Global Access Program

The College of Environmental Design can help put international students at the forefront of creating a sustainable future. Today’s students have inherited unprecedented global and environmental challenges. These challenges require students to learn in radically new ways to fashion buildings and neighborhoods, cities and regions, and landscapes that will harbor our diverse ways of life. Our Global Access Program has shaped its curriculum to help students tackle these challenges and think in new ways toward that future.

Dean Jennifer Wolch

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Student life in Wurster Hall — Student Life in Wurster Hall

The Berkeley College of Environmental Design's Global Access Program (CED-GAP) provides unique access to top-notch Berkeley faculty, courses and networks within the innovation ecosystem of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Through CED-GAP, top qualifying international students gain the knowledge, skills and connections necessary to excel as innovators and thought leaders in sustainable built environment design. Built for both majors and non-majors, the core curriculum emphasizes sustainability, design and social difference, and history and theory of cities and landscapes. Majors engage in a design studio or planning workshop, while non-majors are able to take one UC Berkeley elective from outside the College's curriculum.

In addition to a formal course of study, CED-GAP students are welcome to attend all college public lectures, symposia and conferences; join CED student clubs; participate in college social events; and attend university lectures and other events. CED will provide GAP students with opportunities to explore the San Francisco Bay Area through organized field trips that combine experiential education and fun.

Programs may also be customized to meet curricular needs of students. Enhancements may include: professional development, graduate school admissions workshops, cohort lunches and immersive California
field trips.

Students take 4 courses (12-13 units). Upon completion, students will receive a transcript from University of California, Berkeley Extension and a Certificate of Completion from Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design.

Students study plein air style painting in the Wurster Courtyard — Students Study Plein Air style painting in the Wurster Courtyard

Facts About The College of Environmental Design @ UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is ranked as the #4 university in the world by the 2016 Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
The College of Environmental Design programs are ranked #1 among all public universities in the USA.
Our Architecture Program is ranked #4 in the world by QS Ranking.
CED features renowned international guest speakers, faculty critics, social events and facilities.
CED staff offer individualized advising for courses. The University also offers career services and health & wellness programs.

College Resources

CED's is housed in Wurster Hall, home to an exceptional array of activities and resources for CED-GAP students:

Renowned award-winning faculty
Experts and innovators visiting from around the world
Symposia and conferences and exhibits of cutting-edge work
A superb Environmental Design Library
Blake Garden, a large teaching garden in the Berkeley Hills
The Environmental Design Archives, one of the nation’s leading archives of architectural and landscape plans and drawings
The Visual Resources Center, an extensive slide, photograph, and digital image collection
Computer-aided design and manufacturing technology in CED’s advanced digital fabrication laboratory, as well as traditional wood and metal fabrication shop

Students working in fabrication shop — Students Learn About Building in the Fabrication Shop

Programs For Majors and Non-Majors

For Majors

Build for Undergraduate Class 160 with Professor Buntrock

Architecture

Deep Green Design or International Housing
Special Topics in Design or Technology
Integrated Design Studio
Sustainability Colloquium

City Planning/Urban Studies

Introduction to City & Regional Planning or The City: History & Theory
International Housing or Critical Debates in Sustainable Urbanism
Sustainable Environmental Design Workshop
Sustainability Colloquium

Landscape Architecture

Sustainable Landscapes & Cities or Social & Psychological Factors in Open Space Design
Hydrology for Planners or Contemporary Approaches to Visualization & Communication
Integrated Design Studio
Sustainability Colloquium

For Non-Majors

People & Environmental Design or Design Frameworks
History & Literature of Landscape Architecture or The City: History & Theory or History of Architecture & Urbanism
Social & Cultural Processes in Architecture & Urban Design or Social & Psychological Factors in Open Space Design or The Urban Community
One UC Berkeley Elective

Program Details

Fall 2017, Spring 2018
Program Duration 1 or 2 semesters
Participants Top-qualifying undergraduate International students from Partner Universities.
Three cohorts of environmental design majors (architecture, landscape architecture, city planning/urban studies)
one cohort of non-majors.
Size of Cohort 15 per cohort

Estimated Tuition and Fees

$19,500 per semester Includes international student fee, course fees, health insurance, orientation, student advising, final transcript, completion certificate and selected UC Berkeley- Environmental Design enhancements.