Telecommunications, Multimedia, and Applied Computing, B.S.~ Degree Requirements

Semester Credits Required

Total credits: 120 minimum (40 upper-division)

Credits in the major: 36 (18 upper-division)

Credits in residence at CSUMB: 30 (24 upper-division; 12 upper-division in the major)

Outcomes, Courses, and Assessment

You officially begin the major by enrolling in CST 300 Major ProSeminar where you are assigned to a faculty advisor who will work with you to create or revise your Individual Learning Plan (ILP). That ILP maps out how you will achieve each of the Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs) designated below by successfully completing the listed courses or alternative assessment options. You conclude the major by completing your Capstone, a publicly presented project that displays your cumulative learning in the major.

You first satisfy the Core MLOs, then choose five courses from the Technology Track MLOs, Design Track MLOs, or Custom Track MLOs (a combination of the technology and design track MLOs). You then finish by completing the Advanced MLOs.

Core MLOs

All TMAC majors must fulfill these Core MLOs.

MLO C0 Professional communication and development ~ ability to communicate technical information to various audiences both orally and in writing ~ the knowledge base, skills, and practices of professionalism related to the fields of telecommunications, multimedia, and computing, and a foundation for ongoing professional development

  • Complete: CST 300 Major ProSeminar

MLO C1 Knowledge of computers ~ knowledge of how a computer represents and transmits information, its parts and peripherals, and how they are organized and interfaced ~ ability to install and run applications and to manage and navigate files on a variety of platforms and operating systems

  • Complete: CST 337 Computing Architectures and Environments

MLO C2 Design ~ ability to use computer-based tools to demonstrate knowledge of design principles in conceiving, planning, and communicating the solutions for multimedia and instructional technology problems ~ ability to manipulate digital images, sound, motion, text, and interactions

MLO C3 Programming ~ solid grounding in the concepts and practice of programming as displayed by competency in at least one programming language, such as C++

  • Complete one of the following: CST 231 Problem-Solving and Programming Using C++; CST 221 Scripting for Multimedia; CST 232 Introduction to Visual Basic Programming

MLO C4 Telecommunications ~ broad user-level understanding of all aspects of computer communications including analog and digital systems; switched and packet technologies; synchronous and asynchronous communications; wired and wireless systems; data-voice-video systems; examples of local networks, including the home and wide area network technologies; and connectivity standards ~ understanding of the cultural, social, ethical, and economic impact of telecommunications

  • Complete: CST 337 Computing Architectures and Environments

MLO C5 Mathematics ~ fundamental understanding of at least two mathematical areas selected from probability and statistics, logic, calculus, discrete math, linear algebra, and combinatorics ~ ability to apply mathematical understanding to the solution of problems in a chosen area

MLO C6 Social and ethical dimensions ~ understanding of current and future technology and its economic, social, cultural, and ethical impacts

  • Complete: CST 373 Ethics in Technology and  Communication
Technology Track MLOs

TMAC majors choosing the technology specialization must fulfill MLO T1 and complete five additional courses from at least two additional MLOs chosen from T2, T4, and T6 through T10 (T1, T3, and T5 are satisfied in conjunction with the Core MLOs).

MLO T1 Programming ~ understanding of the theory and practice of key programming principles that are common to many programming languages

  • Complete: CST 231 Problem Solving and Programming Using C++  (also satisfies MLO C3)

MLO T2 Software design ~ ability to analyze a problem and select the most appropriate data structure to represent the solution ~ ability to construct and implement an algorithm or set of algorithms which solves a problem and analyze the efficiency of those algorithms ~ ability to describe the different System Lifecycle models and, given an application, explain which model would be appropriate for that application

  • Complete: CST 338 Software Design

MLO T3 Operating systems ~ ability to describe the basic components of an operating system ~ ability to compare and contrast data storage hierarchy, memory management, processor allocation strategies, and user interface across at least three different operating systems ~ demonstrated skill in analyzing a specific problem likely to occur in a component of an operating system (e.g. file structures, background processes, shell programming) and creating an appropriate program ~ ability to generate and test file system queries

  • Satisfied through MLO C1

MLO T4 Telecommunications ~ understanding of basic physical and software principles common to data and voice communications such as modulation types, media types, packet vs. circuit switched, in-band vs. out-of-band signaling, digital vs. analog, the OSI model ~ completion of basic experiments in connecting a computer via modem, as well as creating an Ethernet network and determining its condition ~ demonstrated knowledge of the differences between key network technologies such as ATM, ISDN, Ethernet, and others ~ ability to describe, contrast, and compare different network solutions appropriate for a range of practical problems

  • Complete: CST 311 Principles of Telecommunications

MLO T5 Mathematics ~ fundamental understanding of at least two mathematical areas selected from probability and statistics, logic, calculus, discrete math, linear algebra, and combinatorics ~ ability to apply mathematical understanding to the solution of problems in a chosen area

  • Satisfied through MLO C5

MLO T6 Interface ~ graphics and imaging skills ~ sensing and control skills

  • Complete: CST 331 Computer Graphics Programming

MLO T7 Computing ~ Internet programming skills ~ database skills ~ embedded programming skills ~ compiler and language skills

  • Choose from the following: CST 336 Internet Programming; CST 363 Database Management; BUS 363 DB Management: Methods & Applications

MLO T8 Networking ~ advanced networking skills ~ understanding of communications standards and industry ~ networking management skills ~ understanding of network protocols for multimedia

  • Choose from the following: CST 312 Telecommunication Standards; CST 313 Telecom Management; CST 384 Advanced LAN/WAN Systems Integration

MLO T9 Advanced mathematics ~ competency in areas related to TMAC, some of which are linear algebra, statistics and probability, and differential equations

  • Choose from the following: MATH 320 Probability and Statistics; MATH 330 Linear Algebra & Applications; MATH 340 Differential Equations; MATH 370 Logic and Computation

MLO T10 Information systems ~ ability to develop, administer, and evaluate information systems, and to describe the impact of an information system to users, organization, and society

  • Choose from the following: CST 334 UNIX & X-Windows; CST 434 Advanced UNIX Systems Administration; CST 551 Web Databases and Services
Design Track MLOs

All TMAC majors choosing the design specialization must fulfill these Design MLOs.

MLO D1 Planning and management of design projects ~ knowledge and application of project planning techniques such as critical path, resource management, budget, and use of project management tools in the development of multimedia and instructional design projects

  • Complete: CST 308 Management and Design

MLO D2 Interactive media design ~ production of projects combining digital audio, video, and imagery

  • Complete one of the following from the intermediate level: CST 304 Publication Design; CST 305 3D Modeling and Animation; CST 321 Multimedia I; CST 351 Web Design
  • Complete one course from the practicum level: CST 404 Publication Workshop; CST 405 Animation Workshop; CST 421 Multimedia II; CST 441 Advanced Instructional Design; CST 451 Web Production

MLO D3 Delivery systems ~ communication through a variety of delivery systems including desktop video, print, web, video teleconferencing, and multimedia

  • Complete one of the following from the intermediate level: CST 304 Publication Design; CST 305 Modeling and Animation; CST 321 Multimedia and Game Design I; CST 351 Web Design
  • Complete one of the following from the practicum level: CST 404 Publication Workshop; CST 405 3D Animation Workshop; CST 421 Multimedia and Game Design Workshop; CST 441 Advanced Instructional Design; CST 451 Web Production

MLO D4 Instructional design ~ development of plans for training and instruction ~ application of instructional system design and development principles to human performance problems ~ evaluation and assessment of instruction ~ understanding of organizational behavior and psychological principles

  • Complete: CST 341 Introduction to Instructional Design

MLO D5 Aesthetics and design ~ demonstrated understanding of aesthetics through the creation of digital graphic work that employs aesthetic and design principles ~ understanding of design principles including form versus function, composition, balance, and color theory

  • Complete: CST 328 Digital Art and Design
Custom Track MLOs

If you wish to integrate both technology and design in your specialization, then you must submit a written Individual Learning Plan incorporating MLOs from both specializations to a faculty advisor for approval.

Advanced MLOs

All TMAC majors must complete the Advanced MLOs.

MLO A1 Senior Capstone
MLO A2 Professional writing
MLO A3 Professional oral presentation
MLO A4 Project management
MLO A6 Collaboration

  • Complete all of the following: CST 400 Capstone Project Planning; CST 401 Capstone Lab; CST 496 Directed Study

MLO A5 Service learning

 

Revised 5/26/05