Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

at California State University - Monterey Bay USA

The MSPA program at CSUMB is a full-time, 28-month, year-round graduate program, consisting of 83 credit hours completed over 7 semesters. MSPA courses have a different fee structure and academic calendar. The curriculum is separated into didactic, clinical, and hybrid semesters. The curriculum structure is specially designed to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be competent PAs upon completion of the program.

Student are required to participate in all program activities, comply with all program and university policies, and demonstrate professional behavior as defined in the MSPA Student Handbook. Students are assessed through written examinations and performance evaluations throughout the duration of the program. Students must pass each component of the curriculum to make satisfactory progress in the program.

Our global society presents a complex picture of human conditions that can be examined politically, economically, culturally, historically, socially, technologically, and behaviorally. In the Social & Behavioral Sciences major, you will gain knowledge and skills that are necessary for solving many of the world’s most pressing social problems.

We integrate seven social scientific fields of study to help you understand the full range of tools social scientists may use to develop innovative solutions. You will also specialize in one of these social sciences to acquire a deeper understanding of some of those tools.  In addition, you have the opportunity to take courses in related majors such as Psychology and Global Studies.

Social scientists work in education, business, law, government, non-governmental organizations and civil society at local, national, and global levels, helping to shape discussions and affect positive change through teaching, research, and service.

The Master of Arts in Education prepares strong education professionals to have an informed understanding of complex learning; the knowledge and skills to promote such learning; and the disposition to advocate effectively for the learning, living and growth of students, especially those who bring cultural, linguistic and other diversity to schools. The program coursework challenges educators to analyze and improve their instructional practice to better serve students with diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as students with special needs.

The Master of Arts in Education Program, which has an emphasis in Education Administration, prepares educational leaders with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to efficiently and effectively lead educational organizations in today's complex and evolving social, political and economic environment. The Department of Education and Leadership allows candidates to complete a MA degree with an emphasis in Education Administration. Students also complete coursework required for the Preliminary Administrative Services credential plus ten units related to research and two seminar courses that guides them through the completion of an action research project. Part time enrollment is optional with advisor consultation.

Cinematic Arts and Technology is a hands-on program that prepares you for careers in film, broadcast, and interactive media across commercial, independent, and community sectors.

You will create narrative, documentary, interactive, and experimental media in a variety of collaborative, independent, and cross-disciplinary projects. Major coursework will help you to develop skills and experience in all facets of media-making, including: directing, writing, producing, editing, sound design, visual design, animation, motion graphics, interaction design, and mobile media.

Students in the Marine Science major apply a wide range of technologies to studying marine ecosystems. Through applied learning and research, you will gain the skills necessary to develop a sustainable balance between the unique environmental, recreational, cultural and economic opportunities in the Monterey Bay region.

Through lab and field experience, you will apply techniques of experimental design, data acquisition, analysis and presentation that provide you with the skills needed to monitor and analyze marine science problems. You are encouraged to interact with other Monterey Bay institutions, such as the Moss Landing Marine Labs, to take advantage of additional local expertise in marine and coastal ecology.

Graduates of the Marine Science major are prepared for a variety of career pathways in the public and private sector. Graduates are also poised to continue their education via graduate studies and research in ecology, environmental science and related fields.

Business Administration prepares you for careers in business and social enterprise and government sector where management, ethics, technology, critical thinking, and communication skills are essential. Our graduates’ entrepreneurial and leadership traits, combined with their business skills and knowledge, have enabled them to launch their own businesses or move into high-potential jobs.

Our goal is for you to graduate with not just a solid foundation in business knowledge and skills, but also with the behavioral attributes that give you a competitive advantage in either your chosen career path or graduate school. We promote our students’ success in their chosen careers with business knowledge and skills developed through engaged teaching and learning. We provide integrated, hands-on education and responsible engagement with real-world challenges.

The Biology major offers scaffolded courses that provide students with essential knowledge and skills that prepare graduates for success in jobs, graduate school, or professional school in areas such as biotechnology, genomics, health-related fields, agriculture, field biology, ecology, and marine biology. The highly trained faculty are committed to student success, and provide opportunities for undergraduates to be involved in cutting-edge independent research, as well as service to the community. Many of the biology courses provide course-based research experiences that prepare graduates for admission to world-renowned graduate and professional schools.

The Biology major offers concentrations in:

• Molecular Biology
• Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
• Teacher Preparation

The Human Development & Family Science major focuses on human development from infancy through old age. Students will examine how family and community dynamics affect the development of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences. Through fieldwork, program evaluation, and service-learning, students become prepared to work with children, youth, families, and elders in education or social service programs.

To learn more about the major, visit the Human Development and Family Science Department.

Want to establish broad knowledge, communication skills, creative talents, critical thinking abilities and multicultural awareness that will make you widely employable? Looking for an incredibly interdisciplinary and adaptable major that combines dozens of traditional fields of study?

Humanities & Communication majors gain broad knowledge, multicultural communication skills, creative talents, and outstanding writing and critical thinking abilities for the 21st-century workplace. Our major integrates traditional disciplines within humanities and communication with contemporary fields and explores how these fields interrelate.

You will study across the various disciplines in order to gain an integrated understanding of world issues and problems, and you will apply your knowledge ethically, critically, and creatively toward the fulfillment of concrete personal and social goals and needs.

The ability to communicate with Japanese speakers and appreciate Japanese culture gives you an advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Japanese language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the global community.

The B.A. in Japanese Language and Culture prepares you to be an active participant in an ever-shrinking and increasingly interdependent world society by developing your literacy in global matters, multiculturalism and cultural diversity, as well as guiding you to achieve a higher level of language proficiency (Intermediate-High level according to the ACTFL guidelines). You will be able to communicate effectively in Japanese with well-rounded Japanese cultural knowledge in such areas as arts, history, humanities, literature, and social sciences.

The program prepares you for successful careers in professions such as teaching, business, technology, travel, tourism, foreign policy, governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as for graduate study in Japanese studies, linguistics, Asian studies, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management, environmental sciences, business management, law school, and business administration.