BS · 2025-2026
Computing
College of Creative Studies — Computing
Official sources · CCS
College of Creative Studies requirements
CCS uses its own General Education system (not LASAR or GEAR). IGETC completion fulfills CCS GE requirements. Courses must be approved by faculty advisor or pre-approved program list.
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses · Ethnicity required · 6-quarter CCS residency
Application requirements
CCS admission is separate from the UC application. Apply via the CCS online application in addition to UCSB.
- Letter of intentRequired — separate from UC application essay
- Letters of recommendation2 required (PDF upload)
- TranscriptsUnofficial scans from all institutions
- Supplemental materialsEncouraged — research, projects, or work samples
- • Letter of intent to CCS Computing faculty — separate from UC application essay.
- • Two recommenders familiar with your computing background.
- • Supplemental materials (research, projects, code samples) encouraged.
Official major sheet — 2025-2026
Parsed from department major sheet. Verify on GOLD progress check.
Mathematics
28 units- MATH 3A · 4 units
- MATH 3B · 4 units
- MATH 4A · 4 units
- MATH 4B · 4 units
- MATH 6A · 4 units
- PSTAT 120A · 4 units
- PSTAT 120B · 4 units
Computer Science — CCS lower division
- CMPTGCS 1A · 4 units
- CMPTGCS 1B · 4 units
- CMPTGCS 1L · 2 units
- CMPTGCS 2 — Foundations of Computer Science · 4 units
Upper division — CoE CS BS requirements
- CMPSC 130A · 4 units
- CMPSC 130B · 4 units
- CMPSC 111 · 4 units
- CMPSC 154 · 4 units
- CMPSC 170 · 4 units
Same as College of Engineering Computer Science BS: major requirements, major electives, and ethics requirement.
CCS students may take CoE CS courses without formal prereqs if advisor confirms preparation.
Additional CCS and UCSB courses as faculty advisor requires.
Science (20 units)
20 units- PHYS 112 units from list incl. 1 lab
- PHYS 2 · 4 units
- PHYS 3 · 4 units
- PHYS 3L · 1 units
- CHEM 1A · 4 units (or CHEM 1AL, MCDB 1A)
- Science elective · 8 units8 additional units advisor-approved
12 units from Physics/Chemistry/Biology list including at least 1 lab; 8 units any science with advisor approval.
- • Suggested plan combines CCS accelerated lower division with CoE CS upper division. Verify exact UD requirements on CS department site for catalog year.
Major regulations
- Major GPA
- 3+ in all prep and upper-division major courses
Minimum 2.75 GPA in major courses; target 3.00 in CS courses.
Mid-Residency Review during second year.
Quarterly faculty advisor approval for course schedule.
Substitutions for advanced coursework require written advisor approval.
Combined degree pathways
Optional programs beyond the standard B.S. — verify eligibility with department advisors.
BS/MS Computer Science (5-year)
BS/MS
CCS B.S. in Computing + M.S. in CS (CoE). Apply junior year; plan with faculty and CS graduate advisor.
4-year plan — 180 units
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses (unrelated to major) · Ethnicity required. From official major sheet — verify on GOLD.
Year 1
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 4
Fall
Winter
Spring
Data sources
Course lists are snapshots from official UCSB pages—not a live scrape. Verify prerequisites in the UCSB General Catalog.
College-wide CCS rules (8 GE courses unrelated to major, Ethnicity, 180 units, quarterly faculty advising) apply in addition to major requirements. See Student Handbook and UCSB Catalog — CCS degrees.