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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.

To learn more about the major, visit the School of Computing & Design website.

Required Classes

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

Complete the following core courses:

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.

Web Design

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete four (4) units from the following courses:

Visual Design

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete four (4) units from the following courses:

Game Design & Interactive Media

Complete all of the following courses:

Learning Outcomes

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.

Course Pathways

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.

General Freshman Pathway

Fall Freshman

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • C2
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • B1
Course: Language 101 course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • C3

* 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

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Language 102 course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Language Proficiency
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • B4

Fall Sophomore

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 1
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 6
Requirements:
  • D1
  • D3
Course: Language 201 course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Language Proficiency

Spring Sophomore

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • C1
  • Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • A2
  • A3
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • B2
  • B3

Fall Junior

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • A4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #1
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Concentration Course #2
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • E

Spring Junior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • D4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #3
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #4
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • D2

Fall Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any 300- or 400-level CST Breadth Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved Upper Division GE Course
Units: 4
Requirements:

Spring Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 1
Requirements:

General Transfer Pathway

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:

Fall Junior

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • A4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #1
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Concentration Course #2
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Any approved Upper Division GE course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • C1

Spring Junior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • D4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #3
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major

Fall Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #4
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: CD Breadth Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 2
Requirements:

Spring Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved Upper Division course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • D2
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements: