The Art & Design: Games and Playable Media BA program (AGPM) is part of a new department at UCSC: The Department of Performance, Play & Design! This new department is formed from the fusion of two existing units: Theater Arts and AGPM.
These two programs have come together to better serve students who are seeking not only advanced training in traditional theater and game design but also those who are interested in the areas where these two disciplines intersect: the vibrant and dynamic worlds of multimedia and multiplatform performance, interactive installation and interactive narrative design! Join us as we step into the future with a broad-based understanding of performance in both the live and the digital universes!
The AGPM major focuses on the following areas of study – students interested in the major should expect courses and curriculum centered around these topics:
- Digital and non-digital games as art, activism and social practice
- Feminist, anti-racist, LGBTQ games, art and media
- Particpatory or performance-based games such as role playing games, urban / site-specific games and theater games
- Interactive art including VR and AR
- Exhibition methods for games in traditional art spaces and public spaces
Read more about our curriculum, our faculty, staff and our activities across campus – and beyond!
Year One: Foundations
Students begin the program by being introduced to a variety of game design methodologies. Grounded in the idea that games produce valuable meaning through their mechanics, this year also includes introductory fine art and programming courses. Students learn about how games work as systems, how to critique existing games from that perspective, as well as how to design new experiences from scratch.
Year Two: Mediums & Construction
As students move through their second year and declare the major, they explore the history of games design and visual culture and continue studies in fine art. They learn now to create a digital game of their own, working across artistic disciplines. This teaches them how digital games are constructed at the level of code, and how the style and construction of game art influences the final game experience.
Year Three: Mission & Message
During year three, students begin to focus on the meaning of their work within the larger picture of art, technology, and entertainment experiences. What inspires them to create? What do they want to say with the things they make? Advanced upper division courses investigate how they can build unique, rich and personally meaningful experiences, and share them with the broader campus through programmed playtests, divisional events and exhibitions.
Year Four: Final Projects and Portfolio Construction
In their capstone year, senior students can collaborate in small groups on a game, or work on individual projects. These projects showcase their foundational understanding of art, game design, and playable media. Alongside this work, they develop portfolios, apply for internships, festivals and graduate programs based on the path they’ve chosen.