and Management for Beginning Teachers (4 units)
  • NSED 120 Classroom Interactions: A Focus on Equity in Rural and Urban Schools (4 units)

Lower division · Major breadth and/or GE

Suggested lower-division breadth


Reading, Language, & Literature

  • COGS 005 Intro to Language and Linguistics

    Spring 2027

  • COMM 001 Speech Traditions
  • ENG 010 Foundations of Literary Studies
    or
    SPAN 050 Intro to Literary AnalysisPrereq: SPAN 004 or SPAN 011 or equivalent exam
  • ENG 030 Children’s LiteratureConsider including it in your academic plan for next year.

    Fall 2027


History & Social Science

  • CRES 001 Intro to Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

    Spring 2027

  • HIST 012 World Histories & World Geographies
  • HIST 016 Forging of the U.S.: 1607–1877
  • HIST 017 Twentieth Century America
  • HIST 022 The Golden Road: California History as U.S. History
  • POLI 001 Intro to American Politics

    Spring 2027


Science

  • ANTH 005 Intro to Biological Anthropology
  • BIO 005 Concepts and Issues in Biology

    Spring 2027

  • COGS 013 Scientific Thinking

    Spring 2027

  • ESS 001 Intro to Earth Systems Science

    Spring 2027

  • PHYS 004 Introductory Astronomy

    Spring 2027


Math

  • MATH 005 Preparatory Calculus

    Spring 2027

    or
    MATH 008 Foundations of Quantitative ReasoningPrereq: Restricted to SSHA majors who have not already completed MATH 005

    Spring 2027

  • POLI 010 Understanding Political Controversies

    Spring 2027

    or
    PSY 010 Analysis of Psychological Data

    Spring 2027


Visual & Performing Arts

  • GASP 002 Intro to Music Studies

    Spring 2027

  • GASP 003 Intro to Visual Culture

    Spring 2027

  • GASP 003 Intro to Media and Performance

    Spring 2027

  • ENG 012 Intro to Drama, Theater, and Performance

    Spring 2027


Human Development

  • PSY 001 SuggestedOpens access to upper-division developmental psychology and cognitive science coursework.

    Spring 2027

Upper division · All offered Spring 2027

Suggested upper-division electives

Access to upper-division courses depends on completing prerequisites.


Reading, Language, & Literature

  • ENG 153 Robert Louis StevensonPrereq: WRI 010 or equivalent examOf special interest: much of Stevenson’s work was intended for young readers.
  • SPAN 103 Spanish Composition and ConversationPrereq: SPAN 004 or SPAN 011 or equivalent exam
  • SPAN 114 Latinx in Children’s Literature and FilmPrereq: SPAN 050 or SPAN 051 or equivalent examOf special interest: representation in children’s literature and its pedagogical/educational implications.
  • SPAN 180 Foundations of Spanish EducationPrereq: SPAN 103; or SPAN 004 or SPAN 011 or equivalent, with instructor permission
  • WRI 122 Language and IdentityPrereq: WRI 010 or equivalent exam


History & Social Science

  • HIST 108 History of the Atlantic World (Topics in World History)
  • HIST 180 Silk Road
  • POLI 101 The Presidency
  • SOC 132 Sociology of EducationPrereq: SOC 001 and SOC 015


Science

  • ANTH 160 Human Origins and Evolution


Visual & Performing Arts

  • EH 167 Theatre and Ecology
  • COGS 149 Music, Language, and Cognition
  • GASP 179A Music, Sound, and Eco-ActionPrereq: GASP 002 or ART 006


Physical Education

  • PH 102 Health PromotionPrereq: PH 001 or PH 005, and PH 010 or equivalent
  • PH 124 / PSY 124 Health DisparitiesPrereq: PSY 015 or COGS 105 or PH 100
  • PSY 120 Health PsychologyPrereq: PSY 001 or equivalent exam
  • SOC 146 Social Determinants of Health


Human Development

  • ANTH 162 Growth, Development, and Human Evolution
  • PSY 130 Developmental PsychologyPrereq: PSY 001 or equivalent exam
  • PSY 139A Latinx Youth and Families (Topics in Developmental Psychology)Prereq: PSY 001 or equivalent exam

Offered routinely · Major elective and/or GE

Pedagogy, learning, and educational systems

  • NSED 130 Technology in Education
  • NSED 150 Research Methods in Education
  • NSED 174 Contemporary Issues in Teaching
  • PSY 163 Psychology of Learning and MemoryPrereq: PSY 160
  • SOC 132 Sociology of EducationPrereq: SOC 001 and SOC 015
  • SPAN 180 Foundations of Spanish EducationPrereq: SPAN 103