MISSION STATEMENT

 

The College of Arts and Sciences is a scholarly community committed to providing comprehensive, high quality education for students in a rapidly changing world. We provide a supportive teaching and learning environment where diversity is fundamental to the achievement of excellence.  Integral to the college instructional mission is the generation of new knowledge through research and creative activity. We value disciplinary and interdisciplinary instruction that employs new technologies and integrates ideas across intellectual boundaries. The College is committed to mutually beneficial partnerships with local and global communities.

 

 

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

 

The College of Arts and Sciences at CSU San Marcos is home to the fundamental academic disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences.

 

Complementing its strong academic discipline offerings, the college also offers students a coordinated General Education Program designed to broaden basic knowledge and skills.  In addition to undergraduate coursework, the college offers graduate studies in several disciplines.  The curriculum of the college is crafted to weave its commitment to diversity, interdisciplinary study, international perspectives, technology, and community partnerships into the fabric of all of its academic programs.

 

The college faculty and staff are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research/creative efforts, and service.

Students can expect a supportive learning atmosphere to pursue their studies, primarily in small classes, which provides rich opportunities for interaction, discovery, and cooperative learning.  The college encourages student learning across traditional academic disciplinary boundaries and active exploration of new teaching and learning strategies.

 

Graduates of the college are well-prepared for a variety of careers, or for graduate study leading to advanced academic and professional degrees. Our courses teach students how to write, to analyze, and to think creatively and critically. The college offers students the opportunity to master new technologies for application to a range of challenges.  In addition, students develop language skills and cultural sensitivity designed to prepare them for life in a globally interdependent society.

 

 

THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES OFFERS COURSES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS, AND THE DEGREES INDICATED:

 

Discipline                                               Course Prefix                          Undergraduate                       Graduate

Programs                                 Programs

 

Astronomy                                             ASTR

Anthropology                                         ANTH                                    Minor

Biological Sciences                  BIOL                                       Minor, BS                               MS

Chemistry                                               CHEM                                    Minor, BS

Communication                                       COMM                                  Minor, BA

Computer Science                                   CS                                           Minor, BS                               MS

Criminology and Criminal Justice           See Note 1                               Minor

Dance                                                      DNCE                                     See Note 4

Economics                                               ECON                                     Minor, BA

Earth Science                                           ES

Ethnic Studies                                         See Note 5

Film Studies                                            FMST                                     Minor

Foreign Languages                                   FLAN

French                                                     FREN                                      Minor

General Education                                   See Note 2

Geography                                              GEOG

German                                                   GRMN

History                                                   HIST                                       Minor, BA

Human Development                              HD                                          BA

Humanities                                              HUM

Interdisciplinary Studies                         ID

Japanese                                                  JAPN

Liberal Studies                                        LBST                                      BA

Linguistics                                               LING

Literature and Writing Studies                LTWR                                     Minor, BA                              MA

Mathematics                                           MATH                                   Minor, BS                               MS

Music                                                      MUSC                                    See Note 4

Philosophy                                             PHIL                                       Minor

Physical Education                                                 PE

Physics                                                   PHYS                                      Minor

Political Science                                      PSCI                                        Minor, BA

Psychology                                             PSYC                                      Minor, BA                              MA

Social Sciences                                        See Note 3                               Minor, BA

Sociological Practice                                See Note 1                                                                               MA

Sociology                                                SOC                                        Minor, BA

Spanish                                                   SPAN                                      Minor, BA                              MA

Special Major                                          See Note 3                               BA

Theatre Arts                                           TA                                          See Note 4

Visual and Performing Arts                    VPA                                        Minor, BA

Visual Arts                                              VSAR                                      See Note 4

Women’s Studies                                    WMST                                    Minor, BA

 

Note 1: Courses for the Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice and the MA in Sociological Practice are offered by the Sociology Program, and use the SOC course prefix.

 

Note 2: General Education courses are offered under several different course prefixes. See the description of the General Education Program, page 84.

 

Note 3: An interdisciplinary degree program in which coursework for the major is taken in at least two different disciplines.

 

Note 4: See the BA degree program and the Minor in Visual and Performing Arts.

 

Note 5: An Interdisciplinary Minor in which coursework is taken in other areas.

 

 

Academic Major Advising

 

Advising in the College of Arts and Sciences is provided by faculty who teach in each discipline. Each academic major may vary in how students are assigned to faculty advisors. Students should consult with the Program Director regarding their particular field of study. Liberal Studies students are advised by the Liberal Studies advisors, located in CRA 6202. The Assistant Dean for Advising Services is located in CRA 6206.

 

 

Graduation Advising

 

The College of Arts and Sciences provides a Graduation Advisor (CRA 6216, 6210) to help students understand the requirements and process for graduation.  The advisor also works with undeclared major students, students considering a change of academic major, and students with other general questions.

 

 

Peer Advising

 

http://www.csusm.edu/A_S/Academic_Advising

 

The College of Arts and Sciences provides trained peer advisors to provide students with information about academic advising and other University services.  Peer advisors are located on the sixth floor of Craven Hall outside the advising offices and on the third floor in the Lower-Division Advising Center.  Students are invited to utilize this resource.

 

 

Contact Information for Courses in Areas Without Degree Programs

 

Discipline                               Course Prefix          Contact Person or Program

 

Dance                                      DNCE                     Visual and Performing Arts Program Director

Earth Science                           ES                            Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Chair

Foreign Languages                   FLAN                     World Languages and Hispanic Literatures Program Director

General Education                   GEH, GEL, GEM, General Education Coordinator

GEO, GES, GESS,

GEW

Geography                              GEOG                     Liberal Studies Department Chair

German                                   GRMN                   World Languages and Hispanic Literatures Program Director

Humanities                              HUM                      Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Interdisciplinary Studies         ID                            (for most courses) Liberal Studies Department Chair

Japanese                                 JAPN                      World Languages and Hispanic Literatures Program Director

Linguistics                               LING                      Liberal Studies Department Chair

Physical Education                                 PE                           Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

 

 

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

 

Pre-professional Planning

 

Careers in Health

CSUSM offers prerequisite courses and advising for a variety of health careers including medicine, dentistry, chiropractic, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and other health professions. Students planning for careers in the health professions should regularly consult with the Health Professions Advisor, CRA 6205, as well as faculty advisors. The Health Professions Advisor also has information for students interested in the mental health professions.

 

Regardless of their major, all pre-health students will need to complete a range of lower-division courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.  Pre-health students should consult with the Health Professions Advisor and faculty advisors about choice of major and academic planning. Also, it is highly recommended that pre-health students complete courses in the humanities and behavioral sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology, anthropology). Pre-health students are also encouraged to take Service-Learning courses and engage in a variety of volunteer/community service activities. Professional schools do vary with respect to the specific courses they expect applicants to have completed.

It is the responsibility of the student to carefully check in advance the requirements and prerequisites of all professional schools they are considering and to take this into account when selecting courses.

 

The Health Professions Advising Office houses a number of publications conveniently listing the specific requirements of many professional schools in the U.S. and Canada.

 

The following is a menu of lower-division CSUSM science and mathematics courses recommended for pre-chiropractic, pre-dental, pre-medical, preoptometry, pre-osteopathic, pre-pharmacy and pre-veterinary students. It may not be necessary to take all of the recommended courses listed below.  Other courses not listed may also be required. Which courses you do complete will depend upon the health profession you have chosen and the prerequisites of the specific professional schools to which you will be submitting an application. Students planning careers in other health professions may also use this list as a guide for selecting science and mathematics courses.

 

Recommended Science and Mathematics Courses for Pre-health Students

 

Biology (BIOL) 210, 211

 

Chemistry (CHEM) 150, 201, 201L, 202, 202L, 250

 

Mathematics* (MATH) 160

 

Physics (PHYS) 101, 102

or

PHYS 205, 206

 

Pre-law Advising

CSUSM offers undergraduate courses related to law. Students interested in applying to law school should note that law schools do not require any particular majors or prerequisites. However, several departments at CSUSM offer undergraduate courses related to law.  Students seeking advice on preparation for law schools should consult with their departmental advisor.

 

Teacher Preparation

CSUSM offers several state-approved Subject Matter Preparation Programs.  Completion of a Subject Matter

Preparation Program is one way to demonstrate the subject matter competency necessary for admission to a Teacher Credential Program. Single Subject Matter Preparation Programs for potential junior high school and high school teachers are available in English, Mathematics, Social Science and Spanish. Students seeking to become elementary or middle school teachers may complete the Multiple Subject Preparation Program with a Liberal Studies major, by completing special tracks in the Human Development major and the Visual and Performing Arts major, or through some other major by combining specific Multiple Subject requirements with major requirements.

 

*Students lacking the prerequisite for MATH 160 should consult an academic advisor as soon as possible to determine which prerequisite math courses they need to complete before enrolling in MATH 160. All students are required to complete the Entry Level

Mathematics (ELM) requirement within one year of beginning coursework at CSUSM.