About Our Program

The Liberal Studies: Emphasis in Education Degree prepares students to transfer to a Liberal Studies — Teacher Education bachelor’s degree program. The degree is intended to provide students with options to select  appropriate coursework to meet lower-division requirements of the Liberal Studies program of the four-year institution they are planning to attend. Articulation agreements for most Liberal Studies—Teacher Education programs offered at the University of California and the California State University systems are available on the ASSIST website at www.assist.org.

Liberal Studies — Teaching Education programs are different at each four-year institution. Therefore, students must select their courses for the Associate Degree in consultation with an SBCC academic counselor to ensure they satisfy the lower-division preparation for the Liberal Studies program of the four-year institution to which they are planning to transfer.

The Liberal Studies: Emphasis in Education Degree at Santa Barbara City College is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a foundation of knowledge in the areas of English composition, critical thinking, oral communication, physical and life sciences, arts and humanities, and social sciences. Through this program, students acquire a breadth of knowledge across multiple disciplines, explore how knowledge across disciplines can be connected, analyze and evaluate ideas using the tools of critical thinking, and demonstrate effective communication skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Since Liberal Studies is a “college-wide” interdisciplinary Associate Degree program, it does not have departmental affiliation. Inquiries regarding the Liberal Studies program should be directed to an academic counselor or the Dean, Educational Programs — Student Development and Counseling.

Elementary Teacher Education ProgramAssociate in Arts for Transfer Degree

The college also offers an AA-T Degree in Elementary Teacher Education for Transfer. This degree also provides the foundational knowledge to students who  want to earn a Baccalaureate Degree in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential to prepare them for elementary school teaching (K-6). This degree is in compliance with the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act {Senate Bill 1440, now codified in California Education Code Sections 66746-66749} and guarantees admission to a California State University (CSU) campus for any community college student who completes an “associate degree for transfer,” a newly established variation of the associate degrees traditionally offered at a California community college. Upon completion of the transfer associate degree, the student is eligible for transfer with junior standing into the California State University (CSU) system. Students will be given priority consideration when applying to a particular program that is similar to the student’s community college area of emphasis. For more information on transfer degrees, visit www.sb1440.org.

Department Offices

Division: Educational Programs Support

Alan Price, Dean (A-218, ext. 5121)

Advisers/Counselors

Counseling Center Counselors (SS-120, ext. 4085)