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Online Liberal Studies Degree
Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies Degree (CA Only)
Broaden your horizons through liberal studies and pursue a future in teaching. Our Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies is designed to prepare students with no prior teaching experience for a multiple subject teaching credential in California.
Field experiences are integrated throughout the program, finishing with a student teaching requirement that’s above and beyond program coursework. And, you’ll work with dedicated education staff who will help you through state licensures and other credential processes.
Ignite Your Passion
Start when you're ready
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Courses
Browse courses for your liberal studies bachelor's degree
Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.
Program Handbook: California Teacher Handbook
Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.
Requirements: 121 credits
You’ll need 121 credits to complete this Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree. Your course schedule may vary based on transferable credits.
Schedule
Your academic counselor will help you schedule your classes.
Plus, you’ll find support from our dedicated education program specialists who work with you 1:1 during your 100 required hours of clinical experience (or more if required by your state) and a minimum of 12 weeks of clinical practice (or more if required by your state). Our education program specialists also help you navigate your state licensure requirements for teacher certification, and can help with questions along the way.
COE Central
College of Education students will find many helpful resources on COE Central . Program handbooks provide a wealth of information on topics such as professional expectations, clinical experiences, clinical practice, internships, edTPA and much more. Milestone roadmaps, technology and multimedia resources, and various toolkits are also available.
Program Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies is an undergraduate degree program intended to prepare students with no prior teaching experience for initial teacher licensure. The program includes a clinical component requiring field experiences and student teaching above and beyond program coursework.
Requirements for licensure vary by state. See your state’s requirements.
There may be additional qualifications and/or disqualifications applicable in order to work as a teacher with any local, state or federal entity.
Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.
Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.
We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Tuition
Paying for school
Tuition is based on number of credit hours per course. Courses are typically 3 credits, but can range from 1-6 credits. Costs do not include savings opportunities like transfer credits and scholarships.
Undergrad cost per course
$1,364 / course
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What affects the overall cost of my program?
Your full program cost can vary by:
- Savings opportunities. Your cost could be reduced with eligible transfer credits, scholarships, employer discounts and more. Students with eligible credits and relevant experience on average saved $11K and 1 year off their undergraduate degree at University of Phoenix.
- California Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). If you’re a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for STRF which is currently $0 per $1,000 of institutional charges. The STRF assessment is nonrefundable.
- Additional estimated costs. The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies requires payment of additional charges to third parties for Certificate of Clearance Application, fingerprinting, TB testing and competency exams, which are listed in the estimated cost table below.
With our Tuition Guarantee, you pay one flat, affordable rate from the moment you enroll to the day you graduate from your program.
Discover ways to save time and money on your degree with our Savings Explorer® tool:
Additional estimated third-party costs:
Charge type
Cost
California Certificate of Clearance Application Fee
$52.65
Fingerprinting Fees
$116[1]
TB Testing
$139[2]
California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) Exam
$90
California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) Exam
$297
Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Exam
$171
Education Teachers Performance Assessment (edTPA)
$300
1 The amount shown for fingerprinting represents the estimated cost for fingerprints. The actual amount the student pays will depend on the agency the student uses for their school district.
2 The amount shown for TB testing represents the estimated cost for a TB test. The actual amount the student pays will depend on the agency the student uses for their school district.
Other ways to save on time and tuition
Because we believe everyone deserves an affordable education, we work hard to help our students achieve one. Here’s a few ways you can save time, save money and avoid starting from scratch.
Transfer credits
Your prior eligible college credits can lower your cost and help you graduate sooner. As a transfer-friendly university, we accept eligible credits from 5,000+ accredited institutions.
Employer tuition benefits
Are you employed? Check to see if your employer has an alliance agreement with us for education benefits. This can help you save money while gaining skills that could apply to your job.
Credit for life experience
We look at all your relevant experience, from parenting to past jobs, to help you get the college credits you deserve. For every 3 credits earned, shave 5 weeks off your degree.
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Budget & borrow
How to pay for college
Paying for school can be intimidating, but we’re here to help you make sense of it. Our finance advisors can walk you through your options like federal financial aid and savings opportunities to minimize your debt. Plus, we can help you figure out your financial plan.
Careers & Outcomes
What can you do with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies?
Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.
A BS/LS can prepare you to be:
Top skills learned in this program:
Classroom Management
Lesson Planning
Child Development
Diverse Student Populations
Teaching
Professionalism
Leadership
Learning Strategies
Innovation
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Ready to get started?
Start your application for free or request additional information.
What you’ll learn
When you earn your BS in Liberal Studies, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:
- Design and implement effective instruction in the elementary classroom to produce a positive impact on student learning.
- Evaluate effective professional practice in elementary education.
- Apply professional ethics to their instructional practices in elementary education.
- Evaluate learning principles to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse elementary student populations.
- Create innovative strategies and incorporate technology in an elementary classroom setting.
-1% Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to decline between between 2023 and 2033.
The BLS Projected Growth for 2023-2033 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.
Admissions
Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.
Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.
- No SAT/ACT required
- No essay required
- No cost, risk-free trial for eligible students
- We’ll request transcripts at no cost to you, when possible, and we accept eligible credits from over 5,000 accredited institutions.
How to enroll at University of Phoenix
Receive 1-on-1 support
You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1] Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.
[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)
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Call or chat with us 7 days a week.
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Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep
Receive 1-on-1 support
You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students.[1]
[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)
Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.
Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.
Student Experience
An education that fits your busy life
Balancing family, work and school
Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.
Online learning
Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.
Around-the-clock support and resources
You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Computer requirements for courses
Many course assignments will require you to use a computer to complete and submit your assignment.
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Faculty Spotlight
Professionals dedicated to you
Your success is a top priority for our deans and faculty members. They bring an average of 28+ years of experience and hands-on perspective to the classroom, and help bridge the gap between academics and industry knowledge.
Accreditation
Accredited for 45+ years
Since 1978, University of Phoenix has maintained institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org . Learn more about the value of University of Phoenix accreditation and how it benefits our students.
Frequently asked questions about the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree
While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.