FAQ PAGE - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cal Poly Pomona Liberal Studies Department
1. Who is my advisor? See advisor list here: www.csupomona.edu/~ls/advisorlist.htm
2. What are the LS Department office hours? Generally 8-1 and 2-5. Subject to meetings, emergencies, etc. We are often open until 7 or 8 pm for the convenience of evening students; call us at 909.869.3567 to ask.
3. Can I substitute one class for another? This is often a complicated question, because it may depend on your curriculum year and option. You must see an advisor to get an answer to this question; please do not rely on information from your friends, since they probably have different circumstances.
4. Do I have to see an advisor? Yes, at least sometimes. Once a year, you should expect to have an "advising hold" which will prevent registration unless you see an advisor. Please make sure to see your advisor during the "Advisement by major Department" time period listed in the front of each class schedule. Check here for the advising hold schedule and to find your advisor: www.csupomona.edu/~ls/advisorlist.htm IN ADDITION, you should see your advisor whenever you have a question; please do not rely on information from your friends, since they probably have different circumstances.
5. How & when do I get a grad check? When you have 10 or fewer classes (actually 40 or fewer units, which is generally the same thing) left to complete the Liberal Studies major program -- INCLUDING THE CLASSES YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING -- you may apply for a grad check. Normally this is about one quarter before you graduate. Your advisor doesn't have to sign the form (which is usually available in the LS Dept. Office), but you do have to attach a completed concentration form. If you have already filled out and turned in a concentration form before applying for your grad check, make a photocopy of your pink copy and attach it to your grad check application. If you haven't filled out a concentration form by the time you apply for a grad check, drop by the LS Dept. Office and fill out a concentration form -- it has to be signed by an advisor and the Chair. (Grad checks may take up to 3 months to be completed)
6. How do I know the classes to take for a concentration? If you are a blended student, you don't have a concentration choice. If you are not a blended or general studies student BUT ARE PRE-CREDENTIAL, here is the list of approved concentrations: Biology, Geology, Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, Literature, Language, Psychology of Learning, Mathematics, Spanish, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano/Latino Studies, Native American Studies, and Women's Studies. General Studies students may select a concentration (generally of 5 courses - 20 units) in any field in consultation with their advisor.
7. How many classes do I have left to graduate and what are they? This is the most common question advisors are asked, but one for which each student should take responsibility. You should keep your curriculum sheet up-to-date by highlighting each class as you take it (and earn a "C" or higher grade). Keep up with the substitutions posed on the LS website. Then count the number of UN-highlighted classes, divide by the number of classes you take per quarter, and you can figure out an approximate time until graduation.
7a. OK, so what is a curriculum sheet? This is the sheet with three major columns listing all the classes you need to take to graduate. The three columns are labeled, left to right, "Core Courses", "Support Courses" and "General Education". You need to make sure you have the correct curriculum sheet -- the correct option and the correct curriculum year. You should have received this sheet at orientation, but we always have spares in the LS Dept. office.
8. I want to be a teacher. How and when do I apply for my credential? For non-blended pre-credential students about a year before you graduate and for blended students about a year before you take TED 443, you should attend a (mandatory) credential orientation. These are held every Thursday during the academic quarters from 4-6 PM. Check with the Student Services Office (5-228) (909.869.2300) for room. This information is also given out in the TED 105 and TED 405 classes.
9. What can I substitute for LS 299 or LS 499.? They appear on my curriculum sheet but they are never offered! 299 and 499 are temporary class numbers; in essence, they are place holders until a course gets an official university course number. LS 299 has now been replaced with EC/PLS 420, the Policies of Need and Greed. LS 499 is still a course in development, but we hope to offer it (as LS 499) in W04. You may take any lower division (100-200 numbered) or any upper division (300-400 numbered) English, Math, Science, History/Social Science, PE, fine Arts, or human development course in place of LS 299 (this of course includes EC/PLS 420). To substitute for LS 499, you may take any upper division (300-400 numbered) English, Math, Science, History/Social Science, PE, fine Arts, or human development course.
10. With fees going up, how can I graduate cheaper? Take as many courses as you can at community colleges. Most of your lower division courses may be taken at Mt. SAC or other community colleges. You can take off up to two consecutive quarters (summer does count!) to attend community college, and still be a continuously enrolled Cal Poly student. Remember that Cal Poly charges a flat fee, so the more courses you take for that fee, the more you get for your money. Community Colleges charge by the unit, so it doesn't matter financially how many courses you take in a given semester. You may take courses simultaneously at Cal Poly and one or more community colleges without letting Cal Poly know; you just eventually have to have your official community college transcripts sent to Cal Poly if you want credit for the courses you took at community college.
11. How can I graduate quicker? By taking more courses each term and attending more terms each year, if you are able to do so and still keep an acceptable GPA.
11a. OK, so what is an "acceptable" GPA? Most credential programs require a GPA of about 2.8 for admittance. This is a little complicated and there are exceptions, so check with the Student Services Office (5-228) (909.869.2300) for more information. Most graduate schools require a GPA of 3.0 or higher for admittance.
12. I want to be a teacher. What about the CSET? I thought the whole point of the Liberal Studies major was to get out of that test? Here's the deal: Federal (not State) legislation called the No Child Left Behind law (NCLB, or "nickle-bee") requires (now for Title I schools, soon for all schools) that all elementary teachers pass a "rigorous state examination" of subject matter to be hired. which in California is the CSET.
OK, what does this mean to you? First, you still need a bachelor's degree to teach. The Liberal Studies curriculum has you take all the English, Math, Science, History/Social Science, PE, Fine Arts and Human Development courses that prepare you for the CSET. The Liberal Studies program and the CSET cover the same material; that is, the program and the test are both "aligned and congruent" with the same set of subject matter standards. So, if you stay in the Liberal Studies program either the blended or precredential options -- you will take the courses to prepare for the CSET while earning your bachelor's degree. If you are in the general studies option, wish to be a teacher and haven't yet passed all of the CSET, please consult closely with your advisor about the proper classes to take for CSET preparation.
13. I want to be a teacher, but AARGGHHH!! Why can't I just be an English major and not take so much math and science and just pass the CSET? Well, you CAN be an English major, but an English major won't prepare you to pass the CSET -- only the Liberal Studies pre-credential or blended programs (or the general studies option if you take the correct courses) will prepare you for the CSET. The CSET has LOTS of math and science, so unless you're a math/science whiz, you probably can't pass the CSET with the background you would get as an English major.