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Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements for Certification

All Urban Teaching candidates must complete liberal arts and sciences requirements that comprise the general knowledge base for teaching in order to be recommended for New York State certification. The liberal arts and sciences include: the arts, communication, history, humanities, a language other than English science, mathematics, and written expression. Most of the requirements are satisfied by courses taken to satisfy the Barnard General Education Requirements (Nine Ways of Knowing/Foundations), the Columbia Core Curriculum, or the General Studies Core Curriculum. Students may need to take additional courses or exams to satisfy the liberal arts and sciences requirements. 

Courses taken for a grade of P/D/F may not be used to satisfy these requirements.

Students may also satisfy liberal arts and sciences requirements by:

  1. Using AP or IB credit (for AP credit, score of 4 or higher; for IB credit, score of 5 or higher) accepted by Barnard or Columbia towards the degree (on the student’s transcript or degree audit).      
  2. Taking an approved course at Barnard or Columbia.
  3. Taking a course at another accredited college or online university. Official transcripts must be sent to the Barnard Education Program.
  4. Taking an exam for credit (CLEP, DSST, Excelsior). Official score reports must be sent to the Barnard Education Program.

All new Education Program students will complete a Liberal Arts and Sciences Audit Form upon application to the program to indicate courses already taken and courses planned for fulfilling the liberal arts and sciences requirements. Students will file an updated audit form during their last semester prior to graduation.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements

Category

Requirement

Examples

Arts
  • ONE course in Art, Music, Theatre, or Dance appreciation, history, or theory.

Note: Studio courses may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • Visual and Performing Arts (BC)
  • Art Humanities (CC,GS)
  • Music Humanities (CC, GS)

Communication, Written Analysis & Expression

  • ONE course in Communication/Writing.

  • First-Year English/Writing (BC)

  • University Writing (CC, GS)

History
  • ONE course in United States History

AND

  • ONE course in World History.
  • Social Analysis, Historical Studies, Cultures in Comparison (BC)
  • Social Sciences (BC, GS)
  • Contemporary Civilization (CC)
  • Global Core (CC,GS)

Humanities

  • TWO courses in Literature or Humanities required. Courses in Literature, Religion, and Philosophy may count towards the requirement.

  • First-Year Seminar and Literature or Humanities Requirement (BC)

  • Literature Humanities (CC)

  • Literature and one additional course (GS)

Language Other than English

  • TWO courses of a foreign language, or the equivalent, required. Demonstration of intermediate-level proficiency by passing a college-administered placement exam or an exam for credit (CLEP, DSST, Excelsior) may also satisfy the requirement.

  

Science
  • ONE course with Lab in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, or Earth Science

AND

  • ONE other course with or without Lab.
  • Science Requirement (BC, CC, GS)
    Note: One course must be taken with lab.
  • Frontiers of Science (CC)

 

Mathematics
  • TWO courses of college level Mathematics.

Note: Applied Mathematics or Computer Science courses may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • Any two courses offered by a Mathematics department