Courses | B.A. in Liberal Studies, Multidisciplinary
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Writing Competency
Every Biola student must fulfill the Writing Competency Requirement (WCR). Liberal Studies, Multidisciplinary students fulfill the WCR by passing ENGL 3134 with a C+ or better. If they fail to meet this requirement, they must consult with their major advisor for an alternative WCR pathway. For more information, see the section titled "Writing Competency Requirement" under the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section.
Torrey Honors College
Please refer to the footnotes regarding the Core Curriculum courses that are covered by the Torrey Honors College.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses Meeting Core Curriculum Requirements | ||
| Behavioral Science: | ||
| PSYC 200 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| English: | ||
| ENGL 3134 | Writing in the Disciplines for Educators | 3 |
| Fine Arts: 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Film Appreciation | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Theatre Appreciation | ||
| Integration Seminar: | ||
| BBST 4652 | Integration Seminar: Christian Philosophy of Education | 3 |
| Kinesiology & Health Science: | ||
| KNES 107 | Lifetime Wellness | 1 |
| KNES 201 | Elementary Physical Education Methods and Activities (or one Lifetime Wellness activity) | 1-2 |
| Philosophy: 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Logic | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Science/Math: | ||
| BIOS 105 | Biology for Educators | 4 |
| MATH 117 | Fundamentals of Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
| U.S. History: 1 | ||
| HIST 200 | United States History To 1865 | 3 |
| Program Courses | ||
| ARTS 306 | Elementary Art Workshop | 3 |
| HIST 201 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 403 | California History | 3 |
| LEDU 301 | Introduction to Teaching 2 | 3 |
| LEDU 324 | Performing Arts in Education | 1 |
| LEDU 335 | Child Development: Birth through Adolescence 3 | 3 |
| LEDU 380 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| MATH 118 | Fundamentals of Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| MUSC 310 | Elementary Music Workshop | 2 |
| PHSC 101 | Physical Science Survey: Lecture | 3 |
| PHSC 102 | Physical Science Survey Laboratory | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Methods of Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students | ||
| Cross-Cultural/Ethnic Issues in Psychology | ||
| Unequal Justice: Race, Class, Gender and Crime | ||
| Program Course Requirements: 58-59 credits | ||
| Concentrations | ||
| In addition to the program courses, each student must complete a concentration, which consists of approved coursework in one of the following subject areas: Biology, Early Childhood, English, Health and Exercise, History, Human Development, Mathematics, Sociology, Spanish, Special Education, TESOL or Visual Arts. See requirements listed below. | 12-13 | |
| Core Curriculum Requirements 4 | 48 | |
| General Electives 5 | 0-2 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Courses covered by the Torrey Honors College.
- 2
This course is a prerequisite to the Early Childhood and Special Education concentration courses.
- 3
This course is a prerequisite to Early Childhood concentration courses.
- 4
See Core Curriculum Program section for details.
- 5
Students who take a 1-credit Lifetime Wellness course in place of KNES 201 and complete a 12-credit concentration are required to take 2 credits of general electives.
Students who take KNES 201 and complete a 12-credit concentration are required to take 1 credit of general electives.
Students who take KNES 201 and complete 13 credits in the Bilingual Education in Spanish track of the Spanish concentration are not required to take any general electives.
Concentrations
Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following, 3 of which must be upper division: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Current Topics in Biology | ||
| Nutrition | ||
| Botany | ||
| Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Vertebrate Biology | ||
| Ecological Agriculture | ||
| Global Development and Ecological Sustainability | ||
| Invertebrate Biology | ||
| Marine Biology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| General Ecology | ||
| Seminar in Advanced Biology | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Early Childhood
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| LEDU 356 | Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| LEDU 357 | School/Family/Community Partnerships in Early Childhood Urban Settings | 3 |
| LEDU 358 | Classroom Management in Early Childhood Settings | 3 |
| LEDU 359 | Observation and Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
English
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction to English Studies | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Studies in Grammar and Language | ||
| Creative Writing: Poetry | ||
or ENGL 344 | Creative Writing: Fiction | |
| Studies in American Literature | ||
| Studies in British Literature | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Health and Exercise
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Public Health Principles and Practice | ||
| Health Education and Health Promotion | ||
| Health Behavior and Health Promotion | ||
| Psychology of Exercise and Health | ||
| Leadership in Sport and Human Movement | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Studies in British History | ||
| American Democracy, Civil War and Reconstruction, 1800–1877 | ||
| History of Latin America | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Roman History | ||
| The Rise of Modern America, 1877–1920 | ||
| The United States Since 1920 | ||
| The American West | ||
| Renaissance and Reformation | ||
| Early Modern Europe | ||
| War and Civilization | ||
| Survey of American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Human Development
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Psychology and Christian Thought | ||
| Statistics with Computer Applications and Statistics with Computer Applications Lab | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Psychological Testing and Assessment | ||
| Introduction to Psychopathology | ||
| Cross-Cultural/Ethnic Issues in Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology: Lifespan | ||
| Seminar in Therapeutic Techniques | ||
| Psychology of Marriage and Family | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Intercultural Studies
As of Spring 2024, this concentration is in teach-out phase; it is not open to new or readmit students.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Linguistic Anthropology | ||
| Intercultural Competence & Diversity in the Global Workplace | ||
| Intercultural Adjustment | ||
| Ethnicity and Diversity in America | ||
| Area and Ethnic Studies | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| World Religions and Pluralism | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits, 3 of which must be upper-division, from the following: | 12 | |
| Precalculus Mathematics | ||
or MATH 140 | Fundamentals of Calculus | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Discrete Structures | ||
or MATH 204 | Introduction to Abstract Math | |
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Classical Geometry | ||
| Number Theory and the History of Mathematics | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Sociology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Social Problems | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Unequal Justice: Race, Class, Gender and Crime | ||
| Ethnic and Minority Groups | ||
| Social Inequality: Race, Class and Gender | ||
| American Culture and Values | ||
| Sociology of Wealth and Poverty | ||
| Sociology of Disabilities | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Spanish
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 12-13 | |
| Second Language Learners | ||
| Select one or two of the following (based upon language assessment): | ||
| Spanish Language and Culture III | ||
| Advanced Spanish Communication I | ||
or SPAN 301 | Advanced Spanish Communication II | |
| Select one or two of the following (based upon language assessment): | ||
| Hispanic Civilization and Culture | ||
| Hispanic Studies: Culture, Language, or Literature | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Culture | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics and Teaching Pedagogy | ||
| Heritage Learners | ||
| Select one or two of the following (based upon language assessment): | ||
| Basic Spanish for the Heritage Learner | ||
| Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners I | ||
or SPAN 311 | Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners II | |
| Select one or two of the following (based upon language assessment): | ||
| Hispanic Civilization and Culture | ||
| Hispanic Studies: Culture, Language, or Literature | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Culture | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics and Teaching Pedagogy | ||
| Bilingual Education in Spanish 1 | ||
| Select one of the following (based upon language assessment): 2 | ||
| Advanced Spanish Communication I | ||
| Advanced Spanish Communication II | ||
| Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners I | ||
| Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners II | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| Latina/o Diversity in a U.S. Context | ||
| Socio-historical Context for Bilingual Education – Spanish | ||
| Bilingual Methodologies - Spanish | ||
| Total Credits | 12-13 | |
- 1
Requires 12-13 credits depending on language assessment.
- 2
If one of these courses is not required based upon language assessment, a 3-credit elective approved by the School of Education must be completed.
Special Education
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Issues in Special Education | ||
| Assessment and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners | ||
| Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Support Needs in Inclusive Settings | ||
| Behavior and Classroom Management for Students with Special Needs | ||
| Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
TESOL
As of Summer 2024, this concentration is in teach-out phase; it is not open to new or readmit students.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
| Grammar for English Teachers | ||
| Materials Evaluation and Preparation | ||
| English Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Ethics, Values, and Intercultural Communication for TESOL Professionals | ||
| Teaching English to Young Learners | ||
| Topics in TESOL | ||
| Practicum in TESOL I | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Visual Arts
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Drawing I | ||
| Figure Studies I | ||
| Digital Tools | ||
| 2-D Foundations | ||
| 3-D Foundations | ||
| Sculpture I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Photography I-Introduction to Darkroom and Digital Processes | ||
| Select 9 credits of ARTS elective courses, 3 of which must be upper-division 1 | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
Courses must be selected in consultation with a department advisor in order to create a focus area.
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