1. Home
  2. Student Life
  3. Student Housing and Residential Life
  4. Housing Options
  5. Theme Communities

Theme Communities

Residential communities shaped around a shared interest.

Image of campus buildings
Housing Options

Live and learn among like-minded peers in one of our theme communities.

Cal State Monterey Bay’s theme communities provide a supportive residential environment where students can connect, participate in events and engage in activities related to their shared interests.

Themes vary from year to year, but they can revolve around an academic field, student identity or a shared passion. 

Why Join a Theme Community?

There are many benefits to joining one of these close-knit communities. Past residents have said the experience:

  • Supported academic success through a focused living environment
  • Provided opportunities to form study groups with peers
  • Offered resources for internships and job opportunities related to their field of study
  • Featured programs and events in collaboration with faculty and staff connected to the community’s theme

A Closer Look at Theme Communities

Learn more about our individual residential communities.

  • Open to all first-year students
  • A welcoming community designed to support all first-year students as they transition to college life. 
  • This community is especially supportive of first-generation students, TRIO participants, CAMP students and anyone seeking extra guidance in their first year. 

Join us to connect with campus traditions, discover academic resources and gain tips and tricks for making the most of your experience at Cal State Monterey Bay.

  • Open to all first-year students
  • This community brings together students who want to celebrate and center the identities and experiences of the African Diaspora, including African, Caribbean, Black, African American and Afro-Latinx. 
  • Through a Pan-African lens, residents will explore identity, history, heritage and culture while building connections with peers who share similar values, social interests and academic goals.
  • Open to all first-year students
  • This theme community is for residents who care about living a full and healthy life in all areas of wellness, including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. 
  • Residents will explore their personal wellness journey and build a community where they’ll support each other’s goals.
  • Open to first-year, continuing and transfer students
    • Residence hall community open to first-year students
    • Suite and apartment community open to continuing and transfer students
  • This gender-inclusive housing option celebrates diversity and welcomes students looking to connect with others in the LGBTQIA+ community.
  • Open to all first-year students
  • Meet other scientific Otters as you live in a community that will help you build relationships with faculty members, create positive study habits and find essential social and academic support.
  • This community is close to the Chapman Science Center and the Library!
  • Open to all transfer students
  • Working with the Transfer Student Success Center, this community provides spaces in our Promontory Apartments for students who are transferring and who want additional support in navigating Cal State Monterey Bay.