College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences

Mission Statement

The College of Humanities, Arts, and Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS) offers education rooted in the liberal arts tradition, responsive to new ideas and challenges, and attuned to the diversity of human experience. Grounded in the scholarly and creative activity of our faculty, our programs are dedicated to preparing students for lifelong careers of leadership, learning, creativity, professional achievement, and community service.

Features of the College

As a scholarly community, the College integrates diverse academic disciplines, research fields, creative arts, and interdisciplinary programs, offering students multiple pathways to explore ideas, ideals, visions, and values.

The intellectual identity of the College centers on topics encompassing the origins and structure of behavior and action, society and culture, and the history and future of human expression, reflection, and creativity.

Students gain a global perspective on diverse peoples, histories, societies and cultures, through sustained exploration of the arts, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences.

College faculty and staff foster a supportive, inclusive, and rigorous learning environment and workplace, upholding the highest standards of academic endeavor and organizational ethics.

The faculty is committed to a teacher-scholar model of academic life, drawing from active scholarship and creativity to sustain inspired and effective teaching.

College programs emphasize active student learning, critical thinking, and original student research and creative work. Students sharpen age-old skills of writing , speaking, and reasoning, while exploring the newest technologies in the classroom, studio, and laboratory.

Undergraduate and graduate degree programs enable students to explore their chosen fields in depth, master specialized knowledge at advanced levels, and focus their commitment to individual and social progress. General education courses present basic orientations to multiple disciplines, helping students attain a broad and coherent worldview. Service learning opportunities reach beyond campus, engaging students in community partnerships, building awareness of regional needs, and inspiring practical realization of ethics, integrity and citizenship.

Together, the faculty and staff of CHABBS promote education that is comprehensive, integrative, and transformative, offering students new ways to see themselves and the world, from the foundations of animal behavior to the highest expressions of human existence.

Academic Advising

Undergraduate students with majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences have designated Academic Advisors who will assist with graduation planning, degree requirements, general education requirements and enrollment issues. Faculty advisors may also be available to advise students on major/minor specific courses, program and concentration choices, career and graduate school planning and advanced research, creative or internship specific questions. Please refer to department websites regarding faculty advising information.

Advising appointments can be made online at www.csusm.edu/academicadvising. Students may also meet with an Academic Advisor through various drop-in advising services offered throughout the year. Academic Advising for undergraduate students with majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences is located in Craven Hall 1300.

Pre-Professional Preparation

Pre-Professional Planning

Pre-Law Advising

California State University San Marcos offers various undergraduate courses to help students prepare for careers in 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 California State University San Marcos offer undergraduate courses related to law. Students seeking advice on preparation for law schools should consult with their major faculty advisor. For more specific information on pre-law advising, contact the Office of the Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences at (760) 750-4200.

Teacher Preparation

California State University San Marcos offers several state-approved Subject Matter Preparation Programs. Completion of a Subject Matter Preparation Program is, in some cases, one way to demonstrate the subject matter competency necessary for admission to a Teacher Credential Program. Single-Subject Matter Preparation Programs for potential middle school and high school teachers are available in Mathematics.

For students interested in becoming high school teachers the Department of History within the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences offers a single-subject preparation in social science. For more information on this degree please visit the History Department website at http://www.csusm.edu/history/

Students seeking to become elementary or middle school teachers may complete the Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Program with a Liberal Studies major, or may combine the Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Certificate with any other academic major. These programs explicitly address the various subject matters included in curricula of grades kindergarten through eight, and therefore, they provide excellent pathways to a career in teaching. Please see the Liberal Studies section of this catalog for more information, or visit the Liberal Studies website at http://www.csusm.edu/liberalstudies/

Integrated Bachelor of Arts and Mutiple-Subject Credential Program/English Learner Authorization

This program provides students with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Liberal Studies from the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences and a Multiple-Subject Credential English Learner Authorization from the School of Education. The Integrated Credential Program (ICP) consists of one prerequisite semester and five themed semesters of courses, which are taken in both colleges. The Integrated Bachelor of Arts and Multiple-Subject Emphasis Credential English Learner Authorization Program is listed as part of the Liberal Studies major under the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences. (For admission requirements to the Integrated Bachelor of Arts, see School of Education and College of Humanities, Arts, and Behavioral and Social Sciences advising staff.)

Career Readiness Initiative

The goal of the Career Readiness Initiative is to significantly increase the career readiness of the graduates of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences. We seek to expand awareness of the range of career options for graduates, improve the connection between the college and community members, and encourage faculty to be leaders in pedagogy and curriculum regarding career readiness in the liberal arts.

Since the inception of the Career Readiness Initiative in 2013, many faculty, students, and staff in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social sciences have supported and participated in career readiness efforts. CHABSS colleagues have served on and attended panels, participated in working groups, nominated alumni and other professional contacts to serve as career mentors, referred students to our programs, and showcased the diverse and creative ways they foster career readiness in the curriculum and in their own advising and mentoring of students.

Career Mentoring Network

The Career Readiness Mentoring Network enhances students’ career readiness by connecting them with local professionals who volunteer to serve as career mentors. Our mentor corps included community leaders, university professional staff, and alumni.

Internships

Students: Seeking an internship? Several departments in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences offer credit-bearing Internship courses. The Career Center and CSUSM’s Office of Internship are also good sources of information for students seeking internships.

Events

The Career Readiness Initiative hosts employer panels and other events throughout the academic year designed to help students and faculty in our college network and to explore connections between major/minor coursework and career paths.

Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to contact the Career Readiness Initiative for more information on ways to participate:

http://www.csusm.edu/chabss/collegeinitiatives/careerreadiness/