B.A. in Liberal Studies, Multidisciplinary Major
Overview
This degree is for those seeking to understand how learning, development and community shape people's lives while preparing to serve others through education and related fields. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in the liberal arts, you'll explore how people learn, grow and engage with the world while developing expertise through a concentration aligned with your interests and goals. By connecting insights across disciplines, you'll learn to think beyond a single lens and approach complex human and educational challenges with greater depth and understanding. The result is a degree that combines focused expertise with a broader understanding of how people, learning and communities intersect.
- Faith integration. Grounded in a biblical worldview, the curriculum integrates theological reflection with the study of people, learning, and community, shaping your educational philosophy in light of God as creator of relational life. Through this integration, you are invited to consider how faith informs both understanding and practice in serving others.
- Professional preparation. Depending on concentration you can earn certain levels of Child Development Permits, a Special Education Certificate, or various authorizations at the graduate level. These authorizations would include a Multiple Subject Credential, Single Subject Credential, Special Education (Mild/Moderate) Credential, PK-3 Credential, or a Bilingual Authorization to be added to any state approved credential. This degree also meets the subject matter competency requirement for the Multiple Subject and Special Education Credentials.
- Relational emphasis. Through partnerships with local schools and community organizations in Southern California, you will engage in applied learning experiences that place you within real educational and community settings where theory and practice intersect.
- Innovative Courses. This interdisciplinary curriculum brings together education, human development, and the liberal arts as you study how people learn, develop, and function within educational and community systems. Courses emphasize analysis of real educational and social questions through multiple academic perspectives while supporting depth in a chosen area of focus.
- Diverse Competence. Through field experiences in schools and community settings, you will examine how culture, context, and lived experience shape learning, development, and participation in community life. You will learn to interpret differences in perspective and respond thoughtfully across diverse educational environments.
Rankings
Biola's education program was recently ranked 8th overall on Niche's list of "Best Colleges for Education in California," based on student reviews and data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Concentrations
- Biology
The biology concentration features coursework in biological science, with studies in topics such as environmental science, nutrition and marine biology.
- Early Childhood
The early childhood concentration includes coursework in early childhood curriculum, child development, classroom management and assessment of young children, and can lead to earning a California Child Development Permit.
- English
The English concentration includes coursework in grammar, composition, creative writing and classic literature.
- Health and Exercise
The health and exercise concentration includes coursework in areas such as kinesiology, sports leadership, psychology in physical education and coaching techniques.
- History
The history concentration features coursework in American government, history from the colonial period to the present day and global history.
- Human Development
The human development concentration includes psychology courses in areas such as human sexuality, marriage and family and cross-cultural issues.
- Mathematics
The mathematics concentration includes coursework in areas such as calculus, linear algebra, probability, statistics and number theory.
- SociologyThe Sociology concentration includes coursework in areas such as social problems, American culture and values, sociology of disabilities and social inequality.
- Spanish
The Spanish concentration offers two tracks: second language learners and heritage learners. Courses cover Spanish language and culture, conversation and composition, and Spanish applied linguistics and pedagogy.
- Special Education
The special education concentration is composed of coursework on topics such as teaching students with mild disabilities in inclusive settings, autism spectrum disorders and classroom management for students with special needs. Students can receive a Special Education Certificate and apply this coursework toward a Special Education Credential at the graduate level.
- Visual Arts
The visual arts concentration includes coursework in such artistic disciplines as drawing, 2D and 3D design, sculpture, ceramics, painting and photography.
