Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and Liberal Studies

Welcome Statement

Welcome to the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and Liberal Studies in the College of Humanities at California State University Northridge (CSUN). With two distinct Bachelor of Arts degrees, we offer a wide range of multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary degrees, minors, and options. 

The B.A in Liberal Studies is for anyone who wants to be an Elementary School teacher (from Kindergarten to grade 6) or a special Education teacher (from Kindergarten to grade 8). Our B.A in Liberal Studies degree is one of the oldest, largest, most complex, rigorous, and well-respected state-approved subject matter programs for the multiple subject teaching credential required for elementary school teachers (K-6) in the state. Our department is among the top three institutions in California in preparing K-6 educators for the classroom. We also offer students the Elementary Subject Matter Verification (ESM). Within the B.A. degree in Liberal Studies, we have three options:

1. The ITEP-Freshman Option: is a structured, four-year cohorted option that begins in the first year at CSUN and prepares students for careers in elementary schools. This option leads to a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies awarded simultaneously WITH a preliminary teaching credential in either Elementary Education or Special Education (Mild/Moderate and Extensive Support needs).  In this option, students take many of their classes together as a cohorted group of students.
2. The ITEP-Junior Option is a comprehensive teacher preparation option that simultaneously provides the B.A. degree in Liberal Studies AND a preliminary teaching credential in either Elementary Education or Special Education (Mild/Moderate and Extensive Support Needs). In this option, students can take their time completing their degree.
3. The Pre-Credential Option provides a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies and is designed for students who plan to seek a teaching credential after the completion of the B.A. degree.

Our department has professional academic advisors who support students in all three options making sure that students take the correct subject matter courses and for the first two options, also fulfill the requirements for the preliminary multiple subject teaching credential.

Our new B.A in Interdisciplinary Studies degree is one of two such degrees in the CSU. Our B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies promotes the understanding of complex problems and global challenges that go beyond a single area of study. In this degree, students learn to integrate knowledge from different research areas and combine methods and practices from various fields in innovative ways. Students learn to merge quantitative research skills with qualitative humanistic inquiry and aesthetic appreciation in their analysis of complex problems.  With courses from the Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities, students can design a major around their intellectual interests and professional goals.