The Communication Design B.S. provides students with skills in visual design, web design, game design and interactive media to fulfill the needs of these industries. Our students gain a broad-based understanding of current technologies and applications along with knowledge of design, communication and management skills. Communication Design majors develop a customized educational plan that supports their career goals and the needs of a multicultural global society.

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your general education and university requirements.

Complete the following core courses:

  • CST 201: Media Tools (4 units)
  • CST 202: Drawing for Digital Media (2 units)
  • CST 202L: Drawing for Digital Media Lab (1 units)
  • CST 227: Design Fundamentals (4 units)
  • CST 251: Web Tools (4 units)
  • CST 252: Scripting for Multimedia (4 units) OR CST 231: Problm-Solving/Programng (4 units)
  • CST 236: Computing for Digital Artists (4 units)
  • CST 300: Major ProSeminar (4 units)
  • CST 436: Human-Computer Interaction (4 units)
  • CST 461S: Communication Design Service Learning (2 units)
  • CST 400: Senior Capstone Project Planning (2 units)
  • CST 401: Capstone Lab (2 units)

Complete one additional 300- or 400-level CST course that is not in your concentration to fulfill the "CST Breadth" requirement.

Select one of the following concentrations to complete the requirements of the Communication Design degree.

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete four (4) units from the following courses:

  • CST 304: Publication Design (2-4 units)
  • CST 321: Game Design and Interactive Media I (4 units)
  • CST 421: Game Design & Interactive Media II (4 units)
  • CST 395: Special Topics (1-6 units)
  • CST 495: Special Topics (1-4 units)

Complete all of the following courses:

  • CST 351: Web Design (4 units)
  • CST 304: Publication Design (2-4 units)
  • CST 404: Publication Workshop (4 units)

Complete four (4) units from the following courses:

  • CST 406: Logo Design Workshop (2 units)
  • CST 451: Web Production (4 units)
  • CART 315: Visual Design (4 units)
  • VPA 307: Diverse History of Contemporary Art (4 units)
  • VPA 310: Mixed Media (4 units)
  • VPA 316: Photography as Art (2 units) AND VPA 316L: Photography as Art Lab (2 units)
  • CST 395: Special Topics (1-6 units)
  • CST 495: Special Topics (1-4 units)

Complete all of the following courses:

  • CST 321: Game Design and Interactive Media I (4 units)
  • CST 322: Environment Modeling (2 units)
  • CST 323: Character Design (2 units)
  • CST 421: Game Design & Interactive Media II (4 units)
  • CST 422: Level Design (2 units)
  • CST 423: Character Animation (2 units)

MLO 1: Professional Communication & Development

Student will effectively communicate in an academic and professional setting via written documentation and oral presentation.

MLO 2: Interaction Design

Student will apply user-centered design methodology to create an interactive media project emphasizing an event-driven design philosophy.

MLO 3: Design Principles

Student demonstrates the systematic application of aesthetic and design principles to solve a communication design problem.

MLO 4: Programming

Student will use computer programming concepts and skills to solve communication design problems.

MLO 5: Computing & Networking

Student demonstrates an understanding of the evolution of computer technology and its use in solving communication problems.

MLO 6: Ethics

Student will understand the ethical impact of current and future information technologies on society; specifically, economics, education, the environment, governance, industry, health and human communication.

MLO 7: Application & Synthesis

Student demonstrates the integration of the MLOs.

These pathways are examples of how you might complete all the requirements for your degree in an order that makes sense given prerequisites. They are meant to give you a general sense of what your education will look like.

Your own unique situation and a number of other factors may mean your actual pathway is different. Perhaps you'll need an extra math or language class, or one of the courses we've listed isn't offered in a particular semester. Not a problem - there is flexibility built into the curriculum. You'll want to work closely with an advisor and use the academic advisement report to take all that into account and develop a pathway that's customized for you.

In the meantime, use this example as a starting point for choosing classes or discussing your plans with an advisor. Your advisor is your best resource when it comes to figuring out how to fit all the courses you need, in the right sequence, into your personal academic plan.

Fall Freshman

* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.

Spring Freshman

Fall Sophomore

Spring Sophomore

Fall Junior

Spring Junior

Fall Senior

Spring Senior

This is a general pathway that has been constructed under the assumption that you have transferred into CSUMB with at least 60 units, have completed all lower division general education requirements, and have completed the following lower division major requirements:

  • CST 201: Media Tools (4 units)
  • CST 202: Drawing for Digital Media (2 units)
  • CST 202L: Drawing for Digital Media Lab (1 units)
  • CST 227: Design Fundamentals (4 units)
  • CST 251: Web Tools (4 units)
  • CST 252: Scripting for Multimedia (4 units) OR CST 231: Problm-Solving/Programng (4 units)

Fall Junior

Spring Junior

Fall Senior

Spring Senior