Society and Environment

The Society and Environment program has provided information for students who plan to study abroad. Review your department’s responses to the Major Advising Questionnaires below, then contact the department directly with any additional questions.

Advising Resources

Study Abroad for Rausser College Majors (PDF)

Study Abroad Information on the Rausser College Website

Society and Environment Advising Contact Information

Berkeley Programs Questionnaire

Does your department currently sponsor a Berkeley Summer Abroad or Berkeley Global Internships program?

No.

Do any courses offered on a Berkeley Summer Abroad or Berkeley Global Internships program currently satisfy requirements within your major?

Students may petition to have up to two relevant courses from abroad count towards their major requirements. Courses must be at least 2.7 semester units, must be taken for a letter grade, and must be approved by both a Society and Environment faculty advisor and head faculty advisor. Any course taken abroad for 2.7 units, for letter grade, may count as a student’s International Studies Breadth.

UCEAP Programs Questionnaire

What is the maximum amount of major credit given for courses taken during UCEAP? Is this maximum calculated by number of courses or by units of credit?

Students may petition to have up to two relevant courses from abroad count towards their major requirements. Courses must be at least 2.7 semester units, must be taken for a letter grade, and must be approved by both a Society and Environment faculty advisor and head faculty advisor.

Does your department maintain a list of courses previously awarded credit on UCEAP and/or a list of pre-approved courses for UCEAP programs? How do students access this information?

Each year, students in the Society & Environment major attend a variety of programs around the world. With proper academic planning, students can have the experience of a lifetime with no loss of time in completing their degrees. Students who take relevant coursework abroad may be able to use coursework from abroad to satisfy graduation requirements. More information about studying abroad can be found here.

Does your department have a 4-year or 2-year plan available to students that incorporates semester or year-length study abroad? How do students access this information?

Yes. We have created a plan to show how a student can study abroad for one semester and stay on track to graduate on time. Review page three here. Studying abroad for a full year is not out of the question but I would prefer interested students come talk to me about their interests.

 

What is the process in your department to have courses evaluated? What materials must be submitted? What is the timeframe for response?

Contact the S&E Academic Advisor with questions about the petition process to have coursework count towards major requirements from a study abroad program.

Are students in your department able to undertake a senior honors thesis the semester following UCEAP participation?

If students qualify for the Rausser College Honors Research Program, they may participate in that as long as they have at least two consecutive semesters to complete that program.

Does your department calculate UCEAP grades into departmental GPA?

N/A.

Are UCEAP grades counted towards departmental honors?

UCEAP grades are counted toward college honors.

If you represent a department which teaches foreign language, does your department award major credit for the courses taken during the Intensive Language Program (ILP) portion of the UCEAP program?

N/A

Does the undergraduate adviser sign the UCEAP academic planning form, or must a faculty adviser sign?

The undergraduate staff advisor.

Does your department place Academic holds on declared majors prior to each registration period? If yes, what is your departmental policy on releasing advising holds for students currently abroad on UCEAP (e.g. is advising possible via email, skype, etc.)?

Yes, some populations of Rausser College students, including those studying abroad, will receive an Academic hold which prevents them from registering for the following term. The undergraduate advisor will email students in advance of their Phase I appointments requesting a proposed schedule for the following term. Once the student and advisor come to an agreement about the proposed schedule, the hold will be released so the student can enroll into their courses. Advisors are available via email, phone, and webcam.

 

Do you have any department specific advice for students participating on a UCEAP program in their last term at Berkeley?

Since grades from their abroad program do take time to post to their Berkeley transcript, a student's official graduation date may be delayed if they study abroad the same semester they are planning to graduate. 

 

Independent Programs Questionnaire

Have any Independent programs been approved by your department and the Study Abroad Advisory board for credit in the major?

No.

Are there any pre-approved courses for your major from other UC summer abroad programs (UCLA, UCD, etc.)?

No.

What is the process to have a course from an Independent study abroad program evaluated for your major?

Contact the S&E Academic Advisor with questions about the petition process to have coursework count towards major requirements from an independent study abroad program.