2023 Media Studies Major Applications
2023 Application Periods*
Spring: January 10 to January 27 (Recommended)**
February 20 to February 24
March 20 to March 24
Summer: June 1 to June 16 – Standard Only***
Fall: August 16 to September 1 (Recommended)**
September 25 to September 29
October 16 to October 20
* Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on the final date in each period above and must be sent to mediastudies_advising@berkeley.edu per the application instructions. Applications sent before the start date will not be reviewed. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.
** Students are advised to apply to Media Studies as soon as they are eligible during an application period. When applying in the fall and spring semesters, applying during the first application period is recommended. It takes times to process applications. We want you to have a decision before you enroll in your next semester, which may not be possible if you submit during later application periods.
*** Appeal applications are only accepted in the fall and spring semesters.
If you need a GPA calculator to calculate your major application GPA, visit Berkeley Residential Life GPA Calculator.
Quarter units, transferred from another institution, need to be converted to semester units before calculating your major application GPA. You do this by multiplying the units by two-thirds. For instance, 5 quarter units = 3.33 and 4 quarter units = 2.66.
Special Instructions for Spring 2023 Applications Related to Fall 2022 Grades Not Available Due to Strike
We only accept applications during the application periods.
If you are missing fall 2022 grades for prerequisites and courses related to the Media Studies major due to the strike, record them as IP (in progress) on your application. We will add them in if they are available at the time we review your application.
If you are enrolled in your last prerequisite, not Media Studies 10, in spring 2023 and you are missing your Political Science 1 grade from fall 2022 due to the strike, fill out the Political Science 1 instructor’s form requesting the grade early since you need it to be eligible to apply to the major. List the course on your application as IP if it is not available when you apply.
If you are missing only your Political Science 1 grade from fall 2022 due to the strike and you have completed your other three prerequisites, you do not need to request that the Political Science 1 instructor provide your grade early unless you need this grade to be eligible to submit a standard application versus appeal application.
If you are uncertain whether you are an appeal applicant due to missing fall 2022 grades related to the strike, submit a standard application. We will review your application and reach out to you for a cover letter if needed. If you need to submit an appeal application for another reason, submit an appeal application with cover letter.
Application Qualifications/Eligibility
You are eligible to apply to Media Studies when you have completed all four prerequisites OR you have completed three prerequisites, including Media Studies 10*, and are currently taking the fourth prerequisite, which must be successfully completed by the end of the term in which you apply. If you have not fulfilled these requirements, you are not eligible to apply to the major.
You have only one opportunity to apply to Media Studies. Admission decisions are final.
* Beginning Fall 2020, all students planning to declare the Media Studies major MUST complete Media Studies 10 at UC Berkeley.
There are two types of applications:
(1) Standard Application
Students who meet the Standard Application criteria will be admitted to the major. Students who meet the following three criteria can submit a Standard Application:
- For Students Who Began as Freshmen: You have completed 70 or fewer units (excluding exam units, community college units earned while in high school, and excess P.E. units–over four–earned at Cal) at the time of application to the major.
- For Students Who Began as Junior Transfer Students: You must apply during either your first or second semester at Cal, depending on when you are eligible to apply.
- For All Students: You have a minimum GPA of 3.2 in courses applicable to the major. This includes lower-division prerequisite and methods courses, upper-division electives, and the equivalency of transferred course work. Core courses–Media Studies 111/112/113/114–are to be taken after Media Studies 10 has been completed. If any core courses are completed before applying to the major, the grades for those courses will be included in the major application GPA. Note: All courses for the major must be taken for a letter grade. See COVID-19 P grade policies affecting specific terms and students for possible exceptions.
- For All Students: Beginning in fall 2021, you must have earned a B- or better in Media Studies 10 (or equivalent). This began with fall 2021 major applications.
(2) Appeal Application
If you have not satisfied one to three of the three criteria listed above to submit a Standard Application, you may submit an Appeal Application. An Appeal Application includes the standard application forms along with a cover letter regarding why the appeal application is necessary and your academic interest in the major. Additional documentation may be requested if needed. Appeal applications are subject to Media Studies Faculty review. Application decisions are sent by email. All decisions are final.
Application Periods
There are designated standard application periods in the fall, spring and summer. There are designated appeal application periods in the fall and spring only. Applications are not accepted outside the application periods. The application periods may change each year. Check the current year’s application for designated times to apply. It is recommended that students apply at the beginning of the earliest application period that they are eligible since processing applications takes time.