Cross-Disciplinary Majors and Programs

The College of the Pacific offers a variety of cross-disciplinary majors in which two areas of study are combined. The College also offers multi-disciplinary majors which draw upon the resources of several departments and programs. The cross-disciplinary programs are directed by faculty members from the cooperating departments. Students interested in one of the following programs should contact the directors of the program listed below for specific information.

College-Wide Courses

COPD 010

COP Exploratory Deans Seminar

1

Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors

Criminal Justice Major

Dr. Jeffrey Becker, Faculty Director

Criminal Justice is a social science that studies crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice program at Pacific helps students explain patterns of criminal behavior, as well as analyze society's ability to control crime and delinquency. A criminal justice degree focuses on understanding the definitions, causes, and prevention of crime, and provides an overview of both the legal processes and the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders.

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary degree exploring disciplines like law, psychology, sociology, political science and public administration. A degree in criminal justice prepares students for a range of careers, including lawyers, FBI agents, correctional officers, detectives and criminal investigators, intelligence analysis, victim advocates, and social workers. 

Ethnic Studies Minor

Dr. Laura Gutierrez, Director

Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary program. It provides students with multiple models of critical theories and methodologies for examining the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, culture, and class in the historical formations of the United States, with an emphasis on the experiences and perspectives of historically disenfranchised populations such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. Incorporating courses offered in various schools and departments, its curriculum broadens students’ major fields of study, prepares students for interdisciplinary studies at the graduate level, and enhances students’ employment opportunities in law, education, business, medicine, government, communication, and social services, among other professions.

See Ethnic Studies Program for minor requirements.

Gender Studies Minor

Dr. Laura Gutierrez, Director

The Gender Studies Program at Pacific is a thriving interdisciplinary consortium of faculty and students committed to both a curricular and cultural environment supportive of the study of gender. We are interested in how gender intersects with definitions of nationality, race, ethnicity, and class; and how gender identities are constantly redefined over time. By exploring the relationship between gender identity and cultural meaning, we prepare students to think comparatively, structurally, and critically about their experiences and impact on the world. The dialogue we foster among the liberal arts, natural sciences, and the professions enriches the intellectual life of Pacific’s students and faculty, as well as our surrounding community.

See gender studies program for minor requirements.

Latin American Studies Program

Dr. Laura Gutierrez, Director

website: see here

Latin American Studies

The mission of the Latin American Studies Program at Pacific is to create an academic environment that engages faculty and students in the interdisciplinary study of Latin America and Latinx culture, via invited lectures, films, workshops, round tables, and other cultural events as well as the minor in Latin American Studies. The interdisciplinary minor is intended to provide students with cultural competencies that will develop their knowledge of the region and provide a competitive advantage in any profession.

Minors Offered

Latin American/U.S. Latin@ Studies

Latin American/U.S. Latin@ Studies is an interdisciplinary minor designed to provide cultural and linguistic competencies that deepen the intellectual experience and provide a competitive edge in the job market. Students in the minor will examine the present and past cultures of Latin America, develop communicative competence in at least one of the languages of Latin America, explore the conception of diverse communities and engage in the challenges of the future of the region in a global context.  The minor is open to majors in all schools and disciplines. Students may choose a concentration in Latin American or U.S. Latin@ Studies suited to individual academic interests and professional goals.

See Latin American/U.S. Latin@ Studies for minor requirements.

Pre-Law Minor

The Political Science, Law, and International Studies Department offers a Pre-Law Minor to assist students preparing for law school. Since law schools prefer students major in a field other than law, the Pre-Law Minor is designed to complement the student’s major with coursework that prepares them for the law school admissions test and strengthens skills in areas they will need in law school.

See pre-law for minor requirements.

Public Affairs Minor

The field of public affairs studies how and why governments make choices about different kinds of public policies, for example environmental or health policy.  It also studies how governments implement (put into practice) their policy choices.  As a field, public affairs is inherently interdisciplinary, bringing together theories and concepts from Economics, Political Science, and Sociology (among other disciplines).

The Public Affairs Minor introduces students to foundational concepts in each of these primary academic disciplines, introduces a framework for thinking about how governments make and/or implement policy choices, and then invites students to explore a specific policy area of their choosing in greater detail.

See the Department of Political Science, Law, and International Studies for more information about this minor.

Self-Designed Major (BA or BS)

Dr. Joan Lin-Cereghino, Associate Dean for Student Success

The self-designed major offers a unique opportunity for students who have special academic or career objectives not directly met by existing majors. In this program, a student works with faculty members from at least two departments to construct a major organized around an interdisciplinary course of study. (Past examples include Immigration Studies, Global Health, and Nursing.)

All self-designed majors must be approved by the College of the Pacific Associate Dean for Student Success.

See the Associate Dean for Student Success for degree requirements.

Social Sciences Major (BA)

Dr. Jennifer Helgren, Adviser

The Social Sciences major is an interdisciplinary program that provides training in History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics and Geography.  Social Sciences students learn both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in their exploration of human society.  Graduates may pursue careers such as business administration, government, law, law enforcement, human resources, and public policy.  The major is also designed for students interested in high school teaching and coaching.  The major is aligned with the Social Science subject matter exam on the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET).    Prospective teachers must earn a passing score on the the Social Sciences CSET exam to be certified as teachers.  Students completing the Social Sciences major in the College of the Pacific may also concurrently complete the Single Subject Credential through the Benerd School of Education.

The major is housed in the History department and shares learning outcomes with the History major.   See the history department for degree requirements.

Thematic Minor

Dr. Joan Lin-Cereghino, Associate Dean for Student Success

Students interested in designing their own minor program around a specific area of interest or field of study offered in the College may do so by declaring a Thematic Minor. The student with a declared major and a minimum 2.65 grade point average may select the Thematic Minor so long as it does not duplicate or closely parallel an existing major or minor. The Thematic Minor must contain at least 20 units, normally five courses. No course may count for both the student’s major and the Thematic Minor, and no more than one course may be completed outside the University. Some advanced courses must be included.

See the College Associate Dean for Student Success for minor requirements.

Other Interdisciplinary Programs

Major Programs for Students Seeking a Teaching Credential

College of the Pacific students can pursue a preliminary Single Subject (SS) teaching credential for:

• Art
• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Geoscience
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Physical Education
• Social Science
• World Language
• Music Education (Conservatory of Music).

The department major programs recommended for the Single Subject areas are described in the departmental sections of this catalog. Students may also check with the Academic Affairs Office of the College of the Pacific (WPC 111) to learn more about departments that offer majors for the single subject credential.

Teaching Credential Requirements

A student in the College of the Pacific who seeks a Single Subject (SS) preliminary credential through the University of the Pacific must complete the following:

• earn a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree,
• meet the Basic Skills Requirement or pass the CBEST exam
• pass the California Subject Examinations (CSET) for the teaching area
• pass a course or test on the Constitution of the United States
• pass the edTPA and literacy TPA (if applicable) portfolio requirement 
• pass specified professional preparation courses offered by Benerd College.

Information on Degree

A student in the College of the Pacific who seeks a credential may complete any major program. However, the College of the Pacific offers specified baccalaureate degree programs that fulfill the degree requirements and support CSET preparation.

Information about curriculum and credential courses in Benerd College required for teacher preparation as well as state requirements is available in room 111 – Student and Credential Services (the Hive) of the Benerd College building (Gladys L. Benerd School of Education).

• See also the section in the catalog for Benerd College for Teacher Credentialing or Credentialing Information at https://www.pacific.edu/academics/schools-and-colleges/benerd-college/degree-programs/credentialing-information.html.

Information on Exams and Other Requirements

The Basic Skills Requirement and CSET must be passed before a candidate can student teach or intern. CSET examinations in Single Subject fields, except for Music, are required. The Department of Music Education (Conservatory of Music) provides a state-approved subject matter program that waives the need to take the Music CSET. Information on the Basic Skills

• Requirement can be found at this website: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/leaflets/cl667.pdf . 
• Information about the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) can be found at this website:  www.ctcexams.nesinc.com.  

CPR Certification is also required for a preliminary credential (see the section on Benerd College in this catalog for information on the Basic Skills Requirement).

Students who seek entry into Teacher Education Credential Candidacy need a minimum GPA of 2.5 in undergraduate coursework.

Pacific Legal Advantage Program

Prof. Erin O'Neal, Director

Website: See Here

The Pacific Legal Advantage (PLA) Program is a selective, honors-level pre-law opportunity for high-achieving students from any major. Through a seven-unit curriculum that blends hands-on experience with expert mentorship, PLA offers an early, in-depth look at the legal profession.

PLA coursework

• Three Weekend Seminars (1 unit each): Honors-only courses taught by McGeorge faculty (POLS 060, POLS 062, and POLS 175)
• One Upper-Division Law Course (4 units): Choose from law-focused courses such as constitutional law, legal reasoning, or ethics
• Five Official PLA Events: Includes courtroom observations, guest speakers, and networking with law school faculty and students

Common majors for students in the program include Political Science, Business, International Relations, English, Communications, Psychology, History, Sociology, and Economics.

McGeorge Promise

University of the Pacific is pleased to offer students in the Legal Advantage program three guaranteed pathways to admission to Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law.

• LSAT waiver pathway: 3.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA and must be attending Pacific or within 12 months of Pacific degree conferral at time of application to McGeorge. (Limited to 10% of the admitted class. Pending character & fitness requirements. Open to all Pacific students)
• LSAT waiver pathway: 3.6 cumulative undergrad GPA & 85% on the ACT/SAT (Limited to 10% of the admitted class. Pending character & fitness requirements. Open to PLA students only)
• LSAT required pathway: 3.6 undergrad GPA & 157 LSAT (Limited to 10% of the admitted class. Pending character & fitness requirements. Open to all Pacific students)
• Applicants who take the LSAT at any time prior to matriculation at McGeorge are ineligible for admission under the Direct Admission LSAT Waiver program and will be reconsidered for admission through the LSAT required pathway or normal admissions process.

Please see the Legal Advantage and Pre-Law Manager on the Stockton Campus (Wendell Phillips Center 132) for additional information about the program.

Pre-Health Programs*

Pre-medical, pre-physical therapy, pre-nursing, pre-occupational therapy, etc. students may major in any academic subject they prefer as long as they also fulfill the entrance requirements for the professional programs to which they plan to apply.

The University does not list a pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy or pre-nursing major. A student in any of these programs must declare an academic major prior to graduation in order to be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree in the College of the Pacific.

Details of these and other pre-health programs can be found on the websites of the College of the Pacific, the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, and Pacific's School of Health Sciences.

Pre-Medical Program

Advisors: Dr. Andy Lloyd (Biology), Teresa Martinez (Career Services)

The following courses are suggested as basic preparation for medical school: one year of general chemistry; one year of organic chemistry; one year of beginning biology plus an additional three to five courses in biology; one year of physics; one semester each of calculus and statistics; and additional coursework in English (one year), behavioral and social sciences and humanities.

Pre-Dental Program

The program is supported by two full-time advisors: Danielle Rockley and Nikkole St. Mary.  Dr. Ajna Rivera is the Director of the Pre-Dental Program in College of the Pacific.

The following courses are suggested as only a minimum preparation for most dental schools: one year of general chemistry; one year of organic chemistry; four semesters of biology; one year of general physics (all with lab); and one year of English, which includes one course in composition. Note: One semester of the English requirement can be met by CORE 002.

Publications on Admissions Requirements

Medical School Requirements, USA and Canada, Association of American Medical Schools, One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools, American Association of Dental Schools, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-2212.

* Correspondence regarding the Pre-Dental Program should be directed to Dr. L. Wrischnik, Department of Biological Sciences. Correspondence regarding the Pre-Medical Program should be directed to D. Maxwell, Department of Biological Sciences. Correspondence regarding the other programs in the Pre-Health Professions should be directed to D. Maxwell, Department of Biological Sciences.