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University of California-Santa Cruz · Computational Media Department, Baskin Engineering

Computer Science: Computer Game Design

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design

Bachelor'sBSGame DesignDedicated degree

Overview

A B.S. administered by the Computational Media Department combining a computer science and computer engineering core with game design, visual communication and team-oriented game production. Students qualify for the major through foundation courses with a minimum 2.8 GPA.

Official program title
Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Exact award
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design
Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Degree level
Bachelor's
Discipline
Degree type
Dedicated degree
School and department
Source: engineering.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Why this program is listed

Dedicated B.S. in Computer Science: Computer Game Design.

Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list dedicated game degrees and officially named game concentrations at institutionally accredited US schools. Eligibility rules

Format, length and attendance

Delivery, campus attendance, schedule and study intensity are separate facts, each shown only as the school states it. Online coursework does not by itself mean there is no residency, exhibition, internship or proctored exam.
Delivery
On campusClasses meet on campus.Classes meet on campus.
Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Campus attendance
Regular campus attendanceClasses meet on campus (campus and hybrid programs).
Study intensity
Not published
Duration
Not verified
Credits
Not verified

Entry routes

  • First-year entry. Open to first-time college students (freshman admission).Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • Transfer entry. Admits students transferring credits from another college.Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Prerequisite courses
RequiredTransfer students must complete calculus, discrete mathematics and programming screening courses with a 2.8 GPA.
Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Curriculum

What the school publishes about the program's game design, programming, art and production content. Tools and engines are listed only when the school names them — a program not listed as teaching Unity or Unreal may still use them, but we have not verified it.

Core in computer science and mathematics; game design and development courses including Game Development Experience, Game Development Patterns and Game Systems; electives such as Game AI and Game Graphics and Real-Time Rendering; and a two-quarter comprehensive sequence (Rapid Prototyping and Game Design Studio).

Game design topics

  • Game design and development courses: Foundations of Video Game Design, Game Development Experience, Game Development Patterns, User Interface and User Experience Design, Game Systems.
    Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Programming content

  • Upper-division electives such as Game AI, Game Graphics and Real-Time Rendering and procedural content generation.
    Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production and team projects

Capstone

  • Two-quarter comprehensive sequence: Rapid Prototyping and Game Design Studio.
    Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Hardware and software requirements

No hardware or software requirement published on the pages we checked.

Admissions and portfolio

Required, optional and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Portfolio

Portfolio policy not published

The school's pages we checked do not state a portfolio policy for this program. That does not mean no portfolio is required — ask the admissions office.

Minimum GPA
RequiredMinimum 2.8 — Major qualification: 2.8 GPA in foundation courses attempted at UC Santa Cruz.
Source: catalog.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

SAT/ACT and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances. How to prepare a game design portfolio

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Tuition and costs

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
In-state — Undergraduate entering students, tuition and fees (estimate), Fall, Winter and SpringFrom the school-wide rate table for this level$17,439per academic year · 2026-2027Includes feesSource: financialaid.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Out-of-state — Non-Resident Tuition (charged in addition to tuition and fees)From the school-wide rate table for this level$39,270per academic year · 2026-2027Source: financialaid.ucsc.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Understanding tuition and equipment costs

Scholarships, assistantships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for students at this level. “Guaranteed” only when the school says every eligible student receives it. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships. Scholarships guide

Program-specific funding: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Accreditation and authorization

Institutional accreditation covers the school. Programmatic accreditation is shown only when it is named for this program — it is never transferred from another department or degree.

Institutional accreditation

  • WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 12, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

None verified for this program. Game design degrees do not require one specific specialized accreditation.

International applicants

Not verified for this program.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last checked October 12, 2026.
  1. catalog.ucsc.edu/en/current/general-catalog/academic-units/baskin-engineering/computational-media/co — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
  2. engineering.ucsc.edu/departments/computational-media/degree-programs/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. financialaid.ucsc.edu/managing-aid/budget-cost-to-attend/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. DAPIP — WSCUC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-12) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 12, 2026

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