CSUMB Presidential Transition

You have a goal; you know what you want to do; you have multiple interests. Here is the process...

  • STUDENT VISION AND SELF-KNOWLEDGE Students have a career and learning goal for which there is no existing major at CSUMB. (Examples: Speech pathologist, dolphin trainer, global health care educator with NGOs and government agencies, popular culture to advance causes of social and environmental justice, global semeiotics, global women’s studies, use of arts in environmental education, community building through cultural events, management and leadership of public agencies working with multiple constituencies, African-American cultural preservation, broadcast journalism, health science journalism)
  • COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF ISSM Students are advised by Undergraduate Advisors, faculty, alumni, or peers to contact ISSM Advisor/Director and to review ISSM homepage. Students learn about the major in the First Year Seminar, Sophomore Experience, and other University Advising Events.
  • ISSM ADVISOR CONTACTED Advisor/Director ascertains that CSUMB has the academic resources (programs, faculty, courses) that could provide the knowledge, competencies, and skills needed for this life goal. The Director helps the student to convert this goal into a “major.” This major selects from the various learning experiences offered by the University and adds them up into a coherent Major Learning Outcomes organized around the theme of the major.
  • STUDENT GOES THROUGH UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING TO IDENTIFY ISSM AS A MAJOR ; Director’s approval is processed. Student then has the go-ahead to register for the Major Proseminar, ISSM 300.
  • Students take ISSM 300
    • Student sets forth how they want to contribute to society and what knowledge, skills, and abilities are required to play this role
    • Students identify two to three existing majors that contain MLO’s that address these learning needs
    • Students find two to three faculty advisors with whom to work to create MLOs and curricular strategies for ILP
    • Students may create 1-2 Independent MLOs (through existing courses at CSUMB, other accredited courses approved by the Program, or ISSM 397, or in combination of these)
    • Students apply for program
    • Students complete ILP and Program Application (signed by faculty advisors and program Director)
    • This course is a homeroom/laboratory
  • Students take ISSM 395
    • Students learn theory and practice of Integrated Studies and how to apply this conceptual work to their construction of their major—models are studied across the disciplines; this is an ongoing seminar
    • Students work with faculty advisors to refine and develop bibliographies for major (part of ILP)
    • Students develop capstone proposals (to be signed by faculty advisors and ISSM Director)
    • This course is the “glue” that academically joins their coursework in the various academic departments; it addresses the field each term
    • ISSM 400 students mentor 395 students
  • Students take Service Learning
    • Students either can take an existing major’s SL or ISSM 398SL
    • The SL is tied to their Major
  • Students take ISSM 400 Capstone
    • Village attends student’s capstone presentation and reviews capstone project; village community profits from the learning that the ISSM student has achieved. World is a better place!
The information on this page is designed to provide an overall understanding of the ISSM degree, and is subject to update and change. Students should check with the ISSM professors, director, and advisor for up-to-date information.
Posted on Oct 01, 2010 -