升学深造采访系列 – 美国加州大学伯克利分校

为了更好地帮助大家实现留学深造的目标，UIC学生职业发展处有幸采访了美国加州大学伯克利分校的Echo Xiao老师和Julie Jang老师，在专业设置、入学要求、课堂学习等多方面，为大家答疑解惑。

答疑老师：

1. Echo Xiao, Strategic Partnerships Manager, UC Berkeley Extension, the University of California, Berkeley.

2. Julie Jang, Director of Global Access Programs, UC Berkeley Extension, the University of California, Berkeley.

Echo老师和Julie老师就大家提出的问题，做出了相应的解答。以下是两位老师的采访记录。同学们阅读完后，如果还有其他疑问，欢迎联系加州大学伯克利分校国际部门：

邮箱：internationaladmissions@berkeley.edu

电话：+1-510-642-2564

地址：1995 University Avenue, Suite 200, Berkeley, CA 94704-7000 USA

1. What is the relationship between UC Berkeley and UC Berkeley Extension? Is UC Berkeley Extension part of UC Berkeley?

Yes, UC Berkeley Extension, and our brand “Berkeley Global” is a division of UC Berkeley focused on continuing education and making UC Berkeley courses accessible to the wider community. The University of California, Berkeley, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). UC Berkeley Extension—like all other UC Berkeley schools, colleges and departments—is accredited by WASC through the University.

2. What kind of programme do you offer? What kind of certificates do I receive at the end of my programme?

We offer visiting student programs. We offer certificates of completion that are at the postgraduate level, but below a Master’s Degree in level. It’s important to note that we do not offer any degree programs.

3. Why study at UC Berkeley Extension?

UC Berkeley Extension gives students the opportunity to take UC Berkeley quality courses with top UC Berkeley faculty or professionals working at the top of their fields, as well as, matriculating Berkeley students without necessarily being accepted for a degree program at UC Berkeley. For students whose schools are not participating in the EAP Reciprocity Program with the University of California, our programs allow students to study at UC Berkeley as visiting students.

4. Could you please give us a description of the curriculum of your undergraduate and postgraduate programmes? What are the highlights and your strengths?

We offer several programs, which you can see in the attached brochure. Our Berkeley Global Access (BGA) program allows students to study any course at UC Berkeley that interests them, on a space-available basis. Others, like our Legal Studies Global Access Program (LSGAP), Berkeley Physics International Education Program (BPIE), and Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP), focus on specific departments, such as Berkeley Legal Studies courses, Berkeley Physics courses, or courses at the UC Berkeley Haas Business School, respectively. Each program has its own curriculum, ranging from more structured programs like BHGAP and LSGAP, to more flexible programs like BGA. Highlights include access to renowned UC Berkeley faculty, networking opportunities and site visits with silicon valley companies, graduate admissions support, career services along with coaching and enrichment activities such as holiday celebrations and trips to unique Bay Area locations, depending on the program.

5. What are the subject areas of your programmes?

Our Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP) focuses on business, entrepreneurship and innovation with courses at the top-ranked Berkeley Haas Business School. Our Legal Studies Global Access Program (LSGAP) focuses on legal studies courses. Our Berkeley Physics International Education Program (BPIE) focuses on Physics courses. The Berkeley Global Access (BGA) program provides access to any course, depending on space and pre-requisite requirements.

6. What are your teaching methods?

A majority of the courses in our programs consist of a main lecture for a large group of students followed by a separate discussion section or lab section with a smaller group of students. The main lecture is taught by the primary instructor, who is a faculty member of UC Berkeley. The discussion section or lab section is taught by a graduate student instructor (GSI). There are some courses that may only have a main lecture without any discussion or lab section. There are also some courses (mostly upper division, more advanced courses) that only meet in smaller, more interactive discussions and do not have a lecture. Many instructors and GSIs will also have office hours available for students. These office hours are designated time slots every week when students can drop in and talk to the instructor about the course work, homework assignments, or projects. It is a great opportunity for students to build rapport with the instructors too.

7. What are the tuition fees? What are the living costs in Berkeley?

Please see the attached program flyer for a detailed breakdown of program fees for each program, and estimated living expenses for Berkeley.

8. What are your term and semester dates? When does each term start and end? What’s the length of your programmes?

Fall 2021 Semester Dates: August 18-December 17, 2021

9. Could you please give us a description of the student accommodations at UC Berkeley?

While UC Berkeley Extension students are not currently eligible for on-campus housing, there are many off-campus housing options for students. Our housing website lists many options where students have lived in the past, including many which are furnished and have short-term lease options, perfect for students studying for only 1 semester. Most housing is shared in the Bay Area as housing costs are high. We have student dorm-style housing where students share a room on a floor with other students, as well as apartment-style housing, which is a complete apartment with kitchen, living room, etc. shared between several students. Some students can also choose to live in a homestay.

10. I’d like to apply in one or two years. Would I be taking online courses from China, or would I be able to get the visa and actually go to the US?

UC Berkeley is planning on returning to in-person instruction for Fall 2021. Hopefully in the next year or so, our classes will be in person again fully, and US embassies and consulates will be open to issue visas. Unfortunately, we can make no guarantees as it depends on US state department and government policies, as well as the public health situation in the future.

11. What are the entry requirements for your postgraduate programmes? And for other programmes (if any)?

You can see our application requirements on the attached program flyer on page 2. BPIE also requires an interview. Programs with scholarships have additional scholarship requirements listed on their websites.

12. What are the GPA requirements?

3.0 out of a 4.0 scale.

13. What are the English language requirements? Do I have to take TOFEL, or either TOEFL or IELTS?

Please see the attached program flyer for details on English testing requirements, and English test waiver requirements.

14. The language of instruction at UIC is English. Would you waive the English language requirements for UIC students?

Students who have taken one year of full-time university level instruction entirely in English can waive the English proficiency requirement.

15. Do you require the GRE? If yes, what GRE scores do you require?

We do not require the GRE.

16. What are the entry requirements for business programmes? Do you require GRE? Do you require internship experience at a well-known company?

We do not require the GRE or an internship for our BHGAP program. You can see details on what we look for in the statement of purpose here:https://extension.berkeley.edu/portal/applications/applicationProfile.do?method=loadApplicationIndex&applicationProfileId=43618589#statement+#scholarship

17. What documents do I need to submit for my application?

Please see the attached program flyer page 2 for a detailed list of application requirements. To apply for a BHGAP scholarship you also need to submit an additional essay and a professional or academic letter of recommendation.

18. What are your suggestions on writing a résumé? Speaking from the perspective of the admissions staff, what do they care about most when reading a résumé?

A resume is not required to apply for the program.

19. Do you have any research-oriented postgraduate courses? What would make me stand out from other applicants? Would I have to have attended a research-oriented summer programme, or have published papers in academic journals?

Our programs are not specifically research focused. Some students do volunteer with faculty on their research through independent study or on a purely volunteer basis.

20. I’d like to apply for a programme which is (somehow) irrelevant from my undergraduate major. What are your suggestions on that?

We recommend explaining in your statement of purpose why you are applying to this program even though it is different from your undergraduate major, why you are prepared to succeed in it, and how the program will benefit you in the future. Some programs, like BGA, allow you to take any course that interests you. US higher education values breadth and general education in addition to specialization.

21. Do your business students study full-time, or do they do part-time study and part-time internship or placement? Do you have any industry-oriented business programmes?

BHGAP, LSGAP, BGA, and BPIE are all full-time programs. You can apply for our professional internship program to complete a full-time internship in the semester after you complete your program, but that is not included in the program itself.

22. Could you please give us a description of your psychology programmes? In particular, postgraduate psychology programmes? And what are the entry requirements?

You can take Psychology courses through our Berkeley Global Access (BGA) program, which offers access to any course in the UC Berkeley course catalog, classes.berkeley.edu, depending on space availability and prerequisites.

23. Could you please give us a description of your business programmes? In particular, postgraduate business programmes?

Please see our attached flyer for our Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP) which offers undergraduate and graduate business courses at the top-ranked UC Berkeley Haas Business School.

24. Could you please give us a description of your e-business programmes/courses? Postgraduate ones in particular?

You can see the BHGAP curriculum here:https://extension.berkeley.edu/international/academic/bhgap/curriculum/

25. Could you please give us a description of your business programmes/courses on management information system? Postgraduate ones in particular?

You can see the BHGAP curriculum here:https://extension.berkeley.edu/international/academic/bhgap/curriculum/

26. Could you please give us a description of your programmes on data science? Postgraduate ones in particular? And what are the entry requirements?

You can take Data Science/Computer Science courses* through our Berkeley Global Access (BGA) program, which offers access to any course in the UC Berkeley course catalog, classes.berkeley.edu, depending on space availability and prerequisites.

*Please note that Data Science graduate level courses are not offered to visiting students. Computer Science courses are limited in number due to the high demand and competition at this time.

27. Could you please give us a description of your postgraduate programmes on statistics?

You can take Statistics courses through our Berkeley Global Access (BGA) program, which offers access to any course in the UC Berkeley course catalog, classes.berkeley.edu, depending on space availability and prerequisites.

28. Could you please give us a description of your postgraduate programmes on food science or biomedicine? And what are the tuition fees?

You can take Food Science and Biomedicine-related courses through our Berkeley Global Access (BGA) program, which offers access to any course in the UC Berkeley course catalog, classes.berkeley.edu, depending on space availability and prerequisites.

29. Do you have any non-degree or summer programmes on English language or humanities? Are they credit bearing? Would I be able to transfer these credits to a postgraduate degree programme, at UC Berkeley or another university in the US?

We do not offer any in-person summer programs that sponsor F-1 visas, however UC Berkeley summer session (summer.berkeley.edu) does offer credit-bearing summer courses, including in English and the humanities. You can request an official transcript for any course taken for credit through summer session or at UC Berkeley Extension. Ultimately, it is the receiving institution that determines whether they will accept a transfer credit.

30. Are the non-degree or summer programmes on English language or humanities the same as the courses taken by your degree-seeking students? If not, in what ways are they different?

Summer courses offered through summer.berkeley.edu are the same courses taken by degree-seeking students. They are condensed to be taken in a shorter time frame than a normal 4.5 month semester, but degree-seeking UC Berkeley students also take these same courses.

31. Shall I submit the application myself, or apply through an agency? Which student recruitment agencies do you work with in China?

We recommend submitting the application yourself. We provide admission advising support and student services to ensure a smooth and painless application process.