Transfer Eligibility Requirements
In addition to completing the College of Environmental Design’s (CED) eligibility requirements (below), all prospective transfer applicants to the University of California, Berkeley, must also meet the University’s basic admission requirements for transfer students.
CED Eligibility Requirements
CED will review your application for:
- Evidence of a thoughtful match between the academic program and your academic and career objectives.
- Completion of all lower-division general education and major requirements by the end of the spring term that precedes fall enrollment at Berkeley. If you need courses evaluated, please complete and submit the Evaluation of Transfer Coursework: Prospective Students Form by January 15.
- A minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average.
- A letter grade in all required courses.
Breadth Requirements (all majors)
All CED transfer applicants must complete course work identified as comparable to the following UC Berkeley courses:
- English R1A and R1B (can be covered by IGETC certification; note: If you do not have IGETC certification, you must follow exactly the articulation agreements between your school and the CED architecture major as described on ASSIST)
- View the Transfer Evaluation System (TES) database for approved out of state R&C courses.
- CED general education/breadth requirements:
- Arts & Literature
- Biological Science
- Historical Studies
- International Studies
- Philosophy & Values
- Physical Science
- Social & Behavioral Sciences
Architecture Major Requirements
In addition to the College Breadth Requirements outlined above, applicants to the architecture major must complete the following lower-division major requirements.
- Environmental Design 1
- ARCH 11A
- ARCH 11B
- Math 16A or 1A
- Physics 7A or 8A (this course can also be used to fulfill CED’s Physical Science breadth requirement)
Math and Physics courses required for admission to the major may also be used to complete IGETC certification. Check with your community college counselor for more information.
Sustainable Environmental Design Major Requirements
In addition to the College Breadth Requirements outlined above, applicants to the sustainable environmental design major must complete the following lower-division major requirements.
- Environmental Design 1
- Math 16A or 1A
- Statistics 2
- Landscape Architecture 12 (this course can also be used to fulfill CED’s Biological Science breadth requirement)
- Economics 1 or 2 or Economics C3 (this course can also be used to fulfill CED’s Social and Behavioral Science breadth requirement)
- Physics 7A or 8A (this course can also be used to fulfill CED’s Physical Science breadth requirement)
Math, Statistics, Biology, Economics, and Physics courses required for admission to the major may also be used to complete IGETC certification. Check with your community college counselor for more information.
For a competitive application course work must be completed by the end of the spring term that precedes fall enrollment at Berkeley. Sustainable Environmental Design (SED) applicants who are unable to complete ENVDES 1 or LDARCH 12 in the spring term that precedes fall enrollment at UC Berkeley may consider completing the course at UC Berkeley in the summer that precedes fall enrollment.
The SED major is not a studio-based major. Students do not have access to Architecture or Landscape Architecture studio courses. If you are interested in studio experience for your undergraduate degree, consider applying to the Architecture or Landscape Architecture programs in CED.
Landscape Architecture Major Requiremements
In addition to the College Breadth Requirements outlined above, applicants to the landscape architecture major must complete the following lower-division major requirements.
- Environmental Design 1
- Landscape Architecture 1 [Prospective transfer students must take either LD ARCH 1 or Arch 11A (Arch 11B is highly recommended with 11A)]
- Biological Science [Biology 1B, Biology 11 + 11L, ESPM 2, ESPM 6, LD ARCH 12 or PLANTBI 40 (this course will also fulfill CED’s Biological Science breadth requirement)]
- Physical Science [EPS 50, EPS 80, Physics 7A or Physics 8A (this course will also fulfill CED’s Physical Science breadth requirement)]
Science courses required for admission to the major may also be used to complete IGETC certification. Check with your community college counselor for more information.
Urban Studies Major Requirements
In addition to the College Breadth Requirements outlined above, applicants to the urban studies major must complete the following lower-division major requirements.
- Environmental Design 1
- Math 16A or 1A (recommended, not required)
- Statistics 2, 20, 21, or 25
- Economics 1, 2, C3, or Envecon C1
- Lower-Division Major Electives (complete two electives from any of the following categories: Community Development, Design, Society and Culture, Environmental Resources and Planning. (see ASSIST for complete list).
Economics and statistics courses required for admission to the major may also be used to complete IGETC certification. Check with your community college counselor for more information.
California Community College Students
If you are a California community college student, refer to ASSIST for the articulation agreements approved by the CED. You also have the option of fulfilling CED’s breadth requirements with the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) certification.
If you are using IGETC to fulfill CED’s breadth requirements, you must submit proof of full certification by July 15. Partial certification will not complete the requirements. Check with your community college for procedures involved in certification of IGETC.
A list of community colleges that offer articulated courses for the lower-division environmental design requirements can be found at Undergraduate Advising — Articulation. Please note that the chart on this page is unofficial. Only ASSIST can be relied upon for the official articulation agreements.
Refer to ASSIST to identify California community college courses that satisfy general education and major requirements.
Options for Completing Environmental Design Requirements at UC Berkeley Prior to Admission
- California Community Colleges (pre-approved courses are listed on ASSIST).
- UC Berkeley Summer Sessions. ENV DES 1, ARCH 11A, ARCH 11B, LD ARCH 1 and LD ARCH 12 are generally offered during the summer at UC Berkeley.
- UC Berkeley Extension/Concurrent Enrollment. If space is available and you have permission from the course instructor and department, you can register for these required courses without formal admission to the University.
- The Intersegmental Cross-Enrollment program. Community college students may enroll in one UC Berkeley course each semester and pay community college course fees. See the UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar website for more information and check with your community college counselor to see whether your school offers this option.
Applicants from Four-year or Out of State Schools
If it is not possible for you to complete pre-approved lower-division environmental design courses at a California community college or at UC Berkeley through Summer Sessions or UC Berkeley Concurrent Enrollment/Extension, contact us prior to submitting your application to have your coursework evaluated. Syllabi, course descriptions, and work samples are required and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Follow the course evaluation guidelines and contact the CED undergraduate advising office for more information. If you need courses evaluated, please complete and submit the Evaluation of Transfer Coursework: Prospective Students form by January 15.