Graduating: Undergraduates

In order to graduate with an undergraduate degree from Cal, you must

• make sure you satisfy your University requirements, American Cultures requirement, college or school requirements and your major/department requirements, and
• officially declare your candidacy for the Bachelor's Degree through Telebears, Office of the Registrar, or your college after 5th week of the term.
• do not have a financial block or owe more than $200.00

If you have declared your candidacy by the deadlines stated below and complete all your requirements, the University will issue a degree and print a diploma for you to pick up. See the information below for more detail.

Degree Requirements for Undergraduates

To earn your baccalaureate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, you must satisfy 5 basic requirements:

1. University requirements - Subject A, American History and Institutions;
2. Berkeley Campus American Cultures requirement;
3. your college or school requirements;
4. your major/department requirements.
5. paid all financial obligations.

See the section on Degree Checks below.

Declaration of Candidacy for the Bachelor's Degree

To start the process leading to the awarding of your bachelor's degree, you must declare your degree candidacy by the semester in which you will complete all of your requirements. This will place you on the degree list and your major department and college or school will begin evaluating your record to make sure that all requirements are met.

Registered Students (Must be Enrolled in Courses for Term Graduating)

You can declare your candidacy in one of three ways:

1. through Tele-BEARS (click image below for a larger pop-up) or;
   
2. in person at the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul Hall, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1p.m. to 4 p.m.
3. Mail the Bachelor Degree Candidate Form to the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Not Registered Students

1. in person at the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul Hall, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1p.m. to 4 p.m.  
2. Mail the Bachelor Degree Candidate Form to the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720. 

If you declare in person, you have the first five weeks of the semester to complete and return the Bachelor's Degree Candidate Form. NOTE: If you are not a registered student the semester in which you intend to graduate, abide by the same deadlines. If you have questions, call 510.642.5042.

After the fifth week of the term, your college can add you to the degree list.

Degree Checks

Prior to graduation, we recommend you request your college or school do an official degree check on your progress. The degree check process will vary depending on your college or school.

	Haas School of Business Degree checks are in student files one semester before graduation. All degree candidates must see a major adviser at the beginning of their final semester to make sure requirements are being met. If you have questions, visit the Undergraduate Office at 450 Student Services Building.
	College of Chemistry If you have questions about your progress toward graduation, you should visit the College of Chemistry Undergraduate Office at 420 Latimer Hall or call 510.642.3452.
	College of Engineering You can now quickly and easily obtain an unofficial degree check online via Bear Facts using the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS).  In addition to DARS, there are now degree worksheets (similar to what was previously provided to track degree progress, the degree check) for every major available online. College of Engineering students are expected to fill out and bring these worksheets when they go to faculty advising. Students also may consult with their student affairs advisers at any time during their undergraduate program to discuss requirements and to review degree progress. Before the senior year, students must meet with their Student Affairs Adviser (308 McLaughlin Hall) for a graduation review to ensure degree requirements will be met.
	College of Environmental Design If you have questions regarding your progress toward graduation, you should visit the College of Environmental Design Undergraduate Office at 232 Wurster Hall or call 510.642.0832.
	College of Letters & Science Students without a declared major may make an appointment with a college adviser to request a degree check. Students with a declared major may submit a "Degree Check Request" form available in the Office of Undergraduate Advising, 113 Campbell Hall. A response will be mailed to you within ten working days. If you do not declare candidacy during the first five weeks of the term, you may file a "Petition to be Added to the Degree List" as an exception at 113 Campbell Hall through the eighth week of the term. Approval is not automatic; each request is reviewed for extenuating circumstances. Students who have declared candidacy will be notified during their final semester if there are any problems regarding completion of college or major requirements. If you have questions, you may reach a college evaluator at 510.642.0234 or 510.642.7391. If you are completing final courses at another institution, the term and coursework at that college must be completed by the same date that the Berkeley Campus term ends. Transcripts containing this work must be received by Letters and Science within one month after the end of the term in order for you to be eligible for degree candidacy for that semester. NOTE: The deadline to remove your name from the degree list is the last day of instruction for that semester. Once your name has been dropped, you will not be allowed to graduate that term.
	College of Natural Resources The College of Natural Resources will automatically do a degree check for all students who are on the current degree list. If you need a degree check done earlier, please meet with your major adviser first, then with the CNR college adviser, Undergraduate Student Affairs Office, 260 Mulford Hall, for college requirements. If you do not declare your candidacy during the first five weeks of the term, you may complete the Bachelor Degree Candidate Form to be added to the degree list through the eighth week of the term. CNR must approve the late add before taking it to the Registrar's Office to be added.  Remember, it is your responsibility to check with your major department to make sure you have met all graduation requirements. For additional information, consult the College of Natural Resources in 260 Mulford Hall.

Degree Candidacy List

To check whether you are on the degree list or not, log on to Bear Facts. If you are planning to graduate at the end of the current term and if there is no indication that you are on the degree list, before the 5th week of the semester, go to 120 Sproul Hall to declare your candidacy. After the 5th week of the semester, you must petition your college to add yourself to the degree list.

Non-satisfaction of University Requirements

The general University requirements are:

• entry level writing,
• American History & Institutions,
• American Cultures,
• total of 120 units, and
• a 2.0 GPA

Records Officers in the Office of the Registrar are responsible for verifying completion of these University requirements. If you are on the degree list and they cannot verify completion of these requirements, your Records Officer will send you  a "Notice Concerning Candidacy for Graduation" which will indicate any requirements still outstanding and any other problems in completing your degree. If changes occur which might affect the requirements for your degree, such as grade changes, petitions, transfer credit, etc., notify your Records Officer (contact information here) as soon as possible.

NOTE: If you do not meet all of the requirements, your name will be deleted from the degree list and will NOT automatically be put on the list for the next semester. You must declare degree candidacy another semester.

Certificate of Completion

After final grades are recorded and your Records Officer and college have verified your graduation (approximately six to eight weeks after the graduation term ends), you may request a Certificate of Completion for $6.00 each. This is an official notice that you have satisfied all your degree requirements. If you are an unregistered student, please contact your college or school to request an earlier approval.

Honors at Graduation

To be eligible for honors in general scholarship at graduation, you must have

• completed a minimum of 50 semester units (Letters and Science requires 60 units) at the University of California,
• completed a minimum of 43 units of these units for a letter grade;
• completed a minimum of 30 units at Berkeley; and
• achieved a grade-point average that ranks you in your school or college in the top 3 percent for highest honors, the next 7 percent for high honors, and the next 10 percent for honors.

These are the minimum requirements. Your department, college or school may have additional requirements to qualify for honors. Consult them for more details.

Commencement & Convocation

Commencement exercises for graduates who have earned a baccalaureate degree are held each year in May. The ceremonies are held by individual colleges or schools, or, in the College of Letters and Science, by individual departments. Students who have earned their degrees in the previous fall semester or in the Summer Sessions are welcome to participate. Note that in the College of Letters and Science, you need not be on the Spring degree list but must have your major department's approval. Consult your college, school or department for additional information.

Commencement Convocation is a campuswide event held at the end of each semester for all graduating students. It is hosted by the Chancellor, and families, friends, and guests are invited to celebrate this important milestone with their graduates.

You can find out more about these ceremonies at the page created for graduates at seniors.berkeley.edu. Students may rent caps and gowns through the Cal Student Store.

The Office of the Registrar would like to congratulate all future graduates and commend you on a job well done.