cal berkeley phd programs

Molecular and Cell Biology

Doctoral Program

The Department of Molecular & Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley offers a Ph.D. program focused on the molecular mechanisms inherent to life. This program integrates research with a modern training curricula, teaching, and career mentorship. Our Department is highly interdisciplinary - comprising the Divisions of Cell Biology, Development & Physiology, Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Molecular Therapeutics, Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology, and Genetics, Genomics, and Development – and this is reflected in our students and training. The program is also highly collaborative with related programs and Institutes on campus, thus allowing students the flexibility to explore all aspects of modern biological research. Please click on the links below to learn more about our areas of research on the main department website or use the menu at the top to navigate to areas of interest within the graduate program.

Cell Biology, Development & Physiology

Immunology and molecular medicine, biochemistry, biophysics & structural biology, molecular therapeutics, genetics, genomics, evolution, and development.

PhD Program

PhD Program in Business Administration

Welcome to the Berkeley Haas PhD Program! Partner with world-class faculty for a rigorous academic program in one of eight fields of study. Join a premier business school and a leading research university with a Nobel Prize-winning tradition – where you can seek new ideas and make an impact on global business and education.

The application for fall 2025 will open on September 12, 2024, and close on December 2, 2024.

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Feel free to contact the PhD Admissions Office for more information.

Event schedule for the 2025 program

* Note : All participants are required to sign into a Zoom account before joining the virtual meetings hosted by UC Berkeley. If you do not have a Zoom account, please create a free account.

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The goal of the graduate program in Psychology at Berkeley is to produce scholar-researchers with sufficient breadth to retain perspective in the field of psychology and sufficient depth to permit successful independent and significant research. The members of the department have organized themselves into six training units. The requirements for each unit vary but always involve a combination of courses, seminars and supervised independent research. Students are also encouraged to take courses outside the Psychology Department, using the unique faculty strengths found on the Berkeley campus to enrich their graduate training. We are a STEM designated program.

For the Latest updates on COVID-19 related exceptions to policy relevant to Graduate Students, please see Graduate Division's Resource Page.

The areas offered to students to specialize in are the following: 

• Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience
• Clinical Science
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental
• Social-Personality

To learn more about each offered area visit: Research Areas

Here are answers to most commonly asked questions about the process of applying to graduate school.

How do I find a program that is right for me? – See this handy  decisions tree , reposted from University of Houston Psychology website, to help you determine a route to your desired Psychology career.

For those interested in our Clinical Program, visit Mitch's Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology to answer many of your questions, including those you may have not previously considered.

• GRE scores (please note; the GRE is not required for FA24 Applications)
• Transcripts
• Resume or A curriculum vita (CV)
• Well-written personal statement(s)
• Letters of recommendation

You will want to check requirements for each school to which you plan to apply, but the above links to Cal's graduate program will give you an idea of what to expect.

Psychology Ph.D. Program Components  - with Christine Mullarkey - Student Services Advisor

Ph.D. Program through the Perspective of Professor Sheri Johnson - Head Graduate Advisor

Find your fit at Berkeley.

You are invited to Berkeley's Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair on October 30 - November 3 . This virtual event will help prospective professional, master's, and doctoral students:

• learn more about our top ranked graduate programs and award winning faculty
• gain a deeper understanding of Berkeley's culture and resources available
• understand the application process, and important deadlines
• consider funding options and opportunities

You can expect a lot to choose from. Over 50 sessions from UC Berkeley graduate programs in one hour info sessions, and discussion groups.

Register now to customize your fair schedule by signing up to the sessions that interest you.

Berkeley is a place that fosters a supportive community that is at the heart of our students' success. Our graduate diversity programs aim to create a culture of belonging for all students. This fair is one example of that. Though the fair is open to all – it's designed specifically for prospective students from historically excluded, and underrepresented backgrounds.

We hope you will join us.

Fall 2022 - Prof. Serena Chen (Social Personality), Prof. Aaron Fisher (Equity Advisor), and featuring graduate students

Fall 2021 - Prof. Serena Chen (Social Personality), Prof. Sheri Johnson (Clinical), Harumi Quinones (Student Services Director), and featuring graduate students 

Visit the Graduate Division website to learn more about the Fall 2023 Diversity Admissions Fair and register in the graduate application portal !

• Current Graduate Students
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Doctoral Programs

Berkeley Neuroscience

Prospective Students

Current students, program activities, gsi hiring information, student services & advising.

The Neuroscience Department will offer PhD training through the Neuroscience PhD Program , which will be run jointly by the department and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute (HWNI) .  This program has existed since 2000, run by HWNI, and has graduated > 150 students with a PhD in Neuroscience.  When the department launches, the existing HWNI Neuroscience PhD Program will be adopted and jointly administered by the department and HWNI. This will be a seamless transition for current students, who will not experience any changes to program curriculum or requirements. Over the next few years, we plan to make updates to the course of study, so that the program provides the best possible training, and matches the scope of both the Neuroscience Department and HWNI.  Students who enter the program will be able to choose thesis study with Neuroscience Department faculty members or with training faculty within the broader set of HWNI faculty.  Please see the full list of eligible faculty here .

PhD Program

The Neuroscience PhD Program at UC Berkeley offers intensive training in neuroscience research through a combination of coursework, research training, mentoring, and professional development. More than 60  program faculty (link is external)  from the Neuroscience Department and other allied departments provide broad expertise from molecular and cellular neuroscience to systems and computational neuroscience, to human cognitive neuroscience.

A unique feature of the neuroscience training at Berkeley is the highly multidisciplinary research environment. For instance, neuroscientists work side-by-side in the lab with engineers and roboticists to study motor control, with bioengineers to grow stem cells for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, and with chemists to develop new reagents for optical monitoring and control of neural activity. Neuroscience PhD Program students are trained at these intersections between fields and help drive scientific and technological advances.

The Neuroscience PhD Program trains a select group of students (about 10-12 entering students per year) in an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment. Since its official launch in 2000, the program has trained more than 150 students. Our applicants have outstanding undergraduate records in both research and scholarship from diverse academic disciplines, including biology, chemistry, psychology, physics, engineering, and computer science. We carefully select students with the expectation that, given strong graduate training, they will develop into tomorrow’s leaders in the field of neuroscience. We welcome you to apply to our program.

Please see the Neuroscience Department page:  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion .

Annual Message from Our PhD Program Director

"I am delighted to be the new director of our graduate program. I have inherited a program that I am proud to tell everyone is the best run graduate program on campus..."  Read More

Neuroscience PhD Program

UC Berkeley | 444 Li Ka Shing, MC#3370 | Berkeley, CA 94720-3370 | [email protected]

Chemistry Graduate Programs

Explore chemistry graduate programs.

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Information on the UC Berkeley Ph.D. Program in Chemistry.

Chemical Biology Graduate Program

Information on the graduate program in Chemical Biology.

Master of Molecular Science & Software Engineering

Professional Masters Degree in Molecular Science and Software Engineering

Prospective Graduate Students

Information for prospective Chemistry Ph.D. students.

Current Graduate Students

Information for current graduate students in the Department of Chemistry.

Berkeley Graduate Division

Apply for graduate school online at the Berkeley Graduate Division website.

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PhD in Architecture

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History, Theory, and Society

The PhD in architecture is a research degree appropriate for those seeking careers in teaching and scholarship in architecture and its related areas, or in roles in government or professional consultation that require depth in specialization and experience in research.

About the Program

Berkeley’s PhD program in architecture is interdisciplinary in outlook, reaching into the various disciplines related to architecture and incorporating substantial knowledge from outside fields. Students admitted to this program carry out a program of advanced study and research, both on the basis of formal class work and of individual investigation. Work centers on three related fields of study, the major field (the basis for the dissertation), and one-to-two minor fields, at least one of which must be from a discipline outside architecture.

Fields of Study

The PhD in Architecture emphasizes coursework and supervised independent research in one of the following:

• Building Science, Technology and Sustainability (BSTS)
• History, Theory and Society (HTS)

Major fields outside these fields or combinations thereof may also be proposed at the time of admission. Coursework is individually developed through consultation with an academic adviser. Outside fields of study may take advantage of the University’s varied resources. Recent graduates have completed outside fields in anthropology, art history, business administration, city and regional planning, computer science, various engineering fields, psychology, women’s studies, geography and sociology.

The following are members of the PhD faculty, broken into one of two offered areas of study. Please also review the current list of all faculty in the Architecture Department for other faculty and specialities. A sampling of faculty research is described on the faculty research projects page.

Building Science, Technology and Sustainability

Requirements

The Ph.D. program in architecture is governed by the regulations of the University Graduate Division and administered by the departmental Ph.D. committee. Specific degree requirements include:

• A minimum of two years in residence.
• Completion of a one-semester course in research methods.
• Satisfaction of a foreign language requirement for those in the History, Theory and Society.
• Completion of one-to-two outside fields of study.
• A written qualifying examination, followed by an oral qualifying examination.
• A dissertation.

Course requirements for the degree include:

Designated Emphases

Global Studies The concurrent MA program in Global Studies is designed to complement the graduate degree programs in architecture. It is intended to produce graduate students who combine advanced professional training with a detailed knowledge of contemporary international issues or particular world areas or countries. The content of each MA program will be shaped in consultation with the departmental adviser to meet the specific needs and interests of the individual student.

New Media The designated emphasis (DE) in new media comprises a set of courses with content in the history, theory, and practice of computationally based representation, and communication and interpretation of information.

BSTS Master of Science and PhD Handbook for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025

For previous years' handbooks, please contact graduate advising .

• PhD Alums— Building Science, Technology and Sustainability
• PhD Alums— History, Theory, and Society

PhD Program

Graduate student guide -- updated for 2024-25, expected progress of physics graduate student to ph.d..

This document describes the Physics Department's expectations for the progress of a typical graduate student from admission to award of a PhD.  Because students enter the program with different training and backgrounds and because thesis research by its very nature is unpredictable, the time-frame for individual students will vary. Nevertheless, failure to meet the goals set forth here without appropriate justification may indicate that the student is not making adequate progress towards the PhD, and will therefore prompt consideration by the Department and possibly by Graduate Division of the student’s progress, which might lead to probation and later dismissal.

Course Work

Graduate students are required to take a minimum of 38 units of approved upper division or graduate elective courses (excluding any upper division courses required for the undergraduate major).  The department requires that students take the following courses which total 19 units: Physics 209 (Classical Electromagnetism), Physics 211 (Equilibrium Statistical Physics) and Physics 221A-221B (Quantum Mechanics). Thus, the normative program includes an additional 19 units (five semester courses) of approved upper division or graduate elective courses.  At least 11 units must be in the 200 series courses. Some of the 19 elective units could include courses in mathematics, biophysics, astrophysics, or from other science and engineering departments.  Physics 290, 295, 299, 301, and 602 are excluded from the 19 elective units. Physics 209, 211 and 221A-221B must be completed for a letter grade (with a minimum average grade of B).  No more than one-third of the 19 elective units may be fulfilled by courses graded Satisfactory, and then only with the approval of the Department.  Entering students are required to enroll in Physics 209 and 221A in the fall semester of their first year and Physics 211 and 221B in the spring semester of their first year. Exceptions to this requirement are made for 1) students who do not have sufficient background to enroll in these courses and have a written recommendation from their faculty mentor and approval from the head graduate adviser to delay enrollment to take preparatory classes, 2) students who have taken the equivalent of these courses elsewhere and receive written approval from the Department to be exempted. 

If a student has taken courses equivalent to Physics 209, 211 or 221A-221B, then subject credit may be granted for each of these course requirements.  A faculty committee will review your course syllabi and transcript.  A waiver form can be obtained in 378 Physics North from the Student Affairs Officer detailing all required documents.  If the committee agrees that the student has satisfied the course requirement at another institution, the student must secure the Head Graduate Adviser's approval.  The student must also take and pass the associated section of the preliminary exam.  Please note that official course waiver approval will not be granted until after the preliminary exam results have been announced.  If course waivers are approved, units for the waived required courses do not have to be replaced for PhD course requirements.  If a student has satisfied all first year required graduate courses elsewhere, they are only required to take an additional 19 units to satisfy remaining PhD course requirements.  (Note that units for required courses must be replaced for MA degree course requirements even if the courses themselves are waived; for more information please see MA degree requirements).

In exceptional cases, students transferring from other graduate programs may request a partial waiver of the 19 elective unit requirement. Such requests must be made at the time of application for admission to the Department.

The majority of first year graduate students are Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) with a 20 hour per week load (teaching, grading, and preparation).  A typical first year program for an entering graduate student who is teaching is:

First Semester

• Physics 209 Classical Electromagnetism (5)
• Physics 221A Quantum Mechanics (5)
• Physics 251 Introduction to Graduate Research (1)
• Physics 301 GSI Teaching Credit (2)
• Physics 375 GSI Training Seminar (for first time GSI's) (2)

Second Semester

• Physics 211 Equilibrium Statistical Physics (4)
• Physics 221B Quantum Mechanics (5)

Students who have fellowships and will not be teaching, or who have covered some of the material in the first year courses material as undergraduates may choose to take an additional course in one or both semesters of their first year.

Many students complete their course requirements by the end of the second year. In general, students are expected to complete their course requirements by the end of the third year. An exception to this expectation is that students who elect (with the approval of their mentor and the head graduate adviser) to fill gaps in their undergraduate background during their first year at Berkeley often need one or two additional semesters to complete their course work.

Faculty Mentors

Incoming graduate students are each assigned a faculty mentor. In general, mentors and students are matched according to the student's research interest.   If a student's research interests change, or if (s)he feels there is another faculty member who can better serve as a mentor, the student is free to request a change of assignment.

The role of the faculty mentor is to advise graduate students who have not yet identified research advisers on their academic program, on their progress in that program and on strategies for passing the preliminary exam and finding a research adviser.  Mentors also are a “friendly ear” and are ready to help students address other issues they may face coming to a new university and a new city.  Mentors are expected to meet with the students they advise individually a minimum of once per semester, but often meet with them more often.  Mentors should contact incoming students before the start of the semester, but students arriving in Berkeley should feel free to contact their mentors immediately.

Student-Mentor assignments continue until the student has identified a research adviser.  While many students continue to ask their mentors for advice later in their graduate career, the primary role of adviser is transferred to the research adviser once a student formally begins research towards his or her dissertation. The Department asks student and adviser to sign a “mentor-adviser” form to make this transfer official.  

Preliminary Exams

In order to most benefit from graduate work, incoming students need to have a solid foundation in undergraduate physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, special relativity, thermal and statistical physics and quantum mechanics, and to be able to make order-of-magnitude estimates and analyze physical situations by application of general principles. These are the topics typically included, and at the level usually taught, within a Bachelor's degree program in Physics at most universities. As a part of this foundation, the students should also have formed a well-integrated overall picture of the fields studied.

The preliminary examination, also called “prelims”, is designed to ensure that students have a solid foundation in undergraduate physics to prepare them for graduate research. The exam is made up of four sections.  Each section is administered twice a year, at the start of each semester.  

For a longer description of the preliminary exam, please visit Preliminary Exam page

Start of Research

Students are encouraged to begin research as soon as possible. Many students identify potential research advisers in their first year and most have identified their research adviser before the end of their second year.  When a research adviser is identified, the Department asks that both student and research adviser sign a form (also available from the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North) indicating that the student has (provisionally) joined the adviser’s research group with the intent of working towards a PhD.  In many cases, the student will remain in that group for their thesis work, but sometimes the student or faculty adviser will decide that the match of individuals or research direction is not appropriate.  Starting research early gives students flexibility to change groups when appropriate without incurring significant delays in time to complete their degree.

Departmental expectations are that experimental research students begin work in a research group by the summer after the first year; this is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.  Students doing theoretical research are similarly encouraged to identify a research direction, but often need to complete a year of classes in their chosen specialty before it is possible for them to begin research.  Students intending to become theory students and have to take the required first year classes may not be able to start research until the summer after their second year.  Such students are encouraged to attend theory seminars and maintain contact with faculty in their chosen area of research even before they can begin a formal research program. 

If a student chooses dissertation research with a supervisor who is not in the department, he or she must find an appropriate Physics faculty member who agrees to serve as the departmental research supervisor of record and as co-adviser. This faculty member is expected to monitor the student's progress towards the degree and serve on the student's qualifying and dissertation committees. The student will enroll in Physics 299 (research) in the co-adviser's section.  The student must file the Outside Research Proposal for approval; petitions are available in the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North.   

Students who have not found a research adviser by the end of the second year will be asked to meet with their faculty mentor to develop a plan for identifying an adviser and research group.  Students who have not found a research adviser by Spring of the third year are not making adequate progress towards the PhD.  These students will be asked to provide written documentation to the department explaining their situation and their plans to begin research.  Based on their academic record and the documentation they provide, such students may be warned by the department that they are not making adequate progress, and will be formally asked to find an adviser.  The record of any student who has not identified an adviser by the end of Spring of the fourth year will be evaluated by a faculty committee and the student may be asked to leave the program. 

Qualifying Exam

Rules and requirements associated with the Qualifying Exam are set by the Graduate Division on behalf of the Graduate Council.  Approval of the committee membership and the conduct of the exam are therefore subject to Graduate Division approval.  The exam is oral and lasts 2-3 hours.  The Graduate Division specifies that the purpose of the Qualifying Exam is “to ascertain the breadth of the student's comprehension of fundamental facts and principles that apply to at least three subject areas related to the major field of study and whether the student has the ability to think incisively and critically about the theoretical and the practical aspects of these areas.”  It also states that “this oral examination of candidates for the doctorate serves a significant additional function. Not only teaching, but the formal interaction with students and colleagues at colloquia, annual meetings of professional societies and the like, require the ability to synthesize rapidly, organize clearly, and argue cogently in an oral setting.  It is necessary for the University to ensure that a proper examination is given incorporating these skills.”

Please see the  Department website for a description of the Qualifying Exam and its Committee .   Note: You must login with your Calnet ID to access QE information . Passing the Qualifying Exam, along with a few other requirements described on the department website, will lead to Advancement to Candidacy.  Qualifying exam scheduling forms can be picked up in the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North.   

The Department expects students to take the Qualifying Exam two or three semesters after they identify a research adviser. This is therefore expected to occur for most students in their third year, and no later than fourth year. A student is considered to have begun research when they first register for Physics 299 or fill out the department mentor-adviser form showing that a research adviser has accepted the student for PhD work or hired as a GSR (Graduate Student Researcher), at which time the research adviser becomes responsible for guidance and mentoring of the student.  (Note that this decision is not irreversible – the student or research adviser can decide that the match of individuals or research direction is not appropriate or a good match.)  Delays in this schedule cause concern that the student is not making adequate progress towards the PhD.  The student and adviser will be asked to provide written documentation to the department explaining the delay and clarifying the timeline for taking the Qualifying Exam.

Annual Progress Reports

Graduate Division requires that each student’s performance be annually assessed to provide students with timely information about the faculty’s evaluation of their progress towards PhD.  Annual Progress Reports are completed during the Spring Semester.  In these reports, the student is asked to discuss what progress he or she has made toward the degree in the preceding year, and to discuss plans for the following year and for PhD requirements that remain to be completed.  The mentor or research adviser or members of the Dissertation Committee (depending on the student’s stage of progress through the PhD program) comment on the student’s progress and objectives. In turn, the student has an opportunity to make final comments. 

Before passing the Qualifying Exam, the annual progress report (obtained from the Physics Student Affairs Office in 378 Physics North) is completed by the student and either his/her faculty mentor or his/her research adviser, depending on whether or not the student has yet begun research (see above).  This form includes a statement of intended timelines to take the Qualifying Exam, which is expected to be within 2-3 semesters of starting research.  

After passing the Qualifying Exam, the student and research adviser complete a similar form, but in addition to the research adviser, the student must also meet with at least one other and preferably both other members of their Dissertation Committee (this must include their co-adviser if the research adviser is not a member of the Physics Department) to discuss progress made in the past year, plans for the upcoming year, and overall progress towards the PhD.  This can be done either individually as one-on-one meetings of the graduate student with members of the Dissertation Committee, or as a group meeting with presentation. (The Graduate Council requires that all doctoral students who have been advanced to candidacy meet annually with at least two members of the Dissertation Committee. The annual review is part of the Graduate Council’s efforts to improve the doctoral completion rate and to shorten the time it takes students to obtain a doctorate.)

Advancement to Candidacy

After passing the Qualifying Examination, the next step in the student's career is to advance to candidacy as soon as possible.  Advancement to candidacy is the academic stage when a student has completed all requirements except completion of the dissertation.  Students are still required to enroll in 12 units per semester; these in general are expected to be seminars and research units.  Besides passing the Qualifying Exam, there are a few other requirements described in the Graduate Program Booklet. Doctoral candidacy application forms can be picked up in the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North.

Completion of Dissertation Work

The expected time for completion of the PhD program is six years.  While the Department recognizes that research time scales can be unpredictable, it strongly encourages students and advisers to develop dissertation proposals consistent with these expectations.  The Berkeley Physics Department does not have dissertation defense exams, but encourages students and their advisers to ensure that students learn the important skill of effective research presentations, including a presentation of their dissertation work to their peers and interested faculty and researchers.

PhD Program

The department of african american studies.

The department began in 1970, as a unit within the newly established special program of Ethnic Studies, comprised of African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano Studies, and Native American Studies. An A.B. Degree has been offered in African American Studies since 1973. The department is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the area of African Diaspora Studies.

Graduate Program Introduction

The African American Studies graduate program focuses on the life, culture, and social organization (broadly defined) of persons of African descent. The study of Africa, North America, and the Caribbean are central components of the program. Students are expected to apply a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the international and national divisions of race as they pertain to persons of African descent, wherever they may find themselves. Such an approach is to be employed for the study and understanding of development and underdevelopment, domination and power, self determination, mutual cooperation, and aesthetic and creative expression. Issues of identity construction, marginality, territoriality and the universal role of race in the organization of political economy and in class formation are critical to the program’s intellectual agenda.

Program Requirements

A minimum of two years or four semesters of academic residence is required by the university for all Ph.D. programs. Academic residence is defined as enrollment in at least 12 units in the 200 series of courses. Thus, every graduate student must enroll in and complete a minimum of 12 units of graduate course work per required semester of academic residency. After successful completion of course work with a minimum GPA of 3.30, a pre qualifying examination based upon general knowledge in the field of African American Studies will be administered by the department.

Academic Preparation

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree and should demonstrate a general knowledge of African American history and an understanding of the disciplinary bases for the study of the African Diaspora. Demonstrated knowledge in the field should include understanding relations among social, economic, and political structures and culture in African American life. Applicant records must also demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at the undergraduate level comparable to this university’s language requirement.

Graduate Handbook

For more information, please contact Lindsey Villarreal ( [email protected] )

The Diaspora

The Diaspora Fall 2016

Major in Mathematics

First upper-division math courses.

It should be emphasized that the character of mathematics changes sharply between lower and upper-division courses. The role of computation diminishes and there is a greater emphasis on deductive reasoning. While some students find the theoretical approach more congenial, most find upper-division courses more difficult. Because of this, it is strongly recommended that only students who earned grades of B- or better in all of Math 53, Math 54 or Math 56, and Math 55 apply to the major programs in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics. Additionally, the advising staff recommend Mathematics 110 as your first upper-division class. Students are more successful in making the transition with this course. Math 104 is a particularly demanding class and should be taken later in your program. Be aware that top students spend 12 to 15 hours per class beyond the lectures and sections, so plan your course load accordingly.

Eligibility to Declare the Major

You are eligible to declare the major in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics if you have met ALL of the following criteria:

• Completion of Math 1A & Math 1B (or equivalent) with averages grades of at least "C". For our policy on Advanced Placement scores, please see the following  link .
• Completion of Math 53, Math 54 or Math 56, and Math 55 (or equivalent) with minimum grades of "C" in each, or completion of two of those three courses (with minimum grades of "C" in each) and currently enrolled in the third.  If declaring while currently enrolled in the final lower-division requirement, that course will need to be completed with a letter grade of at least "C".  Please note that we will only accept Computer Science 70 in lieu of Math 55 if you are declared major in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and declare Mathematics/Applied Mathematics as an additional major.
• If you have already taken one or more upper division math courses, you should have a grade point average of at least 2.0 from those courses completed at the time of declaration. Note, however, that you do not need to have completed an upper division math course in order to declare.

Any alterations to the above requirements must be authorized (in writing) by the Head Major Advisor, upon referral from an Undergraduate Advisor in 964 or 965 Evans Hall.

Major Declaration Procedures

Submit an Application for the Major in Mathematics/Applied Mathematics to our dedicated declaration email address, both of which you can find our our  declaration webpage . 

Note that double majors require signatures from both your departments. If we are the first to sign your Double Major Petition, we will send it back to you to take to your second department. If your Double Major Petition is already signed by your first department, we can forward it to L&S Advising for final approval.)

Honors Program

See our  Honors page  for information about graduating with honors in Math or Applied Math.

Course Enrollment and CalCentral

Each semester advising holds are placed on math and applied math majors who have been declared for more than one semester. Mathematics and Applied Mathematics majors must consult with their Faculty Advisor for their first CalCentral registration period after declaring the major.  In subsequent semesters, they may meet with the Staff Advisors. Meeting the Faculty or Staff Advisors should take place prior to the student's enrollment appointment to ensure removal of the hold in a timely manner. Before meeting with the Advisor, the student should plan a tentative program for the coming semester, and have an overall plan for completing the major. Enrollment packets consisting of a Course Approval Form (green) and a Major Checklist (white) which shows your completed courses and grades will be available in the Main Office (970 Evans) two weeks prior to the start of Phase I enrollment appointments. Faculty Advisors hold regular  office hours  during the academic year. These hours are also posted on the bulletin board outside 964 Evans. It is best to allow time for more than one meeting in case decisions depend on information not available at the first visit. When the Advisor and the student have agreed on a program of study, the Advisor will sign the Course Approval Form (green). Approved electives should be indicated on the bottom of the program form and initialed by the Advisor. Major holds are released by the Staff Advisors in 964 and 965 Evans Hall. Admitted transfer students should participate in orientation programs during the Summer preceding their first semester at Cal. Returning students should see their faculty advisor or the Undergraduate Advisor during the semester prior to their readmitted term. Although students are formally required to see their Faculty Advisors only when they first declare the major, they are strongly encouraged to consult with them, or seek the advice of any faculty member, at any time. If the Advisor's  office hours  conflict with the student's classes, the student should schedule an appointment with via email.

Credit by Examination

Outstanding  lower-division  students may choose to fulfill one or more of the lower-division requirements via credit-by-exam. Although the University awards only P/NP grades for credit-by-exam, credit-by-exam in any of the lower division prerequisite classes is acceptable for entry into the major. The Credit by Examination Petition is available through the following  link  on the Office of the Registrar's forms website. In order to file the petition, the student must acquire the approval of: (a) an instructor willing to administer the examination, and (b) the Major Advisor, ( only if already declared ).  The list of eligibility criteria for Credit by Examination can be found on page two of the petition. (Note: you must be registered in the term in which the examination is to be taken; you may only take Credit by Exam in Fall and Spring terms; you must already have a 2.0 or better UC GPA - meaning it can be taken only after at least one term at UC.)

Course Equivalency

Equivalency of courses taken at other colleges and universities should be determined early in the application process. Articulation agreements with the California Community Colleges can be found on assist.org and non-California Community College coursework will be individually evaluated by a Non-Major Faculty Advisor prior to the student declaring the major or minor. For more information about this process, visit our  Course Equivalency website .

Program Changes

Students can add or drop courses via CalCentral through the WEDNESDAY of the FOURTH week of classes. Grading option changes from letter grade to Pass/No Pass or from Pass/No Pass to letter grade can be done via CalCentral through the TENTH week of classes. Any student with fewer than 13 units needs permission from L&S Undergraduate Advising, located on the 2nd floor of Evans Hall, for a reduced study load.

Minimum and Maximum Limits of Number of Mathematics Courses Taken

Majors must take a minimum of four upper-division courses to establish residency in either of the math majors. The only limitation on the maximum number of upper-division and graduate mathematics courses a major may take is a College of Letters and Science regulation which states that students cannot register beyond the semester in which s/he surpasses their 130th unit. Advance planning can result in hitting 130 units and having an additional semester available, should you need it. An Undergraduate Advisor in 964 or 965 Evans can assist you.

Passed/Not Passed Grading (P/NP)

Courses taken to fulfill major requirements must be taken for a letter grade. The one exception is four units of Mathematics 199 (offered pass/not pass only) which may be used if approved by one's Faculty Advisor. Mathematics 199 cannot be used to study material covered in standard courses. To be eligible for enrollment, a student must have completed 60 units and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Additional regulations concerning 199 courses are outlined in the College of Letter and Science Earning Your Degree Guide. Staff in 970 Evans can assist students with the enrollment procedure.

Probation and Dismissal

A mathematics major whose cumulative grade-point average in the upper-division major taken at Berkeley falls below 2.0 will be placed on departmental probation. The departmental grade-point average computation includes both required courses in the major and approved electives. Any additional upper-division or graduate mathematics courses which are not used to satisfy major requirements are exempted. Students are expected to check their grades at the end of each semester. A student on probation will be subject to dismissal from the major if the grade-point average is not brought up to 2.0 within the following term. Questions concerning probation and dismissal may be directed to an Undergraduate Advisor in 964 or 965 Evans or the College of Letters and Science Advising, 206 Evans Hall.

Additional Academic Assistance

The Undergraduate Program Office, 970 Evans Hall, maintains a  list of tutors  for students seeking assistance. There are tutors listed for mathematics courses at all levels, from the most basic, precalculus courses, through upper-division, and even including basic graduate level courses. Students make arrangements with tutors on an individual basis. The  Student Learning Center , located in the Cesar Chavez Center, offers group and drop-in tutoring for the basic lower division classes: Mathematics 1A-1B, and 53-54. Call (510) 642-7332 for scheduling and other information. There are also Academic Centers located at the dorms that provide drop-in tutoring during the evenings.

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The School of Information is UC Berkeley’s newest professional school. Located in the center of campus, the I School is a graduate research and education community committed to expanding access to information and to improving its usability, reliability, and credibility while preserving security and privacy.

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The School of Information offers four degrees:

The Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS) program educates information professionals to provide leadership for an information-driven world.

The Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) is an online degree preparing data science professionals to solve real-world problems. The 5th Year MIDS program is a streamlined path to a MIDS degree for Cal undergraduates.

The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) is an online degree preparing cybersecurity leaders for complex cybersecurity challenges.

Our Ph.D. in Information Science is a research program for next-generation scholars of the information age.

• Fall 2024 Course Schedule
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The School of Information's courses bridge the disciplines of information and computer science, design, social sciences, management, law, and policy. We welcome interest in our graduate-level Information classes from current UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students and community members.  More information about signing up for classes.

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Research by faculty members and doctoral students keeps the I School on the vanguard of contemporary information needs and solutions.

The I School is also home to several active centers and labs, including the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) , the Center for Technology, Society & Policy , and the BioSENSE Lab .

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Master of Information and Cybersecurity

Master’s in cybersecurity online from uc berkeley.

The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) online program prepares students with the cybersecurity skills needed to assume leadership positions and drive innovation in the field.

Through a holistic approach to cybersecurity, students develop a thorough understanding of information security technologies as well as the economic, legal, behavioral, and ethical impacts of cybersecurity. Students graduate as competitive candidates in the job market with connections to UC Berkeley alumni and professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Request more info

A Leadership-Focused Curriculum 

The interdisciplinary MICS curriculum provides students with hands-on practical experience with secure systems and applications, and the ability to lead, manage, and contribute to building cybersecurity solutions.

Students master core technical skills and become fluent in the business, political, and legal context of cybersecurity. They can expect to graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the following:

• Secure coding
• Government and national security
• Network and web security
• Usable privacy and security
• Cryptography
• Operating system security
• Security in context: legal, behavioral, and ethical issues
• Privacy engineering

The online MICS program is 9 courses (27 units) and can be completed in 20 months. Students complete foundation courses, electives, and a capstone project. They also attend one in-person immersion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The curriculum includes the following courses:

• Beyond the Code: Cybersecurity in Context
• Network Security
• Software Security

Cryptography for Cyber and Network Security

Operating system security.

• Managing Cyber Risk
• Government, National Security, and the Fifth Domain
• Usable Privacy and Security

Privacy Engineering

Learn more about about upcoming webinars, deadlines, and more, why a master’s in cybersecurity from uc berkeley.

Cybersecurity permeates almost all aspects of the human experience. Individuals, organizations, and societies are protected from cyber threats constantly without even realizing they occur. This is thanks to professionals who understand the complex relationship between human behaviors and advanced technology in securing information.

UC Berkeley is where the brightest minds from across the globe come together to explore, ask questions, and improve the world. Our MICS program does more than create experts in information security: it shapes leaders who understand the implications of cybersecurity across all industries and want to drive the future of innovation in cybersecurity.

Developed by faculty from the School of Information and the College of Engineering, the interdisciplinary MICS curriculum focuses on the intersection of technical, social, political, economic, legal, national security, and ethical components of cybersecurity. Students graduate with versatile knowledge needed to lead cybersecurity in private, public, or philanthropic sectors and with connections to the nearby technology hub Silicon Valley.

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity’s growth is turning it into a massive market with an increased demand for skilled cybersecurity labor. Due to constant evolution and escalation of threats, cybersecurity has become one of the most important and exciting career fields of the 21st century.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of information security analysts to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, equating to an average of 19,500 new positions each year.¹

The cybersecurity industry is met with the challenge of not only filling the growing demand and talent shortage but with finding highly skilled professionals who can be trusted to effectively protect information systems. This creates an opportunity for graduates of the MICS program to enter the in-demand market as competitive cybersecurity experts.

Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity

No organization that operates online can ignore cybersecurity. With cyber threats growing and constantly changing, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations are making significant investments in cyber defense and hiring increasingly large numbers of cybersecurity professionals.

MICS graduates are poised to enter this market in leadership roles with the requisite multifunctional skill sets and a strong network provided by the program.

Cybersecurity Salaries

Salaries for cybersecurity professionals range from $85,000 to $151,547 per year.¹

Featured Courses

Students learn about the mathematical and practical foundations of cryptography and the many different cryptosystems.

Students compare approaches to security taken among several modern operating systems and learn techniques for establishing trust across a set of interoperating systems.

Students survey privacy mechanisms applicable to systems engineering, with a particular focus on the inference threat arising due to advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Admissions Requirements for the Master’s in Cybersecurity Online Degree

When evaluating applicants, we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors to determine if they can meet the demands of the rigorous MICS program. These include:

• Academic coursework and performance
• Professional experience
• Communication skills
• Statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation

¹ Cybersecurity Career Pathway, CyberSeek , 2023

Cogsci Summer Internship Grant

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Admissions Requirements

Application requirements.

Congratulations on taking the next step towards submitting your graduate application! To help you along the way, we’ve compiled a list of requirements to complete your graduate application.

It’s also important to check with the program to which you’re applying, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree not listed on this page.

Minimum Admissions Requirements

The minimum graduate admissions requirements are:

• Expect to or hold a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
• A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
• Enough undergraduate training and/or professional experience to do graduate work in your chosen field.

Academic Records

You must hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of classes from a U.S.accredited institution by one of the AACRAO regional accrediting agencies* or a recognized equivalent from an accredited institution outside of the U.S.

* Regionally accredited college or university means an institution of higher education accredited by one of the following regional accreditation associations in the United States:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• The Higher Learning Commission (formerly known as North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• WASC Senior College and University Commission

Graduates of accredited academic institutions outside the United States should hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please contact Graduate Admissions with questions.

Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. Institution

Required Records : Upload unofficial transcripts (ie, a scanned copy) from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including your undergraduate institution, community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.

Bachelor’s Degree from an International Institution

Required Records : Upload a scanned copy of your transcript and degree certificate for each institution after high school. If your academic records are in a language other than English or Spanish, you may submit translations in one of two ways:

• Submit translations prepared by certified translators from the American Translators Association or the Ministry of Education. Degree names and grades should be transcribed, not converted, into English words or the U.S. grades of A-F. 
• Submit an official World Education Services (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) evaluation (opens in a new tab) . To electronically submit your WES ICAP, follow the instructions provided by WES. Select “University of California at Berkeley” as the recipient and “Graduate Admissions” 318 Sproul Hall #5900, Berkeley, CA 94720-5900 as the school/division.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency

All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to institutions from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asian countries, most European countries, and countries in Africa in which English is not the official language.

There are two standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). You can obtain detailed information from the TOEFL website .

We accept the internet based (iBT) and iBT Home Edition. We do not accept the TOEFL ITP or Duolingo .

For purposes of admission, your TOEFL test score must be at least 90 for the Internet-based test (IBT). Please contact individual academic departments for more information, as they may choose to require a higher score.

For Fall 2025, tests taken before June 1, 2023 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley. Please send your test score directly from ETS to the institution code for UC Berkeley: 4833 for Graduate Organizations. We do not accept MyBest Scores.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

You can also submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Consult the IELTS website to locate the office of the test center where you plan to take the test.

For purposes of admission, your most recent overall band score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

For Fall 2025, tests taken before June 1, 2023 will not be accepted. All IELTS scores must be sent electronically from the testing center, and no institution code is required. Our address for identification purposes is: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720. Please do not mail any score reports to us.

TOEFL/IELTS Exemption

To qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS exemption, you must fulfill one of the following options:

• Have a basic degree from a recognized institution in a country where the official language is English.
• Have completed a basic or advanced degree at an institution, in the United States or a United States institution abroad, where the language of instruction is English and the institution is accredited by one of the United States’ regional accrediting agencies.
• The following courses do not qualify for an exemption: courses in English as a Second Language, courses conducted in a language other than English, courses that will be completed after applicants submit their application, or courses of a nonacademic nature.

The TOEFL or IELTS must be submitted by applicants who do not meet the exemption criteria above.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Other Test Scores

Some programs require applicants to take a standardized test such as the GRE General Test, a GRE Subject Test, the GMAT or MCAT. Consult the program to which you are applying for the department’s requirements.

For the GRE, send your test score directly from ETS to the institution code for UC Berkeley: 4833 for Graduate Organizations. No department code is needed unless specified by the specific program. ETS will not report test scores older than 5 years.

For the GMAT or MCAT, please consult your program for details.

Letters of Recommendation

The application requires at least three letters of recommendation. Applicants should check with their prospective program for questions . Your recommenders are asked to give their personal impressions of your intellectual ability, your aptitude in research or professional skills, your character, and the quality of your previous work and potential for future productive scholarship. Be sure to inform your recommenders of the program’s application deadline.

Applicants may waive the right to inspect their letters of recommendation on a voluntary basis. This option can be selected when you fill out the recommendation invite for your recommender.

The Graduate Division may verify the authenticity of academic letters of recommendation with the school or recommender.

Submit a Statement of Purpose and Personal History statement, along with any other essays the program you are applying to requires.

The Statement of Purpose should describe your aptitude and motivation to enter the program. This can include relevant details about your preparation or specialization in the field. This is a good place to share your academic plans, research interests, and future career goals. Read tips on how to craft your Statement of Purpose .

The Personal History statement describes how your own background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Read tips on how to write your Personal History statement .

Application Fee

If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the non-refundable application fee is $135; for all others, the fee is $155.

Fee Waiver : U.S. citizens or permanent residents who demonstrate financial need or have participated in an eligible program may apply for an application fee waiver. See guidelines for waivers .

Fee Exemption : Some programs do not require the application fee payment. See guidelines for fee exemption .

Student Financial Support and Employment

Student financial support and employment: .

• The Department of Rhetoric provides a comprehensive fully funded five-year package to all admitted students that encompasses full coverage of tuition, fees, and health insurance. Our funding offers include semesters of student financial support via stipend and semesters of employment via Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions during the fall and spring semesters. In addition, our funding offers provide financial support via stipend during the summer.
• Since June 1, 2000, GSI employment has been governed by a union contract . We provide GSI appointments (50%, 20 hours/week) within the Department’s undergraduate program, where responsibilities include leading discussion sections for our larger, mandatory upper-division lecture courses.  Furthermore, we offer GSI positions specifically for Reading and Composition (R1A and R1B) courses. 
• Each PhD student must serve as a GSI for at least one year and complete the introductory pedagogy seminar (Rhetoric 375) prior to or during the semester of their first graduate teaching appointment. Students who meet the timetable requirements will be eligible although not guaranteed appointment as Graduate Student Instructors for four years.
• Note that the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) limits GSI appointments to 12 semesters; however, due to COVID-19 the limit is increased to 14 semesters. There are NO exceptions beyond the 14th semester.
• Each semester Reader positions may become available within the Department’s undergraduate program, where responsibilities  will normally include the grading of student papers and examinations . 
• Each semester Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions may become available. These positions are established through arrangements between faculty members with research grants and students who express interest.
• For more information, please review the Graduate Division's Graduate Student Academic Appointments Handbook .

External Students: 

• We typically have several GSI positions open for instruction in our Reading & Composition (R&C) courses. 
• Interested GSI candidates who meet the  eligibility requirements  may submit an application to the Graduate Student Affairs Officer at  [email protected]
• Please email the following items as a single PDF attachment: Cover letter that includes information on your previous teaching experience and CV/Resume.
• For first round consideration, please submit your materials according to the deadlines: Fall Application Deadline: April 1; Spring Application Deadline: October 1; Summer Application Deadline: February 1. 

University Fellowship Resources: 

• Berkeley Graduate Fellowships, Grants and Awards : University Fellowships at Berkeley include a variety of grants and awards, both from Berkeley itself and external sources. Detailed information, including deadlines and application procedures, can be found on this website. Please note that certain fellowships, such as the  Mentored Research Award and the University of California Dissertation-Year Fellowship , require nomination from your department. 
• Pivot Database (Berkeley Access) : The University of California, Berkeley community now has the option to search the Pivot Database. Pivot is an easy-to-use searchable database that provides information on funding opportunities from federal, non-federal, foundation, corporate, and other private sponsors across all disciplines. Pivot also identifies researcher expertise within or outside the University to help connect with potential collaborators.
• International Students are encouraged to explore the valuable resources available on the  Berkeley International Office (BIO)'s Financial Assistance & Scholarship Resource page .

University Fellowships of Particular Interest to our Students: 

• Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship : The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowships are to be awarded only to candidates who have outstanding undergraduate records, have demonstrated a need for financial assistance, are citizens of the United States of America, are enrolled in accredited colleges and universities in the United States and have received baccalaureate degrees. Applicants must be enrolled UC Berkeley graduate students.  Eligible students include not only those in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, but also those in professional programs like law, medicine, engineering, and architecture. Students with the potential to utilize three years of funding will be given priority over students who would only use one year of funding. The amount of each Fellowship will cover the cost of tuition only (no fees) and a stipend to be allocated towards room, board, living expenses, and income taxes.  The Trustee has set the stipend at $18,000 for this year.
• Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships : Provides funding to students to encourage the study of critical and less commonly taught foreign languages in combination with area studies, international studies or international aspects of professional studies. These fellowships are funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The purpose of the FLAS program is to promote the training of students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is essential.
• Global, International & Area Studies (GIAS) : GIAS provides several fellowships to support graduate students conducting research in international and area studies. This page lists grants administered by GIAS itself. For fellowships administered by individual GIAS units, please click here.  
• Mabelle McLeod Lewis Fellowships : The Mabelle McLeod Lewis Memorial Fund provides dissertation write-up grants to PhD candidates in humanities.  Grants are awarded to bring about the completion of the dissertation. Grants are available only to applicants who are in financial need as determined by the Trustees upon review of the applications. Lewis Fellows are awarded to students who are completing a dissertation whose focus is humanistic.
• Townsend Dissertation Fellowships :  Awarded to graduate students writing Ph.D. dissertations whose research projects significantly involve humanistic material or problems that have a significant bearing on the humanities. The competition is open to graduate students who are advanced to candidacy, or who will be advanced to candidacy by the June preceding the academic year of their fellowship.
• UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship : The UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship is part of the UC-Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative (UC-HSI DDI), which aims to enhance faculty diversity and pathways to the professoriate for historically underrepresented students from California Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), particularly Chicanx/Latinx, African Americans, American Indians/Native Americans, Filipinx, and Pacific Islanders in all disciplines; women in STEM; and Asian Americans in the humanities and social sciences. Fellows receive a $37,000 stipend and California resident tuition and fees and $10,000 professional development grant that will expose, prepare, and inspire the fellow to pursue the professoriate. 

External Databases and Lists (non-exhaustive):

• (Database)  Carnegie Mellon University – Department of English - External Funding Database
• (Database)  UCLA - GRAPES - Search engine for postdocs and graduate funding
• (List)  ProFellow: 40 Humanities Fellowships for Research and Study
• (List)  USC Graduate School: Top 15 Funding Opportunities for Humanists
• (List)  Boston University Arts & Sciences: Humanities Fellowships and Grants

External Fellowships (non-exhaustive):

• American Academy of Arts & Sciences Fellowships : The Academy is both an honorary society that recognizes and celebrates the excellence of its members and an independent research center convening leaders from across disciplines, professions, and perspectives to address significant challenges.Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences honors excellence and convenes leaders from every field of human endeavor to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world, and work together “to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people.” With the generous support of donors, the Academy offers fellowships opportunities including the Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy. 
• Berkman Klein Center: Fellowship Program : The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society welcomes an interdisciplinary and diverse community of academics and practitioners to join the Center as fellows in its mission to engage the challenges and opportunities of cyberspace.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Fellowships : AAUW American Fellowships support women scholars who are pursuing full-time study to complete dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research full time, or preparing research for publication for eight consecutive weeks. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates are evaluated based on scholarly excellence; quality and originality of project design; and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research. 
• American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships : The program provides support for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who intend to return to their home country to pursue a professional career. A limited number of awards are available for study outside of the U.S. (excluding the applicant’s home country) to women who are members of Graduate Women International (see the list of GWI affiliates). Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported.
• American Council of Learned Societies (ALCS) Fellowship and Grant Programs : Over the past century, ACLS has supported individual scholars and scholarly teams around the world in their pursuit of research with the potential to advance knowledge in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. Our current focus includes providing more pathways for those who have traditionally had less access to external research support and scholarly resources, including first-generation scholars, people from historically marginalized communities, and non-tenure track faculty.
• Carter Manny Award : Named for architect Carter H. Manny (1918–2017) in recognition of his contributions to the Graham Foundation, as founding trustee in 1956, director from 1971–93, and as director emeritus—has granted 45 awards and 201 citations representing over $1 million in support of this important student work since its establishment in 1996. In 2024, the award acknowledgement increased: the Writing Award is $25,000 and the Research Award is $20,000.
• Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Fellowship : Newcombe Fellows are late-stage Ph.D. students in the humanities and social sciences whose research in some way attends to those commitments and ideals and seeks to understand the communities, social practices, and political arrangements that embody them. Fellows receive a $31,000 stipend to complete the writing stage of their dissertation.
• Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships : Dissertation Fellowships provide one year of support for individuals working to complete a research-based, dissertation-required Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree that will prepare them for the pursuit of a career in academic teaching or research. Practice-oriented degree programs are not eligible for support. The fellowship (one-year stipend: $28,000) is intended to support the final year of writing and defense of the dissertation.
• Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad : This program provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries, in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of six to 12 months.
• Getty Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships : Getty Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended for emerging researchers to complete work on projects related to the Scholars Program’s annual theme. While in residence, fellows may pursue research projects, complete dissertations, or expand dissertations for publication. There are dedicated grants for fellows who are expanding critical inquiry of African American art and its frameworks as part of the Getty’s African American Art History Initiative (AAAHI). All recipients are invited to make use of Getty Research Institute (GRI) collections, join in weekly lectures, and participate in intellectual life at Getty. Predoctoral Fellows may be in residence at the Getty Center, while Postdoctoral Fellows may be in residence at the Getty Center or Getty Villa.
• Harry Frank Guggenheim Emerging Scholar Awards : The Foundation welcomes proposals from any of the natural and social sciences or allied disciplines that promise to increase understanding of the causes, manifestations, and control of violence and aggression. Highest priority is given to research that addresses urgent, present-day problems of violence—what produces it, how it operates, and what prevents or reduces it. The award is $25,000 for one year and contributes to the support of a doctoral candidate to enable the completion of a dissertation that advances the Foundation’s research interests described above in a timely manner. 
• Institute for Advanced Study (AIS) Membership : Each year, the Institute for Advanced Study selects approximately 200 Members from an average of more than 1,500 applicants. Members are selected by the Faculty of each School, and come to the Institute for periods as short as one term or as long as several years. Young scholars and applicants from non-traditional backgrounds who have outstanding promise are considered, as are senior scholars whose reputations are already well established. The major consideration in the appointment process is the expectation that each Member’s period of residence at the Institute will result in work of significance and originality. Many Members pursue research related to the special interests of one or more of the Faculty. In other instances, the research of Members is in areas not currently represented by a member of the Faculty.
• John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships : Guggenheim Fellowships are grants awarded to around 175 selected individuals every year. The purpose of the Guggenheim Fellowship program is to provide Fellows with blocks of time in which they can work with as much creative freedom as possible. As such, grants are made freely, without any special conditions attached to them; Fellows may spend their grant funds in any manner they deem necessary to their work. The United States Internal Revenue Service, however, does require the Foundation to ask for reports from its Fellows at the end of their Fellowship terms.
• Josephine De Karman Fellowship Trust : The de Karman Fellowships are open to PhD students in any discipline, including international students, who are currently enrolled in one of the California universities listed (UC Berkeley included). Special consideration will be given to applicants in the Humanities. Approximately six (6) dissertation fellowships, in the amount of $25,000 each, will be awarded for the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters).
• Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Grants : Since 1981, MMEG has been working to empower women by supporting their education so that they can build a better world.  We are very proud to present our numbers. Grantees have focused on diverse fields of study, including engineering, information technologies, health, science, education, social studies, and law.
• National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program: The fellowship encourages a new generation of scholars from various disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to improving education. Fellows receive $27,500 for one academic year, distributed in two installments.
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowships : NEH Fellowships are competitive awards granted to individual scholars pursuing projects that embody exceptional research, rigorous analysis, and clear writing. Applications must clearly articulate a project’s value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both.
• National Humanities Center Fellowships : Conceived with the needs of humanists in mind, the National Humanities Center provides scholars with an environment and resources conducive to generating new knowledge and furthering understanding of the human experience.
• Newberry Fellowships : Newberry fellowships give researchers the time, space, and community required to pursue innovative and ground-breaking projects. Fellows advance scholarship in various fields, develop new interpretations, and expand our understanding of the past.
• Social Science Research Council: Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship Program: Supporting the development of innovative dissertation proposals in the humanities and social sciences.
• Social Science Research Council: International Dissertation Research Fellowship :The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) offers six to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on Native American or non-US topics. Fellowship amounts varied depending on the research plan, with a per-fellowship average of $23,000. 

Department News

Welcome to the 2024-25 academic year at berkeley.

Philosophy at Berkeley is thriving. It is with great excitement that we welcome Professor Daniel Viehoff as our newest faculty member. We have an impressive cohort of new graduate students joining us too: Sarah Cohen, Emily Fox-Penner, Burçe Gümüşlü, Fanyi Jiang, Reid Kurashige, Cindy Xin, as well as Adam Lesnikowski, Lucy Horowitz and Esme Weil, who are students in the Program in Logic and Methodology of Science

A warm welcome also to the visiting scholars and also visiting student researchers who join us at the invitation of our faculty and who bring energy and invention to our community. This year we are joined by the visiting student researchers Eve-Aline Dubois, Desa Valeska Martin, Lukas Naegli, Marta Perez-Verdugo, Filippa Ronquist, Gabriel Siegel, Simon Stromer, and Alice Wright, as well as by the visiting scholars David Builes, Alexander Dinges, Dominic Hughes, Yun Tang, Isaac Wilhelm, and Julia Zakkou. Carolyn Dicey Jennings, who is professor of philosophy at our sister campus UC Merced, will be visiting as well this year. — Welcome to you all!

We also bid farewell to members who are moving on. Four of our PhD student graduated last spring: Mathias Boehm, Tyler Haddow, Guillaume Massas, and Sven Neth. Professor Tim Clarke, our dear colleague, has left Berkeley to take up a position in the Philosophy Department at Yale. It is also with a heavy heart that we mourn the recent death of Alvin Goldman, who has been with us as a Distinguished Research Associate since 2019.

There have also been transitions in the department office. Our new manager Bill Dellinger has taken up the reigns after the departure, after 15 years of dedicated service, of Maura Vrydaghs. And JD Hoyt is our new graduate student affairs officer, effective last spring.

We have a busy year of colloquia and special lectures, reading groups, and conferences, to look forward to this academic year. Information about some of these can be found on the department web site here: https://philosophy.berkeley.edu/events. I look forward to see you at these important events.

– Alva Noë, Chair

August 21, 2024

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