Immerse yourself in UC Berkeley
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, qualifying international students gain the knowledge, skills and connections necessary to excel as innovators and thought leaders in the fields that encompass sustainable environmental design. Built for both design majors (architects and landscape architects) as well as students seeking a broader understanding of the built environment, the core curriculum emphasizes sustainability, design, innovation, social equity and the history of cities and landscapes. A key program feature for design majors is the opportunity to take an integrated design studio, while non-design majors enjoy a broad range of classes from across the College.
Request more information
Learn about what it's like to immerse yourself in architecture and design coursework.
In addition to a formal course of study, CED-GAP students are integrated into the San Francisco Bay Area through field trips, site visits to museums, firm visits and college activities - these might include public lectures, symposia, clubs, social events and conferences. While at Berkeley, CED-GAP students also have an opportunity to explore their own professional development, learn about graduate school admissions, participate in cohort lunches and explore California through field trips that combine experiential education and fun.
Students take 3-4 courses (12-15 units) per semester. Upon completion, students will receive a transcript from the University of California, Berkeley Extension and a Certificate of Completion from Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design. Programs may also be customized to meet curricular needs of students.
Jump to helpful links: Facts about CED • College Resouces • Programs • Portfolio Requirements • Program Cost • GPA and Language Requirement • Program Video
An Inside Look into CED-GAP
Watch this video to hear from Jennifer Wolch, CED Dean; Elizabeth Bowler, Director of Strategic Initiatives; Tommy Haddock, Lecturer in Architecture; and recent CED-GAP graduates. You’ll get an inside look into what makes this short-term, study-abroad program fascinating, academically stimulating and uniquely Berkeley:
Program Details
- Program Duration: 1 semester
- Upcoming Programs: Fall 2019 (August 26 - December 20)
- Participants: Top-qualifying undergraduate international students
- Course offerings in architecture, landscape architecture, city planning + urban studies as well as sustainable environmental design
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE Fall 2019 PROGRAM BY July 1, 2019! Apply for scholarships online!
Coursework
A book featuring Global Access Program student work from the Fundamental Design Studio.
Each semester CED offers distinct course options for CED-GAP students. This includes one specialized studio course, called the Fundamental Design Studio, as well as electives from each of CED's departments.
For more information on coursework and requirements for the upcoming semester, click here.
To get an idea of the work produced in the Fundamental Design Studio, browse the final Studio Booklet created by the CED-GAP student cohort in the Spring of 2018.
Portfolio Requirements
If you are a student looking to pursue the architecture or landscape architecture track, you have the opportunity to take the Integrated Design Studio: You Are Here - Bay Area Transformations course. Students applying to these tracks must submit a portfolio with their application. Portfolios may contain up to 12 pages (8-1/2"x11"-format) of design content. Please note that beyond 12 pages, your portfolio may not be reviewed. Title page and/or table of contents may be submitted, and will not count toward the 12 pages of content. The digital portfolio should showcase recent, high-quality work, and will be judged on both content and overall design. Applicants without professional training may submit work that shows other evidence of creativity (studio art, construction/renovation, furniture design, etc.) and clearly demonstrates interest in the proposed subject field. Any material that is not entirely the applicant's own work must be clearly identified.
Portfolio must be saved as a single file in PDF format, and submitted via the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design's Global Access Program (CED-GAP) online application. The file size must be no larger than 10MB. If your portfolio PDF file exceeds 10MB, try compressing it in Adobe Acrobat.
The portfolio may be in a two-page spread format, and any dimensions may be used. Please keep in mind the review will take place on monitors of varying size.
Students present their work to judges.
By the Statistics: The College of Environmental Design @ UC Berkeley
- Programs within the College of Environmental Design are ranked #1 among all public universities in the United States.
- CED's Architecture Program is currently ranked #4 in the world by QS Ranking.
- UC Berkeley was ranked #4 in the world by the 2016 Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
College Resources
CED's is housed in Wurster Hall, home to an exceptional array of activities and resources for CED-GAP students:
CED's newly renovated architecture studio.
CED features world-renowned guest speakers, faculty critics, social events and facilities. Staff at the College offer individualized adivsing for courses, while the larger univiersity also offers career services and health & wellness programs.
Find out more about CED's resources below:
- Renowned award-winning faculty
- Experts and innovators visiting from around the world
- 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 training in the fabrication shop
Program Cost
$19,500 per semester includes international student fees, course fees, health insurance, orientation, student advising, the final transcript, completion certificate and selected UC Berkeley - Environmental Design enhancements.
Language and GPA Requirements
GPA: 3.0 Minimum GPA
TOEFL: 90 (iBT) or
IELTS Academic Format: 7 or
TOEIC: 900+
DAAD: C2
If you have a lower English test score or do not have an English proficiency test score when you apply, please contact us to request a language proficiency interview. If you complete this interview satisfactorily, you may be admitted to the program or may be eligible for CED-GAP.
If you have a TOEFL of 79 or below or do not demonstrate adequate language proficiency, you may attend one of our partner English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) schools. We have agreements with several schools in the United States to accept institutional TOEFL scores.