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Computational Media Ph.D.

Introduction

The Ph.D. in computational media (CM) is designed for those who are already actively working in computational media and want to develop new knowledge that will change what is possible and how we understand it. The Ph.D. program includes all the course requirements of the M.S., with the exception of those related to the M.S. thesis. Ph.D. students have a number of additional requirements, as well. First, they must take additional topics courses, building understanding of a broader set of CM approaches. Second, they must pass both a first-year exam and a comprehensive exam, setting clear milestones for the development of expert-level knowledge in CM. Third, they must engage in substantial independent research that contributes to the development of the field, working closely with CM research faculty. Fourth, they must propose, complete, and defend a significant and novel dissertation project. The Ph.D. is appropriate for those who aim to lead future CM research efforts, within the academy, industry, government, non-profit, and other contexts.

Advancement to Candidacy
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Course Requirements

Ph.D. students will complete 15 credits of core courses, 20 credits of topics courses, and 10 credits of courses involved in preparation for the comprehensive examination.

Core Courses (15 Credits)

CMPM 201Introduction to Computational Media

5

CMPM 202Computation Media Research

5

CMPM 203Computational Media Methods

5

Topics Courses (20 Credits)

Ph.D. students are required to take 20 credits of CM topics courses. The courses may be any combination of these types (as long as not already counted in another category):

  • 5-credit CMPM graduate classes.
  • Classes in other subject codes that cover the theory and/or practice of a CM area, as listed in the “topics courses.”
  • Up to 10 credits transferred from equivalent courses in previous graduate work at UC Santa Cruz or elsewhere (not to exceed three course overall limit on transfers from outside institutions, between this and other requirements).
Current Topics Courses
CMPM 230Data Science in Computational Experiences

5

CMPM 232Psychology of Play

5

CMPM 235User Evaluation of Technology

5

CMPM 237Advanced Topics in Human-Robot Interaction

5

CMPM 243Social Computing Research: Design, Algorithms, and Incentives

5

CMPM 244Artificial Intelligence in Games

5

CMPM 248Interactive Storytelling

5

CMPM 255Games for Impact Studio I

5

CMPM 256Games for Impact Studio II

5

CMPM 265Generative Methods

5

CMPM 268Immersive Analytics

5

CMPM 269Machine Learning for Creativity and Design

5

CMPM 290ATopics in Computational Media

5

CMPM 290J
/DANM 250D
Playable Media

5

CMPM 290KSocial and Emotional Approaches to Human Computer Interaction

5

CMPM 290P
/DANM 290P
Topics in Computational Cinematography

5

CSE 245
/LING 245/CMPM 245
Computational Models of Discourse and Dialogue

5

CSE 260Computer Graphics

5

CSE 261Advanced Visualization

5

CSE 263Data Driven Discovery and Visualization

5

CSE 265
/DANM 231
Human-Computer Interaction

5

CSE 290LTopics in Crowdsourcing and Collaboration

5

DANM 250AArt and Science

5

DANM 250BSocially Engaged Art

5

DANM 250CPerformance and Embodiment

5

DANM 250ECollaborative Research Project Group: Experimental Play

5

FILM 228Moving Image Archives and the Frontiers of Information

5

FILM 230Expanded Documentary

5

FILM 234Toward an Ethics of New Media

5

GAME 232Advanced Game Technologies

5

GAME 238Computer Graphics for Games

5

GAME 240Game Usability

5

GAME 250Foundations of Serious Games and Gamification

5

GAME 251Games User Research

5

GAME 290AAdvanced Topics in Games

5

HCI 250Participatory Design

5

DANM 250A, DANM 250B, DANM 250C, and DANM 250E may be repeated.

Exam Courses (20 Credits)

CMPM 205Bridging the Disciplines: Writing and Synthesis for Computational Media

5

CMPM 206Computational Media Research Preparation

5

CMPM 297BIndependent Study or Research

10

CMPM 205: Teaches the skills of doing interdisciplinary research and writing and synthesis across disciplines, which are important for doing research in computational media.

CMPM 206: Teaches skills for gathering literature and preparing portfolio for comprehensive exam, taken the same quarter as exam. 5 credits.

CMPM 297B: Research in preparation for the comprehensive exam, usually taken with the student’s advisor. Students should enroll in 5 credits of CMPM 297A the quarter prior to their comprehensive exam, and then 5 credits of CMPM 297A alongside CMPM 206 the quarter they plan to take the comprehensive exam.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the above curricular requirements, students are also required to satisfy the three Foundation Areas requirements. The Foundation Areas are evaluated through the completion of the Comprehensive Exam, and must be completed by the end of students' second year in the program (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarter). Individual plans for demonstrating competency in the Foundation Areas will depend on students' previous studies. A student should consult with both their faculty advisor and graduate director to determine the best path for being prepared to demonstrate competency in the Foundation Areas through the Comprehensive Exam. Many students opt to complete the Foundation Areas via graduate coursework, but the requirements can also be met via past projects, undergraduate coursework, or professional experience in the given area.

Students are expected to demonstrate competency in the following three Foundation Areas, which are evaluated through the completion of the Comprehensive Exam:

  • Media Creation in a CM context
  • Computer Programming sufficient to carry out CM research
  • Interpretive Practices sufficient to carry out CM research

Media Creation: Ph.D. students must demonstrate sufficient and appropriate media-focused knowledge to develop a significant CM research contribution. This can be completed by any of:

  • The Computer Science: Computer Game Design B.S. game studio sequence (CMPM 170, CMPM 171, CMPM 172) before graduate enrollment.
  • The Art and Design: Games and Playable Media B.A. game studio sequence (ARTG 170, ARTG 171, ARTG 172) before graduate enrollment.
  • A DANM project group sequence (three DANM 250 courses in same area, in sequence) during or before CM M.S./Ph.D. graduate enrollment.
  • Game for Impact studio courses: CMPM 255 and CMPM 256
  • At least three graduate or upper-division undergraduate courses from a list of offerings at UC Santa Cruz that require programming knowledge and are focused on defining and developing CM-related projects (e.g., CMPM 148) during or before CM graduate enrollment. See the list of media creation courses.
  • Petition to CM graduate director, presenting evidence of equivalent coursework at another institution and/or equivalent CM project experience in another context.

Computer Programming: All Ph.D students must demonstrate sufficient and appropriate technical knowledge, including computer programming, to develop a significant CM research contribution. This can be completed by:

  • Taking a series of courses that integrate media and programming knowledge (e.g., GAME 235, GAME 236, and CMPM 120).
  • Taking core programming (e.g., CSE 30 and CSE 101) and advanced programming (e.g., CSE 111) at UC Santa Cruz or another institution.
  • Petition to CM graduate director, presenting evidence of programming knowledge developed in another context.

Interpretive Practices: All Ph.D. students are expected to demonstrate sufficient and appropriate knowledge of interpretive practices to develop a significant CM research contribution. Students who lack such a background are strongly encouraged to take a series of courses in this area, consulting with their advisor regarding which courses would be most appropriate. The appropriate Interpretive Practices for a given student depends on the specific research area for the student. The key is that the student is able to critique and intervene in their research area from a broader social, cultural and historical perspective. One recommended sequence (which may or may not be appropriate for a specific student) is:

  • HISC 1: Introduction to the History of Consciousness. If this is not possible, take an 80-level course that integrates introductory interpretive content (e.g., FILM 80V: Video Games as Visual Culture).
  • Take two more graduate or upper-division undergraduate courses that focus on interpretive practices. The CM department offers courses that integrate this with CM knowledge, such as some offerings of CMPM 290A (e.g., Media Constellations) and CMPM 176: Game Systems. Other programs also offer courses that make this integration, such as DANM 201: Recent Methods and Approaches to Digital Arts and Culture and DANM 202: Dialogues and Questions in Digital Arts and Culture. Courses that do not make this integration, but that are connected to the student's research area, are also acceptable.

The final determination that a student has satisfied the media creation, programming, and interpretation requirements is made during the comprehensive exam, including the portfolio review portion of the exam. The coursework suggested above is intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills to successfully pass their comprehensive exam, and to provide appropriate projects for the portfolio portion of the exam. A student should consult with both their advisor and the grad director to determine the best path for being prepared for the comprehensive exam.

Note: In extraordinary circumstances the graduate director can reduce the number of required courses based on a petition presenting past accomplishments. For example, reducing the number of required topics courses by one for each substantial past research publication or system accepted from the petition.

Current Media Creation Courses
CMPM 146Game AI

5

CMPM 147Generative Design

5

CMPM 148Interactive Storytelling

5

CMPM 150Creating Digital Audio

5

CMPM 151Algorithmic Music for Games

5

CMPM 163Game Graphics and Real-Time Rendering

5

CMPM 164Game Engines

5

CMPM 169Creative Coding

5

CMPM 179
/ARTG 179
Game Design Practicum

5

CMPM 244Artificial Intelligence in Games

5

CMPM 248Interactive Storytelling

5

CMPM 265Generative Methods

5

CMPM 290J
/DANM 250D
Playable Media

5

CSE 160Introduction to Computer Graphics

7

CSE 260Computer Graphics

5

CSE 161Introduction to Data Visualization

5

CSE 163Data Programming for Visualization

5

CSE 183Web Applications

5

CSE 245
/LING 245/CMPM 245
Computational Models of Discourse and Dialogue

5

CSE 261Advanced Visualization

5

CSE 263Data Driven Discovery and Visualization

5

GAME 210Game Art Intensive

5

GAME 215Audio Direction

5

Lower-Division Courses

Students who are considering enrolling in lower-division courses in order to fulfill additional degree requirements (e.g., CSE 30, HISC 1) may wish to consult with the course instructor and their advisor about instead taking an independent study or directed study (with the course instructor, their advisor, or a third faculty member) that subsumes the work of the course and adds additional content to bring it up to a graduate level. Graduate students must be enrolled in some combination of at least 10 credits of courses or independent studies that are either graduate or upper-division undergraduate courses in order to be considered full-time enrolled.

Pre-Qualifying Requirements

Ph.D. students are required to two examinations, the FYE and the comprehensive exam, before they take the qualifying exam.

First-Year Examination

The Ph.D. First-Year Exam measures students’ understanding of, and ability to, synthesize and apply core computational media knowledge (history, theory, research approaches, and evaluation methods) in a written format. To fulfill the writing and synthesis requirement students must enroll in CMPM 205, a 5-credit course. Passing the CMPM 205 course at a Ph.D. level will then fulfill the First-Year Exam requirement. CMPM 205 must be taken in the spring of their first year (third quarter, excluding summer quarters) unless students need additional foundation work before taking one of the core courses, in which case it may be the second year (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarters).

CMPM 205 is offered twice a year: in the Spring and Summer quarters. First year students must take CMPM 205 in the Spring quarter. Students who receive a U in the Spring quarter have another chance to retake CMPM 205 in the Summer.

If a student gets a U in the course after taking it twice, then the student has three options:

1.) Transfer to the master's program and complete a terminal M.S. degree.

2.) Withdraw from the Ph.D. program.

3.) Remain in the Ph.D. program and be recommended for disqualification.

Students are recommended for disqualification from the program immediately if they either (a) fail the course twice or (b) fail the course once and elect not to take the course again.

In extraordinary circumstances the graduate director may give a student the option of taking the CMPM 205 course without having taken the core coursework (CMPM 201, CMPM 202, and CMPM 203) during any quarter. Those who pass may complete the degree without taking the core courses.

Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination

The Ph.D. comprehensive exam measures students’ preparation to perform independent CM research. It must be taken (for the first time) no later than the end of a student’s second year in the program (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Before taking the exam, students must have completed the preparatory coursework for understanding media creation and computer programming, as well as demonstrated an understanding of interpretive practices (Foundation Areas, as outlined above). The quarter prior to taking the comprehensive exam, students enroll in a 5-credit independent study (CMPM 297A) with their advisor to prepare for the exam. During the quarter in which they plan to take the exam, students enroll in CMPM 206 (a 5-credit course, usually offered by the CM graduate director each quarter) and a 5-credit independent study (CMPM 297A, usually with their advisor), and take an exam evaluated by advisor and graduate director (with another faculty member stepping in if advisor is graduate director). The exam itself includes two components, a literature review and portfolio:

  • Literature Review: Reading a significant body of material in two or three depth areas of CM—from a list developed by the student, advisor, and course instructor—integrating it, and writing one or more essays about it.
  • Portfolio: A portfolio review of CM projects, with (a) a detailed written description of the computational system-building goals and process of at least one project led (in this aspect) by the student and (b) a detailed written description of the media-making goals and process of at least one project led (in this aspect) by the student. The projects may be from during or before enrollment in the program, and the written descriptions may be of the same or different projects.

There are three possible outcomes of the comprehensive exam:

  • Pass at Ph.D. level
  • Pass at M.S. level
  • Fail

As with the first-year exam, students who pass the comprehensive exam at the Ph.D. level are done with the exam. Students who pass at the M.S. level may elect to leave the program with an M.S., upon completion of all M.S. requirements. Both students who pass at the M.S. level and students who fail have the option to take the exam again, in a future quarter, not later than the middle of their third year in the program (eighth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students who take the exam again may not decrease their outcome (e.g., a student who passes at the M.S. level in spring, then fails or passes at the M.S. level the next time the course is offered, retains the option of completing the M.S.). Students may only take the exam twice. Students are recommended for dismissal from the program immediately if they either (a) fail twice or (b) fail once and elect not to take the exam again.

Qualifying Examination

Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy

The Ph.D. qualifying examination (QE) measures students’ preparation to begin Ph.D. research. It must be taken (for the first time) no later than the end of a student’s third year in the program (ninth quarter, excluding summer quarters). It has two parts: first, a detailed written description of a proposed dissertation project, distributed to the committee before the oral examination; second, an oral presentation of the project, followed by questioning from the committee.

The committee policy for the CM Ph.D. follows that of UC Santa Cruz. Specifically: The qualifying examination committee shall consist of at least four examiners, one of whom is not a member of the student's department. The department shall submit to the Office of the Graduate Dean at least one month before the proposed examination a list of four qualified persons who are willing to serve on the examination committee, and who meet the following conditions:

  • The chair of the examination committee must be a tenured faculty member.
  • The student's thesis advisor cannot chair the examination committee.
  • The outside member must be (a) a tenured faculty member from a different discipline on the University of California, Santa Cruz, campus, (b) a tenured faculty member of the same or different discipline from another academic institution involved in research and graduate education, or (c) a qualified person outside of academia with significant research experience (as determined by the Graduate Division).

After passing the qualifying examination, students advance to candidacy. Students who do not pass the examination may take it again, but must do so no later than the end of their fourth year in the program (12th quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students may only take the examination twice. Students are recommended for dismissal from the program immediately if they either (a) fail twice or (b) fail once and elect not to take the examination again.

Planners

Ph.D., Not Seeking M.S. Degree (Students with Technical CM M.S. Degree)

This is a sample program for a student who has completed a master’s degree with significant technical content and a focus on some form of computational media (such as computer games). The M.S. in games and playable media at UC Santa Cruz (offered in Silicon Valley) is such a degree. Such students will have already satisfied the requirement for understanding media creation in a CM context (e.g., by taking the GAME 270, GAME 271, and GAME 272 sequence at UC Santa Cruz) and the requirement for demonstrating an understanding of computer programming (such master’s degrees generally only accept students who know how to program). This program is for a student who wants to complete the Ph.D. without getting a second M.S. in the process.


FallWinterSpring
Year 1CMPM 201CMPM 202CMPM 203
Topics courseTopics courseTopics course
Topics courseCMPM 297CMPM 297A (5 credits)


(First-Year Exam)
Year 2CMPM 206 (2 credits)CMPM 297C (15 credits)CMPM 297B (10 credits)
CMPM 297B (10 credits)
CMPM 297A (5 credits)
(Passes Comprehensive Exam)
(Passes Qualifying Exam/Advances to Candidacy)
Year 3CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)






Year 4CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)


(Dissertation Defense)



Ph.D., Seeking M.S. Degree (Students with Non-technical Master’s Degree)

This is a sample program for a student who has completed a master’s degree with significant arts content and a focus on some form of computational media (such as digital art). The M.F.A. in digital art and new media at UC Santa Cruz is such a degree. Such students will have already satisfied the requirement for understanding media creation in a CM context (e.g., by taking one of the DANM 250 sequences at UC Santa Cruz) but not necessarily the requirement for demonstrating an understanding of computer programming (such master’s degrees generally focus on the strength of the student’s arts portfolio, rather than technical skills). This program is for a student who wants to complete the Ph.D. while getting an M.S. in the process.


FallWinterSpring
Year 1CMPM 201Topics courseCMPM 203
Topics courseGAME 236Topics course
GAME 235
CMPM 120
Year 2CMPM 297B (10 credits)CMPM 202CMPM 297C (15 credits)
Topics courseCMPM 297B (10 credits)(First-Year Exam)



Year 3CMPM 206CMPM 297C (15 credits)CMPM 297B (10 credits)
CMPM 297B (10 credits)
CMPM 297A (5 credits)
(Passes Comprehensive Exam)
(Passes Qualifying Exam/Advances to Candidacy)
Year 4CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)






Year 5CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)


(Dissertation Defense)



Ph.D., Also Seeking M.S. Degree (Students with Technical Non-CM B.S.)

This is a sample program for a student who has completed a bachelor’s degree with significant technical content but little focus on any form of computational media. The B.S. in computer science at UC Santa Cruz is such a degree. Such students will have already satisfied the requirement for demonstrating an understanding of computer programming (e.g., by taking a core programming sequence and CSE 111 at UC Santa Cruz) though students strongly focused on theoretical computer science may need to take an advanced programming course. This program is for a student who wants to complete the M.S. degree on the way to the Ph.D.


FallWinterSpring
Year 1CMPM 201CMPM 202CMPM 203
Topics courseTopics courseTopics course
CMPM 179CMPM 148CMPM 290J (First-Year Exam)
Year 2CMPM 204CMPM 297B (10 credits)CMPM 297C (15 credits)
Topics courseCMPM 299 (2 credits)
CMPM 297(M.S. Thesis Approved)
Year 3CMPM 206CMPM 297C (15 credits)CMPM 297B (10 credits)
CMPM 297B (10 credits)
CMPM 297A (5 credits)
(Passes Comprehensive Exam)
(Passes Qualifying Exam/Advances to Candidacy)
Year 4CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)






Year 5CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)CMPM 299 (15 credits)


(Dissertation Defense)



Transfer Credit

Up to 10 credits transferred from equivalent courses in previous graduate work at UC Santa Cruz or elsewhere can be applied toward the Ph.D. course requirements. This can partially satisfy the topics requirement, but is not to exceed the three-course overall limit on transfers from outside institutions. A Course Substitution/Waiver form can be found on the BE Graduate Advising webpage.

Dissertation
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Dissertation

The Ph.D. dissertation is a significant contribution to the CM field. It may emphasize technical, media-creation, or interpretive aspects, but must have a significant secondary contribution from at least one of the other areas—and may also emphasize areas equally. It requires an oral defense before a faculty committee, as well as a final dissertation document reviewed by that committee (distributed to the committee before the defense, and revised after the defense in response to committee comments). The committee must include at least two members of the CM Department.

Academic Progress

As noted above, in order to remain in good academic standing, students must:

  • Take the first-year exam (for the first time) the spring of the year they finish the core coursework. This should be spring quarter of their first year (third quarter, excluding summer quarters) unless students need additional foundation work before taking one of the core courses, in which case it may be the second year (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students who fail have the option to take the exam again, in the immediately following summer offering (unless granted an exception to take it the following academic year). Students may only take the exam twice. Students are recommended for dismissal from the program immediately if they either (a) fail twice or (b) fail once and elect not to take the exam again.
  • Take the comprehensive exam (for the first time) no later than the end of a student’s second year in the program (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students who fail have the option to take the exam again, in a future quarter, not later than the middle of their fourth year in the program (eighth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students may only take the exam twice. Students are recommended for dismissal from the program immediately if they either (a) fail twice or (b) fail once and elect not to take the exam again.
  • Take the qualifying exam (for the first time) no later than the end of a student’s third year in the program (ninth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students who do not pass the examination may take it again, but must do so no later than the end of their fourth year in the program (12th quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students may only take the examination twice. Students are recommended for dismissal from the program immediately if they either (a) fail twice or (b) fail once and elect not to take the examination again.

In addition, because the primary work in the Ph.D. is independent research under the supervision of a faculty advisor, students are expected to be working with a research advisor at all times. This advisor must either be a voting member of the Computational Media Department faculty or another UC Santa Cruz faculty member granted advisor status by the department in the student's case (either at the time of the student's admission or at a later point). Any student who ends a term without a faculty advisor will be issued a warning. If a student ends two academic quarters without an advisor they will be recommended for dismissal from the program immediately, unless granted an exception. Students interested in transferring faculty advisors should discuss this with their current and proposed faculty advisors and submit the Petition to Transfer Advisors once a transfer is agreed.

Applying for Graduation

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