Welcome to the Education: Liberal Studies major, housed within the Undergraduate Teacher Education Center, also known as UTEC.

I am Michael Rozendal, Academic Director for the Education: Liberal Studies major, also know as EDLS and I am here to walk you through the process of choosing courses for the upcoming semester at USF. We are looking forward to talking to you about the classes you select and we are looking forward to meeting you at Orientation.

An EDLS student typically registers for 16-18 credits per semester.

The first class you should sign up for is INTD 110 Introduction to the Teaching Profession.  This is a required one-credit course that begins your journey through the major. In this half-semester class, you will learn about the field of education and begin thinking about 
how to bridge theory and practice in the classroom. 

For your next course, you should register for a Composition course. Developing good writing and speaking skills is essential to your success in the classes you will take at USF.  You should know which class to register for. If you do not, please review the chapter on Rhetoric and Composition.

If you are a first year student, you need to complete your Core A2 Rhetoric and Composition requirement before the end of your sophomore year. This requirement often takes two semesters to complete. 

If you are a transfer student and have passed a composition course at your transfer institution, you should register for Rhetoric 320 How Language Works in your first spring semester. Rhetoric 320 fulfills the Core A2 Rhetoric and Composition requirement for EDLS students. Transfer students sometimes find that the system will not let them register for the class. If this happens to you, please contact the UTEC advisors.
 
Finally, if you are entering USF in the fall semester, you should register for MATH 105 Math for Educators, which also counts for your Core B1 math requirement. This class is required for the major, so transfer students who have previously taken a math class will still need to register for this course. 

After registering for these nine credits, you should pick out two more four-credit classes to round out your schedule. Some of your choices include:

A first-year seminar or a transfer student seminar in Philosophy, Theology, or Ethics.  These seminars serve as a great introduction to the academic environment at USF and will fulfill a Core requirement.

HIST 115 European/U.S History is offered every fall and required for the EDLS major, as well as fulfills the Core C2 requirement.

A foreign language.  As an EDLS major, you are required to take three semesters of a foreign language. I recommend that you start early to complete this requirement.  If you are fluent in another language or bilingual, you should contact the Languages department for additional guidance.  

You may also consider an introductory course for a possible minor. EDLS majors can declare a minor in any subject that interests them.  There are a wide variety of minors to choose from.  Some popular minors include STEM Education, Child and Youth Studies, Public Service and Community Engagement, or Sociology.

Or, you can choose another needed core course such as Public Speaking, Philosophy, Theology, or Ethics. 

There are also many 1 credit courses that you may like to consider. 

A college success course, 
A physical activity or dance course, 
You can get involved in play production, 
Or you can join a choir or vocal group

Once you have selected your classes, your schedule should resemble something like this:

INTD 110 Introduction to the Teaching Profession (1 credit)
RHET 110 Written Communication I (4 credits)
MATH 105 Math for Educators (4 credits)
HIST 115 European/US History (4 credits)
First Year seminar in Philosophy (4 credits)

If you are a transfer student, you may have completed some of these courses. It is important for you to review your degree evaluation to determine which courses you need to complete.  You can also contact the EDLS advisors with any questions.

EDLS is a major that fits particularly well with UTECês teaching credential programs, where students can simultaneously earn a Bachelor's degree, a preliminary California teaching credential, and even a Masters of Art in Teaching. The first class for the teaching program is also Introduction to the Teaching Profession, so you will learn more about the program in this class. If you are interested in the teaching program and would like to learn more now, make an appointment with Amy Joseph or write afjoseph@usfca.edu to discuss the possibilities.

Spend some time navigating the Schedule of Classes to familiarize yourself with the layout.  Look for courses that you would like to register for, including specific sections. Spend some time doing this to find a schedule that works for you. You should also keep a back-up list in case some classes are closed.  If you need help, please contact an Education: Liberal Studies advisor or call (415) 422-6321.

Mary Coen mlcoen@usfca.edu
Amy Joseph afjoseph@usfca.edu
Michael Rozendal marozendal@usfca.edu

We look forward to meeting you during Orientation, where we will review the major requirements and you will have the opportunity to meet the team and fellow students. Welcome to USF.