UCLA launches three new Design Media Arts bachelor's programs

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) announced that its School of the Arts and Architecture will introduce three new Bachelor of Arts degrees in fall 2027. The majors—Computational Art, Design, and Games—will be housed within the Department of Design Media Arts, which previously offered only a single undergraduate degree.

Applications open on August 1, 2026. According to department chair Casey Reas, the new programs expand the original vision of DMA, giving each discipline its own academic depth and preparing graduates for careers in the evolving creative industries. The Computational Art major focuses on code, data, interactive systems and emerging technologies; the Design major emphasizes cultural, social and artistic practice across visual communication, interface and environmental design; the Games major offers an arts‑first curriculum with access to the UCLA Game Lab for collaboration with faculty, researchers and industry professionals.

UCLA says the expanded degree structure aims to provide more specialized pathways, strengthen recruitment, and equip students with the technical and creative skills needed for the growing digital and creative economy.