Liberal and Creative Arts Certificate Curriculum
The Liberal and Creative Arts Certificate includes 24 to 30 units. You complete 9 to 14 units of required courses and 15 to 16 units of electives.
With guidance from the program coordinator, you choose at least one course from each of the four elective categories below. You will also select an additional course to reach the total elective units.
The certificate coordinator will review all course substitution requests.
Required Courses (9 to 14 Units)
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Prerequisite | GE Area | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMM or ENG | 150 or 210 | Fundamental of Oral Communication or Oral Communication – Multilingual | none none | A1 or A1 | 3 |
| ENG | 114 or 104 & 105 or 201 & 202 or 209 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice or Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice Stretch I & II Writing the First Year: Global Perspectives of Multilingual Speakers Stretch I & II Writing the First Year: Global Perspectives of Multilingual Speakers | none | A2 | 3 - 8 |
| PHIL | 110 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | none | A3 | 3 |
Elective Courses (15 Units)
Elective Courses - Media Arts
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Prerequisite | GE Area | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BECA | 201 | Life on TV: A Critical View | none | C2 | 3 |
| BECA | 235 | Digital Media Basics | none | C1 | 3 |
| BECA | 301 | Media Literacy in the Electronic Culture | A1, A2, A3 and B4, or consent | UD-C | 3 |
| CINE | 102 | Introduction to Contemporary Cinema | none | C1 | 3 |
| CMX/HUM | 325 | Comics and Culture | upper-division standing and consent | C1 | 3 |
| DES | 252 | Rethinking Digital Visual Media: History, Technology and Content | none | - | 3 |
| JOUR | 304 | Cultural Diversity and News Media | SD, Am. E & R | - | 3 |
Elective Courses - Humanities
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Prerequisite | GE Area | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMST/HUM | 410/450 | California Culture | A1, A2, A3, and B4 or consent | UD-C | 3 |
| AMST/HUM | 225 | Values in American Life | none | Am. E & R, C2 | 3 |
| COMM | 120 | Language, Culture and Power | none | C2, SJ, Am. E& R, E1 (LLD pre-fall 19) | 3 |
| C W | 101 | Introduction to Creative Writing | none | C1 | 3 |
| CWL | 230 | World Literature | none | C2 | 3 |
| ENG | 122 | The Evolution of Language in the Digital Age | none | D1 | 3 |
| ENG | 250 | Topics in Literature and Culture | none | C2, C3 | 3 |
| ENG | 425 | Language in Context | upper-division standing | - | 3 |
| ENG | 426 | Second Language Acquisition | ENG 426 or consent | - | 3 |
| HUM | 130 | The Humanities: Major Works | none | C2, C3 | 3 |
| HUM | 376 | San Francisco | A1, A2, A3 and B4, or consent | UD-C | 3 |
| JOUR | 205 | Social Impact of Journalism | none | C2 | 3 |
| LS | 410 | Social Justice Themes in the Interdisciplinary Humanities | upper-division standing; A2 and C2 | - | 3 |
| WGS | 200 | Introduction to Women and Gender | none | SJ, Am. E& R, GP, E1 (LLD pre-fall 19) | 3 |
Elective Courses - Social Sciences
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Prerequisite | GE Area | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANTH | 120 | Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology | none | D1 | 3 |
| COMM | 240 | Introduction to Nonverbal Communication | none | D1 | 3 |
| HIST | 450 | History of California | A1, A2, A3, B4 and E, or consent | UD-D, CA Gov. | 3 |
| HIST/A U | 451/303 | Bay Area History and Society | A1, A2, A3 and B4, or consent | Am. E & R, UD- D, SJ | 3 |
| I R/PLSI | 322 | Policy Analysis: The Latin American Cases | A1, A2, A3 and B4, or consent | SJ, GP, UD-C | 4 |
| I R | 331 | Global Environmental Crisis | upper-division standing | ES, GP, SJ | 4 |
| I R/PLSI | 337/432 | Introduction to the European Union | upper-division standing or consent | - | 4 |
| I R/MLL | 345 | Conflict and Cooperation in Asia | upper-division standing | - | 4 |
| LS/AMST | 200 | Self, Place and Knowing: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry | A2 or consent | E | 3 |
| LS | 401 | International Development and Resource Justice | A1, A2, A3 and B4, or consent | GP, ES, UD-D | 3 |
| PLSI | 200 | Introduction to American Politics | none | D3, US Gov CA Gov | 3 |
| WGS | 150 | Women and Gender in U.S. History and Society | none | D2, SJ, Am. E & R, US Hist | 3 |
| WGS | 160 | Gender, Politics and Citizenship | none | D3, Am. E & R, US Gov CA Gov | 3 |
Elective Courses - Creative and Performing Arts
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Title | Prerequisite | GE Area | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART | 240 | Introduction to Contemporary Sculpture | none | C1 | 3 |
| ARTH | 202 | Western Art History II | none | C1 | 3 |
| ARTH/HUM | 205 | Asian Art History | none | GP, C1 | 3 |
| CLAR/ARTH | 420/401 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | upper-division standing | - | 3 |
| M S | 202 | Introduction to Museum Exhibits | none | C1 | 3 |
| MUS | 120 | Basic Music | none | C1 | 3 |
| TH A | 130 | Acting Workshop I | none | C1 | 3 |
| TH A | 200 | Introduction to Theatre | none | C1 | 3 |
| TH A | 305 | Foundational Elements of Theatre Design | TH A 302 | - | 3 |
| CINE/LTNS | 309/409 | Latina/o/x Cinema | A1, A2, A3 and B4, or consent | UD-C | 3 |
| CLAR/ARTH | 425/402 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | upper-division standing or consent | UD-C | 3 |
| CLAS | 240 | Greek and Roman Drama | none | C2, SJ, C3 | 3 |
| DANC | 170 | Integrated Dance Technique I | none | - | 3 |
A U 110 Living in San Francisco
This one-unit course introduces you to the geography, history, environment, culture and politics of the Bay Area, San Francisco and San Francisco State University. You will build community, learn about campus and explore the city as you prepare for life in San Francisco.
The course includes hands-on learning and field trips throughout the city.
This optional course is offered in person or in a hybrid format at no cost. You can sign up when you complete your course preference wishlist.
Preparation Courses
Global Business Communication Skills I and II are CEU courses that help you prepare for a job or internship search. You will build the professional skills you need to succeed. These courses are not required for the certificate, but we encourage you to take them if you plan to apply to graduate school, Optional Practical Training (OPT), an internship or a job.