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 Cal State 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 Programs |
Graduate Programs |
| Astronomy | ASTR | ||
| Anthropology Minor | ANTH | ||
| 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.
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, GEO, GES, GESS, GEW | General Education Coordinator |
| 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 |
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 of Student Relations 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/AS/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.
Pre-Professional Preparation
Pre-professional Planning
Careers in Health
Cal State San Marcos 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 Cal State San Marcos science and mathematics courses recommended for pre-chiropractic, pre-dental, pre-medical, pre-optometry, 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
*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 Cal State San Marcos.
Pre-law Advising
Cal State San Marcos 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 Cal State San Marcos offer undergraduate courses related to law. Students seeking advice on preparation for law schools should consult with their departmental advisor.
Teacher Preparation
Cal State San Marcos 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.