Advising

How are students advised

Over the summer prior to the start of classes, incoming first-year students participate in a two-part orientation called Golden Bear Experience. In June, students complete an online, asynchronous training called Golden Bear Advising (GBA), which covers campus academic resources and graduation requirements and serves as an introduction to the College of Engineering and their ESS advisers. In August, the week before classes begin, students participate in Golden Bear Orientation (GBO), an in person opportunity to meet in small groups with incoming undergrads from across the CoE, with GBO counselors (continuing Berkeley students), and with advisers and other student services professionals from the campus, the college, and their respective departments so they can begin building their Berkeley community. Incoming first-year students to CEE also attend a departmental orientation. The department’s Academic Affairs Office then assigns each student to an advisor who is a ladder-rank member of the CEE faculty. The roles for both faculty and staff advisors are described below.

 

As continuing students, students will meet with ESS advisors, our department Undergraduate Advisor, and faculty advisors to develop plans for the future.  The department hosts faculty advising sessions each semester (in October and March). As a helpful supplement, the Chi Epsilon Honorary Society provides peer-to-peer advising on courses and other curriculum-related matters. The Society also facilitates tutoring for many courses inside and outside the department

 

Faculty Advisers

All students are assigned a faculty advisor in their first year. Students in CEE are encouraged to seek mentoring from CEE faculty advisers. If a student is not aware of their faculty advisor please email cee-ug@berkeley.edu  to request their name and information. 

Faculty advisers (and, indeed, all faculty members) hold office hours throughout the school year to help you with course content; advise on courses, career objectives, graduate school, letters of recommendation, and summer internships. 

CEE students should meet with their faculty adviser at least twice a year for academic advising.  The department hosts Academic Advising Forums each semester to facilitate advising.

The faculty adviser reviews the student's proposed academic schedule, suggests coursework based on the student's interest and offers mentoring for career development.  If a student struggles academically, as evidenced by their GPA, the department will require academic advising prior to enrollment in classes the following semester.

Prior to your faculty adviser meeting, you should:

 

College of Engineering Advising

You are also assigned an Engineering Student Services adviser in the College of Engineering. ESS advisers monitor your progress towards your degree and explain graduation requirements, interpret COE policy, and explain the petition process.

Department Advising

CEE's Undergraduate Adviser (cee-ug@berkeley.edu) answers registration questions, describes courses, interprets departmental policy, and makes referrals to resources on campus. Please connect with ESS in the College of Engineering for general major advising. 

Advising Tools

  • CalCentral is the place to obtain an unofficial degree check online.
  • Degree Worksheet will help you track completion of degree requirements.
  • Enrollment Form for getting a hold released
  • CEE Courses, CEE Course Sections, CEE Course Sections Schedule can all be found here (halfway down the page)
  • UCB Schedule of Classes is where you can find information to help you map out your program of study for current and future semesters.
  • Chi Epsilon sponsors a Departmental Advising Forum each semester.  Faculty and upper division students are available to answer questions about classes and career paths.
  • Each fall, CEE sponsors Graduate School Night with information on how to prepare for graduate school. See Graduate School Preparation Tips.