Games and Playable Media M.S.

Introduction

The M.S. in Games and Playable Media program has suspended admissions for the 2024-25 year.

The M.S. in Games and Playable Media prepares students to make professional contributions to the creation of games and other forms of media that invite and structure play. The degree is offered at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara, enabling connection and collaboration with local industry. The curriculum includes deep engagement with game creation as well as a focus on professional development. Students can also take advantage of the opportunities for coursework and collaboration offered by its “sister” degree, the M.S. in Serious Games (also offered in Silicon Valley), as well as course offerings in games and related technologies on the Santa Cruz campus, and the potential for collaborations with the department’s field-leading research groups.

The curriculum covers four core competencies: (1) game design and development, which includes working in a group to design, develop software experiences, elicit user input and test the user experience; (2) game development technologies, including gameplay programming techniques and knowledge of game engines and middleware; (3) knowledge and working practice in industry-standard tools for collaboration and project management, source code management, and content creation; and (4) specialized concentrations in areas such as development of alternative input devices, level design, game audio, game narrative, and others.

The M.S. in Games and Playable Media is a five-quarter program that spans one and two-thirds academic years. Students are expected to complete coursework in five academic quarters, without leaves of absence.

Requirements

Course Requirements

All students are required to take 60 credits to complete the M.S.. Required courses are as follows:

All of the following courses:

Plus one of the following options:

Three courses from the electives list below, 15 credits (5 credits each)

Master's Capstone Project

Completion of a Master's Capstone Project (Plan II) is required for the master's degree. These are generally collaborative projects, created together with other students in the Games and Playable Media M.S. program. Projects are typically completed by students during GAME 272, Games and Playable Media Studio III. Students are evaluated based both on their individual contributions to the project and on the overall success of the project as a whole. Each project will be demonstrated via a public presentation, and this demonstration comprises part of the final project evaluation.

Evaluation of projects is performed by a committee consisting of at least three people, comprised of at least the games and playable media vice chair and will contain other members of the Games and Playable Media program faculty, or members of the Games and Playable Media program advisory committee, or other instructors in the Games and Playable Media program. A majority of the committee’s voting members are members of the UC Santa Cruz academic senate.

Planners

There are two primary paths through the first year of the degree. Students with less technical background take GAME 235 and GAME 236 in their first year, while those with more technical background take GAME 230 in their first year. All students, regardless of whether they do GAME 235 and GAME 236 or GAME 230, are required to complete at least 60 credits.

The sample programs include summer internships or sponsored projects. These are not required, and do not bear academic credit. They are, however, strongly suggested.

Sample program for students with more technical background

Sample program for students with less technical background

Transfer Credit

Up to three School of Engineering courses fulfilling the degree requirements of the M.S. degree may be taken before beginning the graduate program through the concurrent enrollment program. The game art, game writing, and game sound requirements of the M.S. program may also be satisfied through courses from other institutions or prior UCSC coursework. Petitions should be submitted along with the transcript from the other institution. For courses taken at other institutions, copies of the syllabi, examinations, and other coursework should accompany the petition. Such petitions are not considered until the completion of at least one quarter at UCSC.

At most, a total of three courses may be transferred from concurrent enrollment and other institutions.

Review of Progress

On an ongoing basis, the faculty reviews the progress of every student remaining on track to complete the degree in five consecutive academic quarters. Students not making adequate progress toward completion of degree requirements (see the Graduate Handbook for policy on satisfactory academic progress) are subject to dismissal from the program. Students with academic deficiencies may be required to take additional courses. Full-time students with no academic deficiencies are normally expected to complete the degree requirements at the rate of at least two courses per quarter, and move forward through the course sequences together with their cohort, remaining on track to complete the degree in five academic quarters.

Students receiving one unsatisfactory grade (U or grade below B) in a Baskin Engineering (BE) course are not making adequate progress and will be placed on academic notice for the following quarter of registered enrollment. Withdrawing or taking a leave of absence does not count as enrollment. Part-time enrollment is counted as a half quarter of enrollment. Students who are on academic notice or are not enrolled full time are no longer guaranteed any previously committed funding. Should students receive an unsatisfactory grade (U or below B) in a Baskin Engineering course while on probation, the Computational Media Department may request the graduate dean to dismiss that student from the graduate program. If after being removed from probation, the student again receives an unsatisfactory grade (U or below B) in a Baskin Engineering course, they will return immediately to academic notice.

Graduate students experiencing circumstances or difficulties that impact their academic performance should contact their graduate advisor and the program vice chair immediately. Students may appeal their dismissal.

Applying for Graduation

Students planning to graduate should refer to the Baskin School of Engineering Graduate Studies website.