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.)

You officially begin the major by enrolling in 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 must also complete one MLO or one Depth Concentration course that is approved as research or theory intensive, designated below with an asterisk (*) under the list of available courses for each MLO and concentration.  Or the student has the option of taking HCOM 474: Research Methods to fulfill this requirement.

You conclude the major by enrolling in HCOM 475: Senior 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 Requirements and Learning Outcomes are identified below. In order to graduate, students must also meet all general education and university requirements. 

MLO 1: Critical communication skills

Ability to communicate critically and empathically in both oral and written contexts, including reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following
  • HCOM 312: GWAR-Cooperative Argumentation (4 units)
  • HCOM 317S: Advanced Composition SL (6 units)

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.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 307: Social Impact of Mass Media (4 units)
  • HCOM 307S: Soc Impct Of Mass Media SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 315: Media for Social Change (4 units)
  • HCOM 316: Media Ethics (4 units)
  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 329: Auto/Biografias (4 units)
  • HCOM 350: Oral Hist/Comm Mem (4 units)
  • HCOM 350S: Oral Hist/Comm Mem SL (6 units) *
  • HCOM 384: Newswriting (4 units)
  • HCOM 385: Reporting (4 units)
  • HCOM 390: Magazine Writing (4 units)
  • HCOM 446: EthnograpPortraits/Culture Cit (4 units)
  • HCOM 487S: Community Media Project SL (6 units)
  • Only with prior consent of the instructor:
  • HCOM 389: Otter Realm Workshop (4 units)
  • * Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

MLO 3: Relational communication skills

Ability to interact ethically and effectively in interpersonal and group communication and decision-making processes.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 304: Relational Ethics (4 units)
  • HCOM 306: Gender & Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 309: Interracial Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 310: Free Speech & Resp (4 units)
  • HCOM 403: Ethical Issues (4 units) *
  • HCOM 403S: Ethics in the Professions:SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 412: Multicultural Conflict Resolut (4 units) *
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

MLO 4: Philosophical analysis

Ability to understand why and how beliefs, values, assumptions and communication practices interact to shape ways of being and knowing.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following
  • HCOM 301: Ways Of Knowing (4 units)
  • HCOM 404: Restorative Justice (4 units)
  • HCOM 405: Philosophy & Sexualities (4 units)
  • HCOM 406: Philosophy Acrdng to Movies (4 units) *
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

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.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 338: Multicultural Adolescent Lit (4 units)
  • HCOM 342: Feminist Theories & Methods (4 units) *
  • HCOM 343: Race & Gender Justice (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units) *
  • HCOM 345: Chicano Life & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 348: Race, Colonialism & Film (4 units) *
  • HCOM 422: SelTop Multicultural Rhetorics (4 units)
  • HCOM 426: Travel Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 440: Leadership & Community (4 units)
  • HCOM 443: Black Feminist Theory & Praxis (4 units)
  • HCOM 455: Paradigms Of Chicano Comm (4 units)
  • HCOM 555: Paradigms Of Chicano Comm (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

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.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 322: Asian American Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 323: American Drama (4 units)
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 325: 20th Cent Narr Amer Immgr (4 units) *
  • HCOM 326: Jewish Holocaust Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 327: Survey American Literature (4 units) *
  • HCOM 335: Amer Ethnic Lit & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 336: Poetry & Gender (4 units)
  • HCOM 337: Women's Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 421: Social History of English Lang (4 units)
  • HCOM 425: Post-Colonial Lit and Film (4 units)
  • HCOM 427: Survey of British Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 428: Contemporary Chicana Poetry (4 units)
  • HCOM 429: BritLit& Engl Lang Perspective (6 units) *
  • HCOM 433: Life Stories & Life Writing (8 units)
  • HCOM 436: Literature of Sexualities (4 units)
  • HCOM 437: Shakespeare (4 units)
  • HCOM 438: Author(s): Canon & Context (4 units)
  • HCOM 452: Literature into Film (4 units) *
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

MLO 7: Historical analysis

Ability to actively engage our complex multicultural pasts by integrating historical understanding with historical thinking skills.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 346: African American Life/History (4 units)
  • HCOM 351: Modern World History (4 units)
  • HCOM 352: History According To Movies (4 units)
  • HCOM 353: California At Crossroads (4 units)
  • HCOM 354: Whose America? (4 units)
  • HCOM 356: Multicultural History (4 units)
  • HCOM 359: Sexuality, Law and History (4 units)
  • HCOM 365: Chicana/o Latina/o History (4 units) *
  • HCOM 445: Slavery & Race in the Americas (4 units) *
  • HCOM 451: Transnational Migrations (4 units) *
  • HCOM 454: History of Victorian Britain (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

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.

Required Courses

  • Complete one of the following
  • HCOM 330: Intro Creative Writing (4 units)
  • HCOM 330S: Intro to Creative Writing SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 331: Visual Art & Creative Writing (4 units)
  • Only with prior consent of the instructor:
  • HCOM 332: Poetry Writing Workshop (4 units)
  • HCOM 333: Women's Writing Workshop (4 units)
  • HCOM 334: Fiction/Creative NonFiction Wr (4 units)
  • HCOM 339S: Creative Writing & Service (6 units)
  • HCOM 432: Soc Action Wrtg (4 units)
  • HCOM 432S: Social Action Writing (6 units) *
  • HCOM 433: Life Stories & Life Writing (8 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Concentrations

Africana Studies

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 346: African American Life/History (4 units)
  • HCOM 443: Black Feminist Theory & Praxis (4 units)
  • HCOM 445: Slavery & Race in the Americas (4 units) *
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

American Multicultural Studies

Required Courses

  • Choose one course from each of the following groups. Of the three, one must be a history course and one must be a literature course.
  • Group 1. Comparative Hemispheric emphasis
  • HCOM 426: Travel Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 445: Slavery & Race in the Americas (4 units) *
  • Group 2. Monographic Emphasis
  • HCOM 309: Interracial Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 322: Asian American Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units) *
  • HCOM 345: Chicano Life & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 346: African American Life/History (4 units)
  • HCOM 348: Race, Colonialism & Film (4 units) *
  • HCOM 353: California At Crossroads (4 units)
  • HCOM 359: Sexuality, Law and History (4 units)
  • HCOM 365: Chicana/o Latina/o History (4 units) *
  • HCOM 443: Black Feminist Theory & Praxis (4 units)
  • HCOM 451: Transnational Migrations (4 units) *
  • HCOM 455: Paradigms Of Chicano Comm (4 units)
  • HCOM 555: Paradigms Of Chicano Comm (4 units)
  • Group 3. Comparative U.S. emphasis
  • HCOM 325: 20th Cent Narr Amer Immgr (4 units) *
  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 335: Amer Ethnic Lit & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 340S: Topics in Social Movements SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 342: Feminist Theories & Methods (4 units) *
  • HCOM 348: Race, Colonialism & Film (4 units) *
  • HCOM 352: History According To Movies (4 units)
  • HCOM 354: Whose America? (4 units)
  • HCOM 356: Multicultural History (4 units)
  • HCOM 358: Crit Perspect on Law inSociety (4 units) *
  • HCOM 440: Leadership & Community (4 units)
  • HCOM 446: EthnograpPortraits/Culture Cit (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Chicano Studies

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following
  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 329: Auto/Biografias (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units) *
  • HCOM 345: Chicano Life & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 365: Chicana/o Latina/o History (4 units) *
  • HCOM 428: Contemporary Chicana Poetry (4 units)
  • HCOM 445: Slavery & Race in the Americas (4 units) *
  • HCOM 446: EthnograpPortraits/Culture Cit (4 units)
  • HCOM 451: Transnational Migrations (4 units) *
  • HCOM 455: Paradigms Of Chicano Comm (4 units)
  • HCOM 546: Cultural Citizenship/Latino (4 units)
  • HCOM 555: Paradigms Of Chicano Comm (4 units)
  • SPAN 308: Hist/Cultr Aztlan:SW US (4 units)
  • SPAN 365: The Chicano Novel (4 units)
  • SPAN 370: The Chicano Community (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Creative Writing and Social Action

Required Courses

  • Complete MLO 8 by taking one of the following:
  • HCOM 330: Intro Creative Writing (4 units)
  • OR
  • HCOM 339S: Creative Writing & Service (6 units)
  • Then take three of the following:
  • HCOM 332: Poetry Writing Workshop (4 units)
  • HCOM 333: Women's Writing Workshop (4 units)
  • HCOM 334: Fiction/Creative NonFiction Wr (4 units)
  • HCOM 339S: Creative Writing & Service (6 units)
  • HCOM 432: Soc Action Wrtg (4 units)
  • HCOM 432S: Social Action Writing (6 units) *
  • HCOM 433: Life Stories & Life Writing (8 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

English Subject Matter Preparation Program

For those intending to teach English at the secondary level, the English Subject Matter Preparation Program  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 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 English Subject Matter Preparaton Program Coordinator Jennifer Fletcher for a full list of required courses.

History, Oral History & New Media

Required Courses

  • Select one course from each of the groups.
  • (Note: Students in the History, Oral History, & New Media concentration must take either HCOM 350 or HCOM 350S to fulfill HCOM MLO 2)
  • Group A. History
  • HCOM 346: African American Life/History (4 units)
  • HCOM 352: History According To Movies (4 units)
  • HCOM 353: California At Crossroads (4 units)
  • HCOM 359: Sexuality, Law and History (4 units)
  • HCOM 365: Chicana/o Latina/o History (4 units) *
  • HCOM 445: Slavery & Race in the Americas (4 units) *
  • HCOM 451: Transnational Migrations (4 units) *
  • Group B. Historical Narrative
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 325: 20th Cent Narr Amer Immgr (4 units)
  • HCOM 336: Poetry & Gender (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units) *
  • HCOM 348: Race, Colonialism & Film (4 units) *
  • HCOM 426: Travel Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 432: Soc Action Wrtg (4 units)
  • HCOM 432S: Social Action Writing (6 units) *
  • Group C. Multimedia
  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 329: Auto/Biografias (4 units)
  • HCOM 356: Multicultural History (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Journalism & Media Studies

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following:
  • HCOM 307: Social Impact of Mass Media (4 units)
  • HCOM 307S: Soc Impct Of Mass Media SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 310: Free Speech & Resp (4 units)
  • HCOM 315: Media for Social Change (4 units)
  • HCOM 316: Media Ethics (4 units)
  • HCOM 334: Fiction/Creative NonFiction Wr (4 units)
  • HCOM 352: History According To Movies (4 units)
  • HCOM 384: Newswriting (4 units)
  • HCOM 385: Reporting (4 units)
  • HCOM 387: Media Production Lab (4 units)
  • HCOM 388: Investigative Reporting (4 units)
  • HCOM 389: Otter Realm Workshop (4 units)
  • Upon prior consent of instructor:
  • HCOM 390: Magazine Writing (4 units)
  • HCOM 406: Philosophy Acrdng to Movies (4 units) *
  • HCOM 486: Mass Media Internship (4 units)
  • HCOM 487: Mass Media Internship (2 units)
  • HCOM 487S: Community Media Project SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 489: Otter Realm Production (2 units)
  • (Note HCOM 489 Must be repeated to fulfill concentration requirement)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Literary & Film Studies

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following:
  • HCOM 322: Asian American Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 323: American Drama (4 units)
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 325: 20th Cent Narr Amer Immgr (4 units) *
  • HCOM 326: Jewish Holocaust Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 327: Survey American Literature (4 units) *
  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 335: Amer Ethnic Lit & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 336: Poetry & Gender (4 units)
  • HCOM 337: Women's Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 338: Multicultural Adolescent Lit (4 units)
  • HCOM 348: Race, Colonialism & Film (4 units) *
  • HCOM 352: History According To Movies (4 units)
  • HCOM 356: Multicultural History (4 units)
  • HCOM 406: Philosophy Acrdng to Movies (4 units) *
  • HCOM 425: Post-Colonial Lit and Film (4 units)
  • HCOM 426: Travel Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 427: Survey of British Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 428: Contemporary Chicana Poetry (4 units)
  • HCOM 433: Life Stories & Life Writing (8 units)
  • HCOM 436: Literature of Sexualities (4 units)
  • HCOM 437: Shakespeare (4 units)
  • HCOM 438: Author(s): Canon & Context (4 units)
  • HCOM 443: Black Feminist Theory & Praxis (4 units)
  • HCOM 452: Literature into Film (4 units) *
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Peace Studies

Required Courses

  • Outcome A
  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 340S: Topics in Social Movements SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 404: Restorative Justice (4 units)
  • Outcome B
  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 312: GWAR-Cooperative Argumentation (4 units)
  • HCOM 412: Multicultural Conflict Resolut (4 units) *
  • Outcome C
  • Complete one of the following:
  • HCOM 309: Interracial Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 343: Race & Gender Justice (4 units)
  • Outcome D
  • HCOM 340S: Topics in Social Movements SL (6 units)
  • overlaps with Outcome A
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Practical and Professional Ethics

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following:
  • HCOM 301: Ways Of Knowing (4 units)
  • HCOM 304: Relational Ethics (4 units)
  • HCOM 306: Gender & Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 307: Social Impact of Mass Media (4 units)
  • HCOM 307S: Soc Impct Of Mass Media SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 309: Interracial Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 310: Free Speech & Resp (4 units)
  • HCOM 312: GWAR-Cooperative Argumentation (4 units)
  • HCOM 316: Media Ethics (4 units)
  • HCOM 321: Rhetorical Traditions (4 units)
  • HCOM 340S: Topics in Social Movements SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 403: Ethical Issues (4 units) *
  • HCOM 403S: Ethics in the Professions:SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 404: Restorative Justice (4 units)
  • HCOM 405: Philosophy & Sexualities (4 units)
  • HCOM 406: Philosophy Acrdng to Movies (4 units) *
  • HCOM 412: Multicultural Conflict Resolut (4 units) *
  • HCOM 440: Leadership & Community (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Pre-Law

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following:
  • HCOM 301: Ways Of Knowing (4 units)
  • HCOM 304: Relational Ethics (4 units)
  • HCOM 310: Free Speech & Resp (4 units)
  • HCOM 312: GWAR-Cooperative Argumentation (4 units)
  • HCOM 340S: Topics in Social Movements SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 343: Race & Gender Justice (4 units)
  • HCOM 357: Constitutional Law (4 units)
  • HCOM 358: Crit Perspect on Law inSociety (4 units) *
  • HCOM 359: Sexuality, Law and History (4 units)
  • HCOM 398: Legal Studies Internship (4 units)
  • HCOM 403: Ethical Issues (4 units) *
  • HCOM 403S: Ethics in the Professions:SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 404: Restorative Justice (4 units)
  • HCOM 412: Multicultural Conflict Resolut (4 units) *
  • HCOM 440: Leadership & Community (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Women's Studies

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following:
  • HCOM 306: Gender & Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 328: Latina Life Stories (4 units)
  • HCOM 333: Women's Writing Workshop (4 units)
  • HCOM 336: Poetry & Gender (4 units)
  • HCOM 337: Women's Literature (4 units)
  • HCOM 342: Feminist Theories & Methods (4 units) *
  • HCOM 343: Race & Gender Justice (4 units)
  • HCOM 344: Chicana/Latina Experiences (4 units) *
  • HCOM 359: Sexuality, Law and History (4 units)
  • HCOM 428: Contemporary Chicana Poetry (4 units)
  • HCOM 440: Leadership & Community (4 units)
  • HCOM 443: Black Feminist Theory & Praxis (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement

Writing and Rhetoric

Required Courses

  • Complete three of the following:
  • HCOM 301: Ways Of Knowing (4 units)
  • HCOM 306: Gender & Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 309: Interracial Communication (4 units)
  • HCOM 310: Free Speech & Resp (4 units)
  • HCOM 312: GWAR-Cooperative Argumentation (4 units)
  • HCOM 317S: Advanced Composition SL (6 units)
  • HCOM 320: Grammar, Usage & Power (4 units) *
  • HCOM 321: Rhetorical Traditions (4 units)
  • HCOM 334: Fiction/Creative NonFiction Wr (4 units)
  • HCOM 384: Newswriting (4 units)
  • HCOM 390: Magazine Writing (4 units)
  • HCOM 420: Adv Studies Rhetorical Theory (4 units)
  • HCOM 422: SelTop Multicultural Rhetorics (4 units)
  • HCOM 432: Soc Action Wrtg (4 units)
  • *Fulfills the research intensive/theory requirement