Games and Playable Media M.S.

• Introduction
• Requirements

Introduction

The M.S. in Games and Playable Media program has suspended admissions for the 2025-26 year.

The M.S. in Games and Playable Media (GPM) 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 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

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Course Requirements Expand and Collapse

All students are required to take 60 credits to complete the M.S.. (Any electives not found on the list below must be approved by the Games and Playable Media vice chair on a case-by-case basis.) Required courses are as follows:

All of the following courses: Expand and Collapse

GAME 200	Game Design Systems	5
GAME 221	Professional Development for Game Makers	5
GAME 231	Game Technologies	5
GAME 270	Games and Playable Media Studio I	5
GAME 271	Games and Playable Media Studio II	5
GAME 272	Games and Playable Media Studio III	5
GAME 280A	Games Proseminar	2

GAME 280A must be taken a minimum of two times.

Plus one of the following options: Expand and Collapse

	Either this course
GAME 230	Fundamentals of Game Engineering	5
	or these courses
GAME 235	Game Development I	5
GAME 236	Game Development II	5

Students who lack sufficient technical preparation to enter course Games and Playable Media GAME 230, Fundamentals of Game Engineering, must take both GAME 235, Game Development I, and GAME 236, Game Development II. Assessment of technical preparation will be performed based on completed coursework prior to entry into the program, discussion with the student, and, at the program’s discretion, use of a technical assessment examination.

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

CMPM 230	Data Science in Computational Experiences	5
CMPM 232	Psychology of Play	5
CMPM 235	User Evaluation of Technology	5
CMPM 244	Artificial Intelligence in Games	5
CMPM 248	Interactive Storytelling	5
CMPM 265	Generative Methods	5
CMPM 290J /DANM 250D	Playable Media	5
CMPM 297A	Independent Study or Research	5
GAME 201	Level Design	5
GAME 202	Introduction to Build (Advanced): Physical Computing	5
GAME 210	Game Art Intensive	5
GAME 215	Audio Direction	5
GAME 232	Advanced Game Technologies	5
GAME 240	Game Usability	5
GAME 251	Games User Research	5
GAME 252	Modeling and Simulation	5
GAME 290A	Advanced Topics in Games	5
HCI 250	Participatory Design	5
MUSC 206B	Computer-Assisted Composition	5

Credit for various CMPM 297A options varies. A maximum of five credits of Computational Media 297A (Independent Study or Research) can be used to meet degree requirements.

Master's Capstone Project Expand and Collapse

Completion of a Master's Capstone Project (Plan II) is required for the master's degree. These are collaborative projects, created together with other students in the Games and Playable Media (GPM) 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 overseen by a minimum of three people, which must include the GPM vice chair along with other members of the GPM program faculty, GPM program advisory committee, and/or other instructors in the GPM program. A majority of the committee’s voting members are members of the UC Santa Cruz academic senate.

Planners Expand and Collapse

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

Fall Quarter 1	GAME 230, Fundamentals of Game Engineering (5 credits)
	GAME 200, Game Design Systems (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)
Winter Quarter 2	Elective 1 (5 credits)
	Elective 2 (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)
Spring Quarter 3	GAME 231, Game Technologies (5 credits)
	GAME 270, Games and Playable Media Studio 1 (5 credits)
	GAME 221, Professional Development for Game Makers I (2 credits)
Summer	Internship or Sponsored Project
Fall Quarter 4	GAME 271, Games and Playable Media Studio II
	Elective 3 (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)
Winter Quarter 5	GAME 272, Games and Playable Media Studio III (5 credits)
	Elective 4 (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)

Sample program for students with less technical background

Fall Quarter 1	GAME 235, Development I (5 credits)
	GAME 200, Game Design Systems (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)
Winter Quarter 2	GAME 236, Game Development II (5 credits)
	Elective 1 (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)
Spring Quarter 3	GAME 231, Game Technologies (5 credits)
	GAME 270, Games and Playable Media Studio 1 (5 credits)
	GAME 221, Professional Development for Game Makers (5 credits)
Summer	Internship or Sponsored Project
Fall Quarter 4	GAME 271, Games and Playable Media Studio II
	Elective 2 (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)
Winter Quarter 5	GAME 272, Games and Playable Media Studio III (5 credits)
	Elective 3 (5 credits)
	GAME 280A, Games Proseminar (2 credits)

Transfer Credit Expand and Collapse

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 Expand and Collapse

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 probation 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 probation 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 probation.

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 Expand and Collapse

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