Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

at California State University - East Bay USA

Ethnic Studies offers an interdisciplinary major, providing a comparative approach to the study of people of color in the United States.  Our Ethnic Studies curriculum has a strong social justice focus. Through a systematic study of the cultures, histories, and social realities of communities of color in the US, our students finish our program prepared to work effectively in multiracial, multiethnic, multigender communities. 

The MS in Early Childhood Education prepares individuals to teach and work with all students ranging in age from infancy through eight years (i.e., grade three). It includes preparation to teach all relevant subject matter. The purpose of this master’s degree is to prepare teachers to understand and deliver strong, vibrant, and relevant instruction and leadership in Early Childhood Education settings.

The MS in Early Childhood Education is specifically designed for the working practitioner to gain professional knowledge about curriculum and leadership for children ages birth to eight years old. This degree emphasizes developmentally and culturally appropriate practices, “hands-on” experiences, evidenced-based instruction, working with families, and innovative ways to build leadership and professionalism.  Education of the whole child, including cognitive, social, and emotional aspects are covered throughout the program’s curriculum.  The program is designed for preschool and T-K through third grade teachers. National, state, and local documents are evidenced in the coursework. The four-semester program includes a field-based practicum and accompanying seminar.

Cal State East Bay’s M.A. TESOL program provides students with a strong generalist preparation to work with adult English learners while still allowing students to explore particular specialties, such as general linguistics or composition studies. The program is organized around a cohort model which helps to create a strong sense of connection between classmates. There are eight required classes (28 units) as well as a departmental thesis (2 units). Most students complete the program in two academic years.

Human Development is an interdisciplinary program that integrates theory and methodology from disciplines such as anthropology, biology, linguistics, psychology, and sociology. The program explores the processes and mechanisms underlying developmental change and stability across the lifespan and the socio-cultural and historical contexts in which development takes place.

The Program’s curriculum aims to develop in students a basic understanding of major research findings and core concepts in human development, the ability to analyze and evaluate theoretical and practical issues in the field, and the skills to apply learning to diverse communities outside the University. The Program strives to create an optimal learning community that values and fosters collaborative learning and dialogue between and among students and faculty from diverse backgrounds.

The Communication Department features the integration of theories and criticism with the essential skills for media production, professional engagement, and meaningful research. Graduates will be able to make a positive, professional, and important contribution in communication theory and research, Strategic Communication, Multimedia Journalism, and Communication and Media Studies. Students will study, research and analyze the perspectives that will lead to their becoming inclusive, ethical, and effective leaders and participants in global and local communities. They will acquire skills in critical analysis, speaking, writing, and visual presentations across all media. They will learn about the changing world of today’s and future media as well as the long history of the relationship between communication, self, and society and they will be prepared for a broad array of careers or graduate studies. All undergraduates must complete 32 units in 8 core courses in communication and elect one of three concentrations: Multimedia Journalism emphasizing digital journalism for social justice that converges print, audio, visual, and video; Strategic Communication that converges the study of Advertising, Public Relations and Organizational Communication; and Communication and Media Studies that is designed to give students maximum flexibility in the 21st century job market while providing ample depth for those wishing to pursue graduate study.

In Physics, one attempts to discover, formulate, explain, and apply the basic laws of nature. Physicists work in areas as diverse as astrophysics, relativity, properties of materials, or the standard model of fundamental particles and interactions. The Principles of Physics provide the foundation for other sciences as well as engineering. Some of the examples of modern technological development from the application of physical principles include radio and television, computers, laser scanners, and communication by fiber optics. In addition, physicists explore problems in astronomy and theories for the origin and evolution of the universe.

At Cal State East Bay students can choose between a Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in Physics. The B.S. degree major program is designed to give students an understanding of the fundamentals of physics including concepts of atomic and nuclear physics, classical mechanics, wave motion and sound, electromagnetism and optics, heat and thermodynamics, relativity, quantum mechanics, and elementary particles and their interactions.

The Education Specialist Credential program prepares individuals to teach and provide services to children and young adults with disabilities from kindergarten through age 22. The CSU East Bay program includes authorizations to teach and provide services for children and young adults with mild/moderate or extensive support needs including those who are English learners. While completing the requirements for the Education Specialist credential, candidates will concurrently complete the requirements for the M.S. Special Education program.

The program includes foundational coursework in educational psychology, special education law, policy and program design, instruction and assessment working with diverse populations, teaching English language learners, and teaching students with disabilities; a full complement of discipline-based methods courses; and three semesters of fieldwork and student teaching in a range of service delivery models and programs in the bay area.

The program is a full-time, two-year cohort-based program. Candidates begin with full-time enrollment in June and supervised fieldwork experiences begin in the spring semester of the first year and continue fall and spring semesters of the second year of the program. The fieldwork experience begins with three full days a week during the first year and increases to four, and then five full days, full-time teaching during the second year. The program only accepts candidates without a general education credential for the Summer Term admissions starting in June. 

The MS in Economics combines a thorough grounding in modern economic theory with training in applied skills, informed by data analysis. It is the integration of all these elements that is powerful and distinctive; students not only master statistical methods and programming but, crucially, learn to interpret findings through the lens of economic theory. The program enables students to identify optimal actions in a variety of contexts, anticipate economic consequences, evaluate the effects of policy changes, understand strategic behavior, and explain and predict market outcomes. Students are prepared for a range of analytical careers through their quantitative skills: an ability to mathematically model and solve complex business and policy problems, as well as an advanced command of statistical tools. They may go on to work in corporate finance and banking, marketing research, consulting, public and non-governmental organization (NGO) administration, research, or teaching. Students declare one (and only one) concentration. The Quantitative Business Modeling concentration permits students to gain exposure to finance, marketing, and business analytics that is valuable in corporate careers, through selected courses in CBE’s business programs. The General Economics concentration is geared to advisory professions, the public sector, or PhD programs.

The Department of Philosophy at Cal State East Bay seeks to promote the exploration of enduring human concerns - concerns, for example, about the nature of knowledge, ethics, truth, and God. In addition to emphasizing classical philosophy, the department encourages students to think critically about contemporary debates, particularly in the areas of law, human rights, and social justice; science, technology, and values; and religion. The department’s faculty strive to instill in students lifelong habits of questioning, of exploring views contrary to their own, and of engaging in reasoned and honest dialogue. By their focus on analysis, comprehension and communication, they aim to develop qualities that are essential to personal fulfillment, civic responsibility, and career success.

Many different kinds of students choose the major in philosophy. Some intend to do graduate work in philosophy, often with the intention of becoming philosophy professors who research and teach in philosophy. Others take philosophy as a preparation for another professional area. Traditionally, for example, philosophy has been one of the chief roads to professional law schools. Philosophy also serves as a good general liberal arts education, since many of the long-established university disciplines are founded on philosophical principles: political science, sociology, education, aesthetics, physics, and other subjects. Finally, many students major in philosophy in order to prepare for careers that require clarity of thought, analytical ability, good writing skills, and the ability to present a reasoned argument.

The Art Department emphasizes study in our Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Program. This is a professional degree that offers students the opportunity to develop greater expertise through comprehensive and intensive study in a specific area of art or design - a program that leads to successful careers in the visual art and design industries. Students who intend to pursue graduate studies or advanced skills for a professional career typically choose the B.F.A degree.

The B.F.A. professional concentrations require 70 units of study in the Department to complete the major.  There is no application procedure to enter the Bachelor of Fine Arts program beyond declaring as a B.F.A. student with a specific concentration.  The concentrations are listed below under major requirements.

Illustration Concentration
The concentration in Illustration prepares students for careers focused in various areas of this professional field.  Illustration  occupies an artistic space between creativity and communication and is influenced by society, culture and technology. Our program offers courses to enhance knowledge, skill, creative and professional development. Illustration has areas of specialty including publishing, games, film, concept art, graphic novels, cartoons, children’s books, and editorial. Our program begins with practiced emphasis on core and pictorial work then goes on to familiarize the student in ideas and tools specific to the Illustration field, including career and portfolio preparation. The program covers traditional and digital tools to give students a foundation with which to branch out into their own creative endeavors.