Human Communication, B.A. ~ Degree Requirements

Credits Required

Total credits: 120

Credits at CSUMB: 48-64 (Please check with your HCOM advisor as this will vary.)

Credits in the major: approximately 56 (Please check with your HCOM advisor as this will vary.)

Outcomes, Courses, and Assessment

You officially begin the major by enrolling in the HCOM 300 Major ProSeminar where you work with the instructor to create or revise your Individual Learning Plan. That ILP maps out how you will achieve each of the Major Learning Outcomes designated below and at least one Depth Concentration by successfully completing the listed courses or alternative assessment options. In consultation with your advisor, you can take one concentration course outside the major. You conclude the major by enrolling in HCOM 474 Research Methods, usually a semester before graduating. This prerequisite course will prepare you for HCOM 475 Capstone, where you will complete a publicly presented project that displays your cumulative learning in the major. You should enroll in Capstone during your graduating year. [Learn more at CSUMB.EDU/capstone].

Major Learning Outcomes

HCOM MLO 1 Critical communication skills ~ ability to communicate critically and empathically in both oral and written contexts, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 312 Cooperative Argumentation; HCOM 317S Advanced Composition and Composition Theories: Service Learning; HCOM 318 Advanced Composition Theory and Practice for K-8 Teachers

HCOM MLO 2 Media, narrative, and ethnographic skills ~ ability to gather responsibly, interpret critically, narrate, and disseminate the voices and stories of people, communities, or events by integrating ethnographic or journalistic field research methods, cultural or media analysis, narrative writing, and media production, including new digital media

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 316 Media Ethics; HCOM 328 Latina Life Stories and Digital Storytelling; HCOM 329 Autobiography/Autobiografias; HCOM 350 Oral History and Community Memory; HCOM 350S Oral History and Community Memory: Service Learning; HCOM 384 Newswriting; HCOM 385 Reporting; HCOM 387 Digital Magazine Workshop; HCOM 390 Magazine Writing; HCOM 446 Ethnographic Portraits in Cultural Citizenship; HCOM 487S Community Media Project: Service Learning; only with prior consent of the instructor, HCOM 389 Otter Realm

HCOM MLO 3 Relational communication skills ~ ability to interact ethically and effectively in interpersonal and group communication and decision-making processes

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 304 Relational Ethics; HCOM 306 Gender & Communication; HCOM 307 or 307S Social Impact of the Mass Media; HCOM 309 Intercultural Communication: Relating to Whiteness; HCOM 310 Free Speech and Responsibility; HCOM 403or 403S Ethical Issues in the Professions; HCOM 412 Multicultural Conflict Resolution

HCOM MLO 4 Philosophical analysis ~ ability to understand why and how beliefs, values, assumptions, and communication practices interact to shape ways of being and knowing

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 301 Ways of Knowing; HCOM 404 Restorative Justice; HCOM 405 Philosophy and Sexualities; HCOM 406 Philosophy According to the Movies

HCOM MLO 5 Critical cultural analysis ~ ability to investigate and explain relationships among cultural ideologies and sociohistorical experiences, interests, identities, and actions of specific cultural groups

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 338 Multicultural Adolescent Literature; HCOM 340S Topics in Social Movements: Leadership and Empowerment; HCOM 342 Feminist Theories and Methods; HCOM 343 Race and Gender Justice; HCOM 344 Chicana/Latina Feminisms; HCOM 345 Chicano/a-Latino/a Life and Culture; HCOM 348 Race, Colonialism, and Film; HCOM 426 Travel Narratives; HCOM 440 Leadership in Multicultural Communities; HCOM 443 Black Feminist Theory and Praxis; HCOM 455/555 Paradigms of the Chicana/o Community

HCOM MLO 6 Comparative literary analysis ~ ability to appreciate and analyze literature in a social, historical, and cultural context ~ ability to compare and contrast literatures of at least three different cultural traditions, including non-Eurocentric traditions

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 322 Asian American Literature; HCOM 323 American Drama; HCOM 324 African American Narratives; HCOM 325 20th Century Narratives of American Immigration; HCOM 326 Jewish Holocaust Literature; HCOM 327 Survey of American Literature; HCOM 335 American Ethnic Literature and Cultures; HCOM 336 Poetry and Gender: Voices of Our Time; HCOM 337 Women's Literature; HCOM 406 Philosophy According to the Movies; HCOM 421 Social History of the English Language; HCOM 427 Survey of British Literature; HCOM 428 Contemporary Chicana Poetry; HCOM 429 British Literature and English Language from Postcolonial and Sociolinguistic Perspectives; HCOM 433 Life Stories & Life Writing; HCOM 436 Literature of Sexualities; HCOM 437 Shakespeare and Postcolonial Interpretations; HCOM 438 Author(s): Their Lives and Works ; HCOM 452 Literature into Film

HCOM MLO 7 Historical analysis ~ ability to actively engage our complex multicultural pasts by integrating historical understanding with historical thinking skills

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 346 African American Life and History; HCOM 351 Modern World History; HCOM 352 History According to the Movies; HCOM 353 California at the Crossroads; HCOM 354 Whose America? Contested Memories in Public History; HCOM 356 Multicultural History in the New Media Classroom; HCOM 359 Sexuality, Law and Cultural Histories; HCOM 365 Chicano/a-Latino/a History; HCOM 445 Slavery and Race in the Americas.

HCOM MLO 8 Creative writing and social action ~ ability to acquire basic competency in creative writing ~ ability to apply this skill to the production and presentation of an art project that actively responds to a public issue ~ ability to sustain the creative process throughout a given project, taking it to completion

  • Complete one of the following: HCOM 330 Introduction to Creative Writing; HCOM 330S Introduction to Creative Writing Service Learning; HCOM 331 Creative Writing and Visual Art; HCOM 433 Life Stories & Life Writing; and, only with prior consent of the instructor, HCOM 332 Poetry Writing Workshop, HCOM 333 Women's Writing Workshop, HCOM 334 Fiction/Creative Non-Fiction Writing Workshop, HCOM 339S Creative Writing for Teachers Service Learning; HCOM 432 Social Action Writing, HCOM 432S Social Action Writing: Service Learning.

Depth Concentrations

Africana Studies

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 324 African American Narratives; HCOM 346 African American Life and History; HCOM 443 Black Feminist Theory and Praxis; HCOM 445 Slavery and Race in the Americas.

Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 325 20th Century Narratives of American Immigration; HCOM 328 Latina Life Stories; HCOM 329 Autobiographies/Autobiografias; HCOM 344 Chicana/Latina Feminisms; HCOM 345 Chicana/o Life and Culture; HCOM 350 Oral History and Community Memory -upon prior consent of instructor; HCOM 350S Oral History and Community Memory: Service Learning - upon prior consent of instructor; HCOM 365 Chicana/o Latina/o History; HCOM 428 Contemporary Chicana Poetry; HCOM 440 Leadership in Multicultural Communities; HCOM 446 Ethnographic Portraits in Cultural Citizenship; HCOM 455 Paradigms of the Chicana/o Community; HCOM 546 Cultural Citizenship in Latina/o Community; HCOM 555 Paradigms of the Chicana/o Community

Comparative American Studies

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 306 Gender & Communication; HCOM 309 Intercultural Communication: Relating to Whiteness; HCOM 322 Asian American Literature; HCOM 323 American Drama; HCOM 324 African American Narratives; HCOM 325 20th Century Narratives of American Immigration; HCOM 326 Jewish Holocaust Literature; HCOM 328 Latina Life Stories; HCOM 335 American Ethnic Literatures & Cultures; HCOM 340S Topics in Social Movements: Nonviolence and Social Justice: Service Learning; HCOM 342 Feminist Theories and Methods; HCOM 343 Race & Gender Justice; HCOM 344 Chicana/Latina Feminisms; HCOM 345 Chicana/o Life and Culture; HCOM 346 African American Life and History; HCOM 348 Race, Colonialism & Film; HCOM 352 History According to the Movies; HCOM 353 California at the Crossroads; HCOM 354 Whose America? Contested Memories in Public History; HCOM 356 Multicultural History in the New Media; HCOM 357 Constitutional Law; HCOM 358 Law in U.S. Societies; HCOM 359 Sexuality, Law & Cultural Histories; HCOM 365 Chicana/o Latina/o History; HCOM 406 Philosophy According to the Movies; HCOM 412 Multicultural Conflict Resolution; HCOM 426 Travel Narratives; HCOM 436 Literature of Sexualities; HCOM 440 Leadership in Multicultural Communities; HCOM 443 Black Feminist Theory & Praxis; HCOM 445 Slavery & Race in the Americas; HCOM 446 Ethnographic Portraits in Cultural Citizenship; HCOM 455 Paradigms of the Chicana/o Community; HCOM 555 Paradigms of the Chicana/o Community

Creative Writing and Social Action

  • Complete MLO 8 by taking one of the following: HCOM 330 Introduction to Creative Writing or HCOM 339S Creative Writing for Teachers: Service Learning. Then take three of the following: HCOM 332 Poetry Writing Workshop; HCOM 333 Women's Writing Workshop; HCOM 334 Fiction/Creative Non-Fiction Writing Workshop; HCOM 339S Creative Writing for Teachers: Service Learning; HCOM 432 Social Action Writing; HCOM 432S Social Action Writing: Service Learning; HCOM 433 Life Stories & Life Writing

History, Oral History, & New Media

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 328 Latina Life Stories; HCOM 329 Autobiographies/Autobiografias; HCOM 346 African American Life and History; HCOM 350 Oral History and Community Memory; HCOM 350S Oral History and Community Memory: Service Learning; HCOM 351 Modern World History; HCOM 352 History According to the Movies; HCOM 353 California at the Crossroads; HCOM 354 Whose America? Contested Memories in Public History; HCOM 356 Multicultural History in the New Media; HCOM 359 Sexuality, Law & Cultural Histories; HCOM 365 Chicana/o Latina/o History; HCOM 426 Travel Narratives; HCOM 445 Slavery & Race in the Americas; HCOM 446 Ethnographic Portraits in Cultural Citizenship

Journalism & Media Studies

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 307 Social Impact of the Mass Media; HCOM 307S Social Impact of the Mass Media: Service Learning; HCOM 310 Free Speech and Responsibility; HCOM 316 Media Ethics; HCOM 334 Fiction/Creative Non-fiction Writing Workshop; HCOM 352 History According to the Movies; HCOM 384 News Writing; HCOM 385 Reporting; HCOM 387 Digital Magazine Workshop; HCOM 388 Investigative Reporting; HCOM 389 Otter Realm Workshop~ upon prior consent of instructor; HCOM 390 Magazine Writing; HCOM 406 Philosophy According to the Movies; HCOM 487S Community Media Project: Service Learning

Literary & Film Studies

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 322 Asian American Literature; HCOM 323 American Drama; HCOM 324 African American Narratives; HCOM 325 20th Century Narratives of American Immigration; HCOM 326 Jewish Holocaust Literature; HCOM 327 Survey of American Literature; HCOM 328 Latina Life Stories; HCOM 335 American Ethnic Literatures & Cultures; HCOM 336 Poetry and Gender: Voices of our Time; HCOM 337 Women's Literature; HCOM 338 Multicultural Adolescent Literature; HCOM 348 Race, Colonialism & Film; HCOM 352 History According to the Movies; HCOM 356 Multicultural History in the New Media; HCOM 406 Philosophy According to the Movies; HCOM 426 Travel Narratives; HCOM 427 Survey of British Literature; HCOM 428 Contemporary Chicana Poetry; HCOM 433 Life Stories & Life Writing; HCOM 436 Literature of Sexualities; HCOM 437 Shakespeare & Postcolonial Interpretations; HCOM 438 Author(s): Their Lives and Works; HCOM 443 Black Feminist Praxis and Theory; HCOM 452 Literature into Film

Peace Studies

  • Outcome A
    Complete one of the following: HCOM 340S Topics In Social Movements; HCOM 404 Restorative Justice
  • Outcome B
    Complete one of the following: HCOM 312 Cooperative Argumentation; HCOM 412 Multicultural Conflict Resolution
  • Outcome C
    Complete one of the following: HCOM 309 Intercultural Communication: Relating to Whiteness; HCOM 343 Race and Gender Justice
  • Outcome D
    Complete HCOM 340S Topics In Social Movements (overlaps with Outcome A)

Practical and Professional Ethics

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 301 Ways of Knowing; HCOM 304 Relational Ethics; HCOM 306 Gender & Communication; HCOM 307 Social Impact of the Mass Media; HCOM 307S Social Impact of the Mass Media: Service Learning; HCOM 309 Intercultural Communication: Relating to Whiteness; HCOM 310 Free Speech and Responsibility; HCOM 312 Cooperative Argumentation; HCOM 316 Media Ethics; HCOM 340S Topics in Social Movements: Nonviolence and Social Justice: Service Learning; HCOM 403 and 403S Ethical Issues in the Professions; HCOM 404 Restorative Justice; HCOM 405 Philosophy & Sexualities; HCOM 406 Philosophy According to the Movies; HCOM 412 Multicultural Conflict Resolution; HCOM 440 Leadership in Multicultural Communities

Pre-Law

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 301 Ways of Knowing; HCOM 304 Relational Ethics; HCOM 310 Free Speech and Responsibility; HCOM 312 Cooperative Argumentation; HCOM 340S Topics in Social Movements: Nonviolence and Social Justice Service Learning; HCOM 343 Race and Gender Justice; HCOM 357 Constitutional Law; HCOM 358 Law in U.S. Societies; HCOM 359 Sexuality, Law & Cultural Histories; HCOM 403 and 403S Ethical Issues in the Professions; HCOM 404 Restorative Justice; HCOM 412 Multicultural Conflict Resolution; HCOM 440 Leadership in Multicultural Communities; HCOM 446 Ethnographic Portraits in Cultural Citizenship; HCOM 546 Cultural Citizenship in Latina/o Community

Women's Studies

  • Complete three of the following: HCOM 306 Gender & Communication; HCOM 328 Latina Life Stories; HCOM 333 Women's Writing Workshop; HCOM 336 Poetry and Gender: Voices of our Time; HCOM 337 Women's Literature; HCOM 342 Feminist Theories and Methods; HCOM 343 Race and Gender Justice; HCOM 344 Chicana/Latina Feminisms; HCOM 428 Contemporary Chicana Poetry; HCOM 440 Leadership in Multicultural Communities; HCOM 443 Black Feminist Theory and Praxis

Single Subject Waiver in English

For those intending to teach English at the secondary level, the Single Subject Waiver in English Concentration offers a California-state-approved curriculum that prepares you to enter a fifth-year teaching credential program and attain a credential to teach English in middle and secondary schools. The concentration features a multicultural study of poetry, drama, essays, fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, and film drawing from American and British literatures. It includes the study and practice of expository and creative writing; the study of argument; and the history, politics, global significance and social dynamics related to the English language.

  • Please see advisors, Rina Benmayor, Cecilia O'Leary, or Tomás Sandoval, for a full list of required courses.

Single Subject Waiver in Social Studies/History

For those intending to teach social studies or history at the secondary level, the Single Subject Waiver in Social Studies/History concentration is a California-state-approved curriculum that prepares you to enter a fifth-year teaching credential program and attain a credential to teach social studies/history in middle and secondary schools. The SSW Social Studies/History is course-based and takes the place of your demonstrating mastery of Social Studies/History subject matter through a comprehensive state-sponsored test. The concentration meets major outcomes with a focus on the critical multicultural study of California, U.S., and world history; literature; politics; geography; women’s, Chicana/o, or Africana/Diaspora studies; oral history; and other topics. The SSW Social Studies/History concentration typically requires five semesters to complete depending on how many courses you take over the winter and summer breaks, as well as second language proficiency.

  • Please see advisor, Cecilia O'Leary, for a full list of required courses.
 

Revised 6/10/05