5th Year M.S. Student Guide
Orientation
Orientation will take place on campus in late August, and attendance is mandatory. This is an important time for the cohort to build community and receive important information. The schedule will be posted online and also sent via email in early August. If you do not receive emails regarding this matter, please contact gradadmissions@eecs.berkeley.edu.
Schedule Timeline
Once students are admitted to the program (and accept our offer of admission), the timeline below represents a typical timeline for a student starting in the fall semester.
*IMPORTANT*–ALL courses toward the degree should be taken for a letter grade, except for 299 research units, which should be taken S/U.
Spring (final undergraduate semester)
- Complete the Bachelors degree and graduate.
- If time permits, take one or more courses (that you will not be use toward your Bachelors degree AND that your 5th year MS faculty advisor approves). You will be able to use these courses toward your MS degree. Use this Course Planning sheet to discuss courses with your faculty advisor.
- Begin or continue research project with your faculty advisor.
Fall (1st MS semester)
- Attend the Orientation in late August.
- Meet with your faculty advisor at the beginning of the semester to discuss your course list have it signed and submit it to the Masters Student Advisor in 205 Cory Hall by the end of the 2nd week of classes. This is not a binding document, as course offerings are subject to change per semester. You do not have to wait until after you’ve met with your faculty advisor in order to sign up for Fall coursework (Phase 1 is normally in late July). This is more of a check to ensure you’re on the right track to meet all degree requirements by the end of Spring.
- Submit a petition to backdate any eligible courses taken in the last semester of your Bachelor’s to count for your MS degree.
- Complete fall courses with 3.0 GPA or higher. Only coursework with earned grades of B- or better will count towards satisfying MS degree requirements.
- Make progress toward the research project, and leave time in Spring to write your report.
Spring (2nd MS semester)
- If your course list will change from what you submitted in fall, then please meet with your faculty advisor again in the first two weeks to get a new course list approved and signed, then submit the new list to the Masters Student Advisor in 205 Cory Hall.
- Complete spring courses. Your cumulative MS GPA must be 3.0 or higher in order to graduate. Only coursework with earned grades of B- or better will count towards satisfying MS degree requirements. Additionally, technical electives cumulative GPA must be 3.5 or higher in order to graduate.
- Complete research project and report. It’s best to submit your report to your two faculty readers one month before the end of the semester to allow time to make revisions, get both signatures, and submit the report before the last day of the semester.
- Commencement! Emails about Commencement will go out in January, so be sure to respond to those in a timely manner to make sure that you can walk.
General Petition