We are committed to attracting talented students with diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives.
We strive to cultivate an inclusive environment for our students that respects and reflects the diverse communities in which we live and work. The intellectual exchange of ideas, learning to interact effectively with each other, and developing attitudes of responsibility for leadership in society and decision-making, are enhanced through a student population that respects and values the insights gained from various points of view. Whether you plan to be a scholar or work in the environmental design professions, we welcome you to join our community!
Admissions Events
Prospective applicants to the College of Environmental Design's graduate programs in architecture, city and regional planning, landscape architecture and environmental planning, and urban design are invited to attend the following events:
Fall Open House for Prospective Graduate Applicants
Come to our annual fall open house, held in October, to learn more about the graduate programs at CED, meet faculty and current students, sit in on classes, and tour Wurster Hall's computer labs, fabrication shop, research facilities, library, and archives. The date and time of the 2013 open house will be posted in September.
Building Diversity Information Session for Prospective Graduate Applicants
At this event, also held in October, you will meet the graduate program advisers, obtain information and guidance about the application process, and hear students and alumni talk about their experiences at CED. Contact Yeri Caesar-Kaptoech at ycaesark@berkeley.edu for more information. The date and time of the information session will be posted in September.
"A Berkeley education is more than just a classroom experience; it is the rich history of activism and diversity that empowers students to be mindful of and critically respond to issues at hand."
Research
CED attracts faculty whose research is multi-disciplinary and focuses on such issues as social and environmental justice, equitable design, community change and advocacy, and domestic and global poverty. In addition, we house research centers that study the dynamics of design, communities, schools, and the environment at local, regional, national, and global scales.
Students can become involved in research at CED in several ways. They can contact faculty directly to see if any graduate student research (GSR) positions are available or if they can receive independent study credit for assisting faculty with research projects. Students should contact their program advisers for guidelines and restrictions on independent study. The Undergraduate Research at Berkeley website also lists campus-wide research opportunities.
"Given that I'm interested in key social and economic issues impacting Latinos, as an academic I have been provided at Berkeley with the theoretical skills and research tools needed to conduct groundbreaking research (and social action) on this historically disenfranchised population."
Faculty
Below is a selected list of faculty with diversity-related research specializations. See CED Faculty for a full list of college faculty and their specializations.
"The Department of City and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley drew my interest through its unique approach toward understanding planning. The emphasis on physical study complements my future research on understanding the relationship between tradition and the physical environment."
Research Centers
The Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD) helps scholars and students understand the dynamics of communities, cities, and regions while informing public policy at local, state, and national levels.
Rob Cervero, Director
Karen Chapple, Associate Director
The Center for the Built Environment (CBE) is a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center whose goal is to provide timely, unbiased information on new building technologies and design techniques. CBE research is supported and guided by CBE industry partners, a consortium of building industry leaders committed to improving the design, operation, and performance of commercial and institutional buildings.
Ed Arens, Director
Gail Brager, Associate Director
The Center for Global Metropolitan Studies coordinates research and instruction among faculty from many departments and schools to better understand the implications of worldwide growth in metropolitan areas and to develop strategies to improve urbanization processes and outcomes.
Jason Corburn and James Holston, Co-Directors
The Center for Resource-Efficient Communities evaluates the resource efficiency of urban designs and streetscapes, particularly their relationship to human comfort and decision-making regarding walking and bicycling as a substitute for car use. CREC is also interested in strategies to moderate urban climate and heat island effects, and the economic, financial, and legal implications of resource efficient communities.
Louise Mozingo, Director
The Center for Community Innovation nurtures effective solutions that expand economic opportunity, diversify housing options, and strengthen connection to place. The work of the center focuses on four topic areas: revitalizing neighborhoods; developing economic resilience; designing and programming for the public realm; and producing and preserving affordable housing.
Karen Chapple, Director
The Center for Cities & Schools promote high quality education as an essential component of urban and metropolitan vitality to create equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities for all. Areas of focus include connecting policy to align schools, housing, land use, and metropolitan change; cultivating leadership for collaborative cross-sector policymaking; and engaging youth and schools in city planning and neighborhood change.
Deborah McKoy, Executive Director
Outreach
Graduate Student Ambassadors
The goal of the CED Graduate Student Ambassador Program is to aid in the recruitment and promotion of access for applicants from underrepresented populations or who have faced challenges and barriers to education. Applicants who have demonstrated a commitment in leadership, teaching, research, or service of underrepresented groups, or whose involvement would enhance the educational experience of our programs, are also encouraged to contact the student ambassadors.
Our Graduate Student Ambassadors are able to provide applicants with the "student's perspective" of a program and give advice on how to navigate the application process. They are here to answer your questions about the program and provide tips on compiling your application. The CED Ambassadors also host information sessions at high schools and community colleges. The services of the ambassadors are available to all applicants.
We look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions!
Student and Alumni Groups
The student associations at the College of Environmental Design are an excellent forum for creating community and connecting with other students.
