Major Learning Outcomes

The CST Core Outcomes are required for all students in the Information Technology and Communication Design major.

1. Professional Communication and Development

2. Mathematics

3. Interaction Design

4. Programming

5. Computing and Networking

6. Digital Design

7. Emphasis

8. Breadth

9. Ethics

10. Service Learning

11. Capstone

Professional Communication and Development

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

Pathway: CST 300 Major ProSeminar Lecture and CST 300L Major Proseminar Lab

Outcomes:
•    Demonstrate critical reading, listening, viewing, and speaking skills
required for comprehension of information and ideas
•    Demonstrate the ability to use oral and written communication ethically, effectively, and competently
•    Demonstrate use and integration of images, sound, text, video, and
audio to present information and ideas
•    Distinguish among diverse genres of communication
•    Identify a point of view and evaluate its explicit support

Evidence
Written documentation and oral presentation that demonstrate the student’s ability
to analyze the industry in a clear, ethical, and informed manner.

Criteria
Assessment for this MLO evaluates comprehension, interpretation, critical thinking,
and written and oral communication required in the industry.

Standards
•    Outstanding
Written documents and oral presentations that meet all the criteria for evidence
•    Adequate
Written documents and oral presentations meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence
•    Inadequate
Written documents and oral presentations do not meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence.
 

(Top of Page)

Mathematics

2. Student will demonstrate mathematical concepts that are required for problem solving in the technology and design disciplines.

Pathway: MATH 170 Discrete Mathematics or equivalent

Outcomes
Students will be able to:
•    Apply discrete structures and formulate problems
•    Apply basic graph theory.
•    Apply combinatorial analysis in problem solving,
•    Apply Boolean logic to problem solving
•    Apply binary systems to problem solving
•    Apply set theory to problem solving

Evidence
Presentation of exams that demonstrate the above applications

Criteria
Assessment for this MLO evaluates the knowledge of mathematics required in design and technology disciplines.

Standards
•    Outstanding
Grades of 85% or higher on completion of exams
•    Adequate
Grades of 70% or higher on completion of exams
•    Inadequate
Grades of less than 70% on completion of exams
 

(Top of Page)

Interaction Design

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

Pathway: CST 201/L Media Tools Lecture and Lab

Outcomes
•    Demonstrate user centered design with clear definition of the problem and the audience
•    Demonstrate use and integration of images, sounds, text, and video
•    Apply visual design principles to create a user interface
•    Create an interactive multimedia project

Evidence
A project featuring interactivity

Criteria
•    The project should have clearly articulated statements of project goals
and target audience
•    The project should demonstrate user-centered design
•    The project should have at least 10 images, 3 audios, and
1 video component.
•    There should be at least two interactive components built into the project.
•    Clear, concise written components, free of spelling and grammar errors

Standards
•    Outstanding
Complete and exemplary interactive project that meets criteria for evidence
•    Adequate
Interactive project meets minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality
of criteria of evidence.
•    Inadequate
Interactive project does not meet minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria of evidence.
 

(Top of Page)

Programming

4. Student will create computer programs to solve problems using a computer programming language.

(Top of Page)

Computing and Networking

5. Student will understand how computer technology, including software and hardware, works for the purpose of solving modern communication problems.

Pathway: CST 337 Computing Architectures and Environments or equivalent

Outcomes
•    Identify key events in the history of computers and computing
•    Articulate how a computer represents and transmits information
•    Identify how a computer's parts, components, and peripherals are organized and interfaced
•    Describe basic components of an operating system and how they interact with computer hardware
•    Understand basic computer networking and information security concepts

Evidence
Individual research project 

Criteria
•    The research project should contain a clear articulated statement of the goal of the research and the project should demonstrate a clear linkage to the stated outcomes of the MLO.
•    The project should be nontrivial and demonstrate the student’s mastery of
the research topic.
•    Writing should demonstrate logical organization, clear thinking and communication, free of spelling and grammar errors
•    The written document should be suitably formatted for technical writing.

Standards
Assessment for this MLO evaluates the student's knowledge, technical and critical thinking skills:
•    Outstanding
Exemplary work that demonstrates professional understanding and practical competence and is prepared to take a leadership role in planning this type of technology.
•    Adequate
All parts of the portfolio are completed according to written specifications
and are correct as well as reflect more than average depth of knowledge and application.
•    Inadequate
Incomplete portfolio and/or some components not correct or not of the required level of detail.
 

Digital Design

6. Student demonstrates the systematic application of design principles and technical skills required for design in industry.

Pathways: CST 328 Digital Art & Design or CST 351 Web Design

Outcomes
•    Apply the steps of the design process to solve a design problem
•    Create and manipulate still and/or moving digital imagery and text
•    Using digital tools, communicate a specific message to a specific audience

Evidence
A portfolio including:
•    A project that includes digital images and text. It my also include sound, motion, video and user interaction.
•    A document that demonstrates the application of systematic design principles and/or design theory to a design project.

Criteria
•    Factual knowledge
•    Technical skills
•    Analytical perspective

Standards
Assessment for this MLO evaluates the minimum knowledge, technical and critical thinking ability required work in the design industry.
•    Outstanding
Complete and exemplary project and documentation meet all the criteria
for evidence
•    Adequate
Project and documentation meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence
•    Inadequate
Project and documentation do not meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence.
 

(Top of Page)

Emphasis

7. Student is required to choose an emphasis of study in the major and take a minimum of 20 units. Emphases include:

Visual Design
Interactive Media and Game Design
Web Design and Development
Digital Animation

Pathways
Students choose courses after consulting with advisor . See catalog for course descriptions.

Outcomes
See page 2 of the ITCD Independent Learning Plan (ILP) for recommended courses

Criteria
Students can satisfy the requirements by passing their chosen courses in the emphases or by providing a portfolio for assessment.
 

(Top of Page)

Breadth (ITCD Elective)

8. Student will satisfy the requirements for elective studies by passing their chosen elective courses and satisfying the learning outcomes for each course. A total of 4 units is required.

(Top of Page)

Ethics

9. Through an ethical perspective, student examines the impact of current and future information technologies on economics and culture in society.

Pathway: CST 373 Ethics in Communication & Technology.

Outcomes
Demonstrate an understanding of the issues regarding the impact of current and future information technologies on social frameworks such as economics, education, the environment, governance, health, and human communication.

Criteria
•    Factual knowledge/Depth of understanding
•    Analytical perspective that considers multiple perspectives
•    Reflection that self-assesses for awareness and insights
•    Relational Accountability

Evidence
Research papers and presentations on approved topics that address a current issue in information technology and its economic, social, cultural and ethical impacts. Weekly journal reflecting on current ethical issues relating to information technology. Participation in a team debate (both online and face-to-face) that explores multiple sides of a current ethical issue relating to information technology.

Standards
•    Outstanding
Complete and exemplary presentation and documentation meet all the criteria for evidence
•    Adequate
Presentation and documentation meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence
•    Inadequate
Project and documentation do not meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence.
 

(Top of Page)

Service Learning

10. Student applies knowledge and skills acquired in the major to identify the needs of a CSUMB approved community partner, bridge the Digital Divide, and collaborate in the identification and implementation of a solution.

Pathway: CST 361S Tech Tutors

Outcomes
•    Problem Solving: Systematically analyze a communication need (or problem), the audience or client, and the context.
•    Management: Demonstrate competency in determining tasks, schedules, and organizational structure; and successful implementation throughout the course of project development.
•    Documentation:  Demonstrate competency in documenting the phases of the project development.
•    Implementation: Demonstrate competency in executing the proposed solution most likely to satisfy the needs of the client.
•    Evaluation: Determine the efficacy and impact of the implementation.
•    Reflection: Consider lessons learned and the implications for future problem solving.

Evidence
•    Signed Proposal
•    Journals, Digital Divide Paper, Service Learning, and Culture Papers
•    Signed Activity Sheet
•    Supervisor Evaluation
•    Student Online Evaluation of Community Partner
•    Class Website on CD

Criteria
•    Minimum 30 on-site service hours at a community agency
•    Research
•    Reflection
•    Service learning agreement form, Activity Log, Partner and Student Evaluations

Standards
•    Outstanding
Complete and exemplary project and documentation meet all the criteria for evidence
•    Adequate
Project and documentation meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence
•    Inadequate
Project and documentation doe not meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence.
 

(Top of Page)

Capstone

11. Student plans, creates, and executes a detailed Capstone project which typically take two semesters to complete.

During the first semester, students choose a project and a faculty capstone advisor and complete a detailed plan for the creation of their project. In the second semester the capstone project is produced. The capstone festival is where students present their finished projects to the faculty, CSUMB students and the greater community. Capstones for the ITCD major cover a wide spectrum of design and technical projects: including complex web sites, programming projects, animation, identity designs and planning and implementing technical events. The projects are based on the course work taken in the major as well as the student's individual strengths and passions. All projects represent a combination of technology and design. This fusion is the hallmark of the ITCD degree.

Pathway: CST 400 Senior Capstone Project Planning plus CST 496 Directed Research and Development and CST 401 Capstone Lab plus CST 496 Directed Research and Development

Outcomes
•    Define a problem
•    Create a plan to solve the problem
•    Create a solution
•    Present the project
•    Document the project

Evidence
•    Capstone proposal
•    Final Project: Solution
•    Final Project Presentation
•    Documentation: Appropriate to the project

Criteria
•    Writing
•    Presentation
•    Documentation

Standards
•    Outstanding
Complete and exemplary project presentation and documentation that meet all the criteria for evidence
•    Adequate
Project presentation and documentation meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence
•    Inadequate
Project presentation and documentation do not meet the minimum requirements in quantity and/or quality of criteria for evidence.
 

(Top of Page)