Liberal Studies

Associate in Arts (AA): Education Emphasis Liberal Studies · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog

The Liberal Studies: Emphasis in Education Degree prepares students to transfer to a Liberal Studies—Teacher Education bachelor’s degree program. The degree is intended to provide students with options to select appropriate coursework to meet lower-division requirements of the Liberal Studies program of the four-year institution they are planning to attend. Articulation agreements for most Liberal Studies—Teacher Education programs offered at the University of California and the California State University systems are available on the ASSIST website at www.assist.org.

Liberal Studies—Teaching Education programs are different at each four-year institution. Therefore, students must select their courses for the Associate Degree in consultation with an SBCC academic counselor to ensure they satisfy the lower-division preparation for the Liberal Studies program of the four-year institution to which they are planning to transfer.

The Liberal Studies: Emphasis in Education Degree at Santa Barbara City College is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a foundation of knowledge in the areas of English composition, critical thinking, oral communication, physical and life sciences, arts and humanities, and social sciences. Through this program, students acquire a breadth of knowledge across multiple disciplines, explore how knowledge across disciplines can be connected, analyze and evaluate ideas using the tools of critical thinking, and demonstrate effective communication skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Since Liberal Studies is a “college-wide” interdisciplinary Associate Degree program, it does not have departmental affiliation. Inquiries regarding the Liberal Studies program should be directed to an academic counselor or the Dean, Educational Programs—Student Development and Counseling.

Requirements

Associate Degree Graduation Requirements

Complete all of the following:

  1. All Major Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the major requirements must be completed through SBCC).
  2. One of the following General Education options:
    1. OPTION 1: SBCC General Education pattern OR
    2. OPTION 2: Cal-GETC pattern
  3. A minimum of 60 semester units of degree-applicable college credit (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher and C1000 and higher).
  4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in degree-applicable coursework.
  5. A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.
CourseTitleUnits
Major Requirements
Required Core
COMM C1000Introduction to Public Speaking3
orCOMM C1000HIntroduction to Public Speaking - Honors
orCOMM C1004Interpersonal Communication
orCOMM 121HInterpersonal Communication, Honors
orCOMM 141Small Group Communication
orCOMM 161Communication in Organizations
orCOMM 235Argumentation and Debate
ED 101Introduction To Teaching And Learning In K-12 Education3
ENG 111Critical Thinking and Composition Through Literature 13
orENG 111HCritical Thinking and Composition Through Literature, Honors
orPHIL 111Critical Thinking and Writing in Philosophy
orPHIL 205Introduction to Logic
orCOMM 235Argumentation and Debate
ENGL C1000Academic Reading and Writing4
orENGL C1000HAcademic Reading and Writing - Honors
List A - Complete two courses from the following (Physical and Biological Sciences):7-10
BIOL 100Concepts Of Biology
BIOL 140Principles of Biology
BIOL 140 & BIOL 141Principles of Biology and Biology Laboratory
BMS 107Human Anatomy
BMS 108Human Physiology
ERTH 101Introductory Astronomy
orERTH 101HIntroductory Astronomy, Honors
ERTH 101 & ERTH 102Introductory Astronomy and Observational Astronomy Laboratory
ERTH 101H & ERTH 102Introductory Astronomy, Honors and Observational Astronomy Laboratory
ERTH 111Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology
orERTH 111HDynamic Earth - Physical Geology, Honors
ERTH 111 & ERTH 111LDynamic Earth - Physical Geology and Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology Laboratory
ERTH 111H & ERTH 111LDynamic Earth - Physical Geology, Honors and Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology Laboratory
ERTH 112History Of The Earth
ERTH 112 & ERTH 112LHistory Of The Earth and Historical Geology Laboratory
ERTH 151Introductory Physical Oceanography
ERTH 151 & ERTH 151LIntroductory Physical Oceanography and Introductory Physical Oceanography Laboratory
PHSC 103The Physical Universe
PHYS 101Conceptual Physics
PHYS 101 & PHYS 101LConceptual Physics and Conceptual Physics Laboratory
PHYS 102Introductory Physics For Science Majors
List B - Complete two courses from the following (Social Sciences):6-8
ANTH 103Introduction To Cultural Anthropology
BLST 101The African-American In U.S. History To World War II
ECE 102Child, Family and Community
ECE 120Child Growth and Development/Educators
ERTH 142/GEOG 105Economic Geography
GEOG 102Human Geography
HIST 107World Civilization, Beginnings to 1550 3
HIST 108World Civilization, 1550 to Present 3
HIST C1001United States History to 1877 3
HIST C1002United States History since 1865 3
orHIST C1002HHistory Of The U.S. Since 1865 - Honors
POLS C1000American Government and Politics
PSY 140Child Development
PSY 145Human Development
PSYC C1000Introduction to Psychology
orPSYC C1000HIntroduction to Psychology - Honors
SOC 101Introduction To Sociology
orSOC 101HIntroduction to Sociology, Honors
SOC 104Social Psychology
List C - Complete two courses from the following (Arts and Humanities):6-10
ART 101Visual Literacy
ARTH C1100Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era
orARTH C1100HSurvey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era - Honors
ARTH C1200Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary
orARTH C1200HSurvey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors
CHST 115Introduction To Mexican Literature
CHST 131History Of Chicano Art
ECE 115Children's Literature
ENG 221Survey of British Literature: 800-1798
orENG 221HSurvey of British Literature 800-1798, Honors
ENG 222Survey of British Literature: 1798-Present
orENG 222HSurvey of British Literature: 1798-Present, Honors
ENG 225American Literature: Pre-Colonization to 1865
ENG 226American Literature: 1865-present
orENG 226HAmerican Literature, Honors
ENG 231World Literature: Ancient Times to 16th Century
ENG 232World Literature: 17th Century to Present
HIST 107World Civilization, Beginnings to 1550 3
HIST 108World Civilization, 1550 to Present 3
HIST C1001United States History to 1877 3
HIST C1002United States History since 1865 3
orHIST C1002HHistory Of The U.S. Since 1865 - Honors
MUS 110Music Appreciation
MUS 118World Music
PE 250Survey and Appreciation of Dance History
PHIL 100Introduction to Philosophy
orPHIL 100HIntroduction to Philosophy, Honors
PHIL 101Introduction to Ethics
orPHIL 101HIntroduction To Ethics, Honors
PHIL 102Comparative World Religions
PHIL 200History Of Philosophy: Ancient
PHIL 201Modern Philosophy: Minds, Matter, and Metaphysics
TA 103Theatre Appreciation
TA 111Beginning Acting
Foreign Language
Total Units32.00-41.00
  1. COMM 235 Argumentation and Debate can only satisfy one core requirement (oral communication or critical thinking), not both.
  2. At least one of the courses must have a lab
  3. HIST C1001 United States History to 1877, HIST C1002 United States History since 1865 or HIST C1002H United States History since 1865 - Honors, HIST 107 World Civilization, Beginnings To 1550, HIST 108 World Civilization, 1550 To Present can only satisfy one section (section 2 or section 3), not both.

Recommended Courses

CourseTitleUnits
ANTH 104Language and Culture3
COMP 101Introduction to Computer Applications4
ECON C2001Principles of Microeconomics3-4
orECON C2001HPrinciples of Microeconomics - Honors
orECON C2002Principles of Macroeconomics
orECON C2002HPrinciples of Macroeconomics - Honors
ED 291Practicum in Teaching2
ED 295Internship In Education2-3
HE 101Personal Health Awareness3
orHE 102Personal Health for Women
MATH 108Mathematical Concepts for Elementary School Teachers-Number Systems4
SPAN 101Beginning Spanish I5

Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to apply the fundamentals of critical and reflective thinking to the analysis of the issues and challenges facing American education.
  2. Students will develop a personal philosophy of education in order to be able to articulate their personal goals, values and beliefs about teaching.
  3. Students will develop a pre-professional portfolio for use in the advancement in the field.

Recommended Sequence

Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.

How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.

View in the original catalog

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