The BA in Liberal Studies is the undergraduate degree program for students who wish to go on to a credential program to become multiple-subject, K-12 teachers. The Liberal Studies Department views learning as a transformative, socially interactive process. Engagement in this process requires critical intellectual inquiry, reflection, collaboration, and the exploration of the interconnectedness and relationships among the disciplines, society, and our own humanity. Learning is also enhanced by the use of varying technologies to facilitate research, increase understanding, and promote communication with a variety of audiences in an increasingly diverse world. Furthermore, the connection between theory and practice is valued as essential for students to become informed and inquiring members of society and to serve their community.

Videos

CSET Workshop

Maria Sudduth, M.A.
Faculty, Chico State School of Education

Education Professor Maria Sudduth presents strategies for doing well on the CSET exam (California Subject Examinations for Teachers), which prospective teachers must pass in order to earn a teaching credential in California. She goes over the multiple subjects practice tests for the Reading, Language, and Literature section of the CSET, and for the History and Social Science section.  She also touches on the sub-tests. Professor Sudduth puts the questions in context by going through the “Standards and Frameworks” page on the California State Department of Education website. Many of the strategies Professor Sudduth outlines are applicable to any kind of exam. Presentation time: 56 minutes | View Now

CSET Writing Workshop Part One: The Basics

Stephanie Evans
Chico State Writing Center Tutor

This presentation is the first of three Student Learning Center workshops to help students prepare for the writing portion of the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET). Stephanie Evans, an experienced writing tutor and English 130 (Academic Writing) instructor, begins by providing an overview of the CSET structure and scoring system. She also covers the differences between expressive and expository essays, which are both part of the test. She then describes the different areas in which the essays are scored and provides time management strategies. Length: 57 minutes | View Now 

CSET Writing Workshop Part Two: The Expository Essay

Stephanie Evans
Chico State Writing Center Tutor

Stephanie Evans addresses the expository essay part of the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET). The expository essay begins with identification of a topic/thesis. She starts out by answering a basic, but very important question: What is a thesis? After that, Evans lists the following key points for a successful essay: list facts and details; pump up ideas; group and organize ideas; use topic-related words; and, describe examples. She also explains terms like “hook,” “transitions,” and “academic tone.” Length: 56 minutes | View Now 

CSET Writing Workshop Part Three: The Expressive Essay

Stephanie Evans
Chico State Writing Center Tutor

Stephanie Evans gives students information about how to do well on the “expressive essay” part of the exam. She provides a three-step strategy for how to develop a main idea, followed by approaches to using structure as the framework for a successful essay. Length: 43 minutes | View Now