Advancement to Candidacy
Course Requirements
Ph.D. students will complete 15 credits of core courses, 20 credits of topics courses, and 12 credits of courses involved in preparation for the comprehensive examination.
Core Courses (15 Credits)
| CMPM201 | Introduction to Computational Media | 5 |
| CMPM202 | Computation Media Research | 5 |
| CMPM203 | Computational 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 UCSC or elsewhere (not to exceed three course overall limit on transfers from outside institutions, between this and other requirements).
Current Topics Courses
| CMPM235 | User Evaluation of Technology | 5 |
| CMPM244 | Artificial Intelligence in Games | 5 |
| CMPM248 | Interactive Storytelling | 5 |
| CMPM265 | Generative Methods | 5 |
| CMPM290A | Topics in Computational Media | 5 |
| CMPM290J
/DANM 250D
| Playable Media | 5 |
| CMPM290K | Social and Emotional Approaches to Human Computer Interaction | 5 |
| CMPM290P
/DANM 290P
| Topics in Computational Cinematography | 5 |
| DANM250A | Collaborative Research Project Group: Art and Science | 5 |
| DANM250B | Collaborative Research Project Group: Socially Engaged Art | 5 |
| DANM250C | Collaborative Research Project Group: Performance and Embodiment | 5 |
| DANM250E | Collaborative Research Project Group: Experimental Play | 5 |
| FILM228 | Moving Image Archives and the Frontiers of Information | 5 |
| FILM230 | Expanded Documentary | 5 |
| FILM234 | Toward an Ethics of New Media | 5 |
| GAME232 | Advanced Game Technologies | 5 |
| GAME238 | Computer Graphics for Games | 5 |
| GAME250 | Foundations of Serious Games | 5 |
| GAME290A | Advanced Topics in Games | 5 |
| GAME251 | Games User Research | 5 |
| CSE245
/LING 245/CMPM 245
| Computational Models of Discourse and Dialogue | 5 |
| CSE260 | Computer Graphics | 5 |
| CSE261 | Advanced Visualization | 5 |
| CSE263 | Data Driven Discovery and Visualization | 5 |
| CSE265
/DANM 231
| Human-Computer Interaction | 5 |
| CSE290L | Topics in Crowdsourcing and Collaboration | 5 |
Exam Courses (12 Credits)
| CMPM206 | Computational Media Research Preparation | 2 |
| CMPM297B | Independent Study or Research | 10 |
CMPM 206: Teaches skills for gathering literature and preparing portfolio for Comprehensive Exam, taken the same quarter as exam. 2 credits.
CMPM 297B: Research in preparation for the Comprehensive Exam, usually taken with the student’s adviser the same quarter as CMPM 206. 10 credits.
Additional Requirements
There are three additional program requirements, though students may have completed the necessary work for one or more before admission.
First, all Ph.D. students must demonstrate an understanding of media creation in a CM context, and must do so by the end of their second year in the program—and before the comprehensive exam. 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.
- The Games and Playable Media M.S. project sequence (GAME 270, GAME 271, GAME 272) before CM MS/PhD graduate enrollment (due to PDST and cohort model, these cannot be taken by students in other programs).
- At least three graduate or upper-division undergraduate courses from a list of offerings at UCSC 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.
Second, all Ph.D students must demonstrate an understanding of computer programming sufficient to carry out CM research, and must do so by the end of their second year in the program—and before the comprehensive exam. 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 UCSC or another institution.
- Petition to CM graduate director, presenting evidence of programming knowledge developed in another context.
Third, all Ph.D. students are expected to have an understanding of interpretive and critical methods sufficient to carry our CM research. Students who lack such a background are strongly encouraged to take a series of courses in this area, consulting with their adviser regarding which courses would be most appropriate. A recommended sequence 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.
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
| CMPM146 | Game AI | 5 |
| CMPM147 | Generative Design | 5 |
| CMPM148 | Interactive Storytelling | 5 |
| CMPM150 | Creating Digital Audio | 5 |
| CMPM151 | Algorithmic Music for Games | 5 |
| CMPM163 | Game Graphics and Real-Time Rendering | 5 |
| CMPM164 | Game Engines | 5 |
| CMPM179
/ARTG 179
| Game Design Practicum | 5 |
| CMPM244 | Artificial Intelligence in Games | 5 |
| CMPM248 | Interactive Storytelling | 5 |
| CMPM265 | Generative Methods | 5 |
| CMPM290J
/DANM 250D
| Playable Media | 5 |
| GAME210 | Game Art Intensive | 5 |
| GAME215 | Audio Direction | 5 |
| CSE160 | Introduction to Computer Graphics | 5 |
| CSE260 | Computer Graphics | 5 |
| CSE161 | Introduction to Data Visualization | 5 |
| CSE163 | Data Programming for Visualization | 5 |
| CSE183 | Web Applications | 5 |
| CSE245
/LING 245/CMPM 245
| Computational Models of Discourse and Dialogue | 5 |
| CSE261 | Advanced Visualization | 5 |
| CSE263 | Data Driven Discovery and Visualization | 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 adviser about instead taking an independent study or directed study (with the course instructor, their adviser, 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
The Ph.D. requires two examinations before the qualifying examination.
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). This is the material covered in the CM core courses. The first-year exam must be taken the spring of the year in which students finish their core coursework—which should be the first year, unless students need additional foundation work before taking one of the core courses, in which case it may be the second year.
There are three possible outcomes of the first-year exam:
- Pass at Ph.D. level
- Pass at M.S. level
- Fail
Students who pass 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 the immediately following summer offering (unless granted an exception to take it the following academic year). 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 in summer, 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.
In extraordinary circumstances the graduate director may give a student the option of taking the first-year exam 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 third year in the program (the ninth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Before taking the exam, students must have completed the requirements for understanding media creation and computer programming, as well as demonstrated an understanding of interpretive practices (as outlined above). Students enroll in CMPM 206 (a two-unit course, usually offered by the CM grad director each quarter) and a 10-unit independent study (CMPM 297B, usually with their adviser), and take an exam evaluated by adviser and graduate director (with another faculty member stepping in if adviser is graduate director). The exam itself includes:
- Reading a significant body of material in two or three depth areas of CM—from a list developed by student, adviser, and course instructor—integrating it, and writing one or more essays about it.
- 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 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 fourth year in the program (the 11th 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 the following fall, 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 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 fourth year in the program (the 12th 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 adviser 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 fifth year in the program. 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 CMPM 270, CMPM 271, and CMPM 272 sequence at UCSC) 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.
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 UCSC) 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.
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 UCSC) 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.
Transfer Credit
Up to 10 credits transferred from equivalent courses in previous graduate work at UCSC 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 BSOE Graduate Advising webpage.