This course will explore current issues of diversity in the U.S. educational system. Readings and assignments will focus on the impact a diverse population with continually changing demographics has on leadership, curriculum, and instruction. Federal and state programs, laws, and funding will also be examined to determine how diversity is addressed in American education.

Fundamental concepts of social sciences needed for elementary school teachers and their application to classroom curriculum and instruction. Broad topics cutting across economics, sociology, anthropology, and government as well as discussions of how social scientists analyze, interpret and evaluate research. For Liberal Studies majors. Prerequisite: one AI-Government, one AI-History, and one C2.

This course is intended to provide students an introductory exploration of the various critical issues pertaining to the schooling of Latinx schooling populations in the western United States. Beginning with a historical overview of Latinx presence, immigration and settlement in the region and the schooling of this population over time, the course will examine contemporary schooling patterns and experiences to explore the role that such factors as segregation, documentation status, and restrictive language policies have played in exacerbating inequality between Latina/o/xs and other student populations. Critical examination will also be undertaken of the potential that such programmatic and instructional approaches as bilingual education and culturally sustaining pedagogy possess towards interrupting opportunity gaps and creating a more promising educational future for the largest ethnic minority in the United States.

This course provides students with knowledge of the historical, philosophical, theoretical, legal, and legislative foundations of schooling in multilingual communities and the effect of these factors on program design and educational achievement. In addition, the course will explore the migratory and demographic patterns of multilingual communities in Kern, Tulare, and northern Los Angeles Counties and how historical, institutional, social, economic, cultural and educational factors in both the countries of origin and in the United States have influenced the socialization, acculturation, and scholastic outcomes of these groups in the western United States.This course is a required prerequisite for the Kern Multilingual Teacher Residency (Cultivando Maestra/os).

Extensive analysis of selected contemporary topics in Liberal Studies and education. May be repeated for different course content. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and approval of Liberal Studies Program Director (By petition). May be repeated for credit with different topics up to a maximum of 12 units.

This course is intended for the evaluation and assessment of learning which has occurred from prior off-campus experiences relevant to the curriculum of the program. This course requires complementary academic study and/or documentation from students who are permitted to register for this class. This course is only available by petition on a credit, no-credit basis. Interested students should directly contact the Program Director. May be repeated up to a maximum of 6 units.

Consideration of controversial current social issues. Critical examination and evaluation of evidence and of the inferences drawn from such evidence. Integration of information from other courses Liberal Studies courses. Prerequisite: At least 90 units, completion of JYDR; and must be a Liberal Studies major. Satisfies general education requirement Senior Capstone.

Students design and carry out a research study under the supervision of a faculty sponsor. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor approval of Liberal Studies Program Director (By petition). May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 12 units.

Individual Study under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and approval of Liberal Studies Program Director (By petition). May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 12 units.