The College of Environmental Design Undergraduate Advising Blog

Winter Trip Applications are due Sunday, September 14, 11:59pm Spring Trip Applications are due Sunday, October 19, 11:59pm Join the national movement of college students making a difference during their academic breaks. Explore a social justice issue, immerse yourself in a community, and apply your knowledge. Alternative Breaks takes teams of students to various areas throughout the Western United States on 1-2 week service learning trips, exploring the complexities of social issues by allowing students to work, eat, and live with people who are directly impacted by racism, poverty, and other injustices. Students prepare for trips through a 2-unit DECal. Financial aid is available for all trips. Participants often come away from these experiences with a new perspective on social justice not only on the trips, but also in their own communities. http://publicservice.berkeley.edu/alternativebreaks

Come to ED 98/198 - Set Design and Installation Art - decal open to undergraduate and graduate students Tuesdays 3-5pm Wurster Hall 172 In this decal you will be collaborating with classmates to design and construct a set for a student fashion runway. At the end of the semester we will construct our design for the FAST Fall ’13 Fashion Show. In its second year running, Cal Set Design will provide FAST (Fast Student Trends) with an installation as the backdrop for their event. We work alongside this organization and student designers to provide circulation diagrams, stage requirements and pull together their fashion theme through visual element.  The decal meets once a week and covers the topics of installation techniques, material research, and collaborative design.  Email: calsetdesign@gmail.com

The Academic Senate's deadline for fall DeCal classes is 16 July, 2013. All proposals must be submitted, after they've gone through the respective departments, before then, they will NOT schedule any DeCals that have not gone through COCI.

Set Design - Fashion Show Installation Need 2 units? Interested in Set Design? If so, you should consider signing up for ED 198. This Decal will be an opportunity to help design and construct an installation project for a fashion show that will be held this spring! When: Tuesdays 8:00pm-9:30pm Where: 120 Krober Interested Students should email us at calsetdesign@gmail.com or come to our info session at 120 Krober on Tuesday, Feb. 5th at 8pm.

Are you interested in learning about infrastructure in the Global South? Take the "Design Activism with Global Architecture Brigades" DeCAL! As the mission statement of Global Architecture Brigades reads, “We partner with the local municipality when selecting the design and in the gathering of local materials, labor, advice, and land for the projects. This is a crucial part of the Global Brigades model, allowing us to work together with the community to achieve a common goal that both parties take pride in.” With an emphasis on sustainable design and the ethics of humanitarian architecture, this DeCAL aims to prepare students for one of the week-long brigades as well as to familiarize them with successful design strategies. The DeCAL will feature lectures on case studies, design strategies, and ethics of humanitarian architecture in addition to video viewing, guest lectures, and reading-based discussion. Students will have an understanding of the political and environmenta...

*Starting Feb. 4th* *Art 198, Open Critique (The Critical Forum, Visual Semiotics, and The Avant-Garde)* Art Dept., Spring 2013 http://opencritique.tumblr.com/ *6-8PM, Mondays, Loc. Krober Hall 120* *2 unit course,*Sponsor: Katherine Sherwood, Facilitators: Jonathan Gomez, Yen-ting Wang (Ryo), CCN: (request over email) Contacts: ryocalmail@gmail.com , metajgomez@gmail.com *Course Description:* In this class we will learn about and practice various approaches to critique, which enable student artists, designers, or any creative persons to better give constructive criticism, to understand and develop their own work, and to participate in critical discussion with interdisciplinary communities. In the course of weeks one and two foundational learning of critique will be introduced through lectures, readings, and discussions, and readings on distinct critique approaches, creating what we may call [The Critical Forum]. Student critiques wi...

DeCal Start-up Workshops Thinking about designing & facilitating a class of your own? Wondering how to start a DeCal? Attend a UCFTR DeCal Start-Up Workshop! Don’t miss Spring Deadlines for Fall 2012 DeCals!* We'll address procedural and pedagogical matters such as: * Requirements of starting a student-initiated course * Finding a faculty sponsor * Completing the course proposal form * Writing a strong syllabus * Resources and funding available to you as a facilitator * Campus policies and guidelines * Reserving a room and obtaining CCNs for your course * Advertising your course and managing enrollment * Making your class fun and engaging Tuesdays 1 – 2 pm Feb 21 Mar 13 • Mar 20 Apr 3 • Apr 17 Wednesdays 4 – 5 pm Feb 22 Mar 14 • Mar 21 Apr 4 • Apr 18 For more information or to RSVP, go to: http://slc.berkeley.edu/ucftr *Academic Senate deadline is July 10, 2012, but many departmental deadlines are in March and April. ...

Interested in learning about how to overcome all of the myths that you might have heard about Berkeley Engineering? How competitive is it really? Can you keep a social life as an engineer? Learn about effective studying habits, research and internship opportunities for underclassmen, fun things to do in Berkeley, and much more! Engineering 98 (E 98) is a one unit, P/NP DeCal class that was designed by upper division engineering students to help freshmen get the most out of Berkeley.  Each section meets once a week for one hour, with 3 upperclassmen engineering students teaching 19 lower division students, providing a relatively intimate discussion setting. E98 is an amazing opportunity for both students and instructors. On the surface, E 98 helps incoming students transition from high school or community college to Berkley Engineering. However, E 98 is also designed to help students build the skills they need to succeed in their upperclassmen years and beyond. E 98...

Magnolia Project: Summer Internship, Summer Service Trip, and UNO Semester Exchange Magnolia Project Overview In 2006, UC Berkeley began its work, partnering with community based organizations with a ten year commitment to work together. Formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, The Magnolia Project is a University of California, Berkeley student social justice organization created in collaboration with the Cal Corps Public Service Center. This year marks the fifth summer of a ten-year commitment to working in solidarity with Gulf Coast communities. The Magnolia Project seeks dedicated student volunteers who are not afraid to get dirty and challenge their own assumptions about a just rebuilding process in the Gulf Coast. The program offers a 3 week Summer Service Trip, an 8 week Summer Internship Program, and a Semester long exchange with the University of New Orleans. Upcoming Information Sessions! Thursday, October 6th 7-8:30 pm Wednesday, October 12th 7-8:30 p...

Affordable Housing Issues Decal City Planning 98/198: Affordable Housing Issues Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM in 106 Wurster Interested in Affordable Housing? Take City Planning 98/198! This course is sponsored by the Cal Habitat for Humanity Chapter, and seeks to educate the campus community about the need for decent and affordable housing. The class features weekly guest speakers from academia, government, and non-profit organizations who will share with students their perspectives on housing.  Topics include housing segregation, gentrification, public policy, community and economic development, homelessness, health and housing, land use and housing planning, green building, the privatization of housing, and more.  In addition, a fieldwork component will give students the opportunity to take action by building Habitat for Humanity homes or volunteering for an affordable housing organization. Please contact calhabitat.education@gmail.com with any questions or to receive th...