Cal Week 2021
Admitted
students
Learn more about how Berkeley Engineering could be the right place for you to earn your undergraduate degree.
Student
organizations
and teams
We are excited to share videos, presentations and photos that will help you get to know our fantastic student organizations and competition teams — and see what awesome opportunities are available to you as a Berkeley Engineer.
Favorite
campus spots
We invited our students to share stories of their favorite campus spots and what makes them stand out. We invite you to check them out, see where they are on the map and learn how our students have started to build their community.
Congratulations and welcome to our newest Berkeley engineers! We are looking forward to getting to know you and helping you get to know us.
Berkeley’s virtual open house, Cal Week, invites newly admitted undergraduate students and their families to discover campus, learn about our resources and meet members of the community in interactive ways online. Cal Week provides students an opportunity to ask questions, dive into the Berkeley adventure and share their excitement with the community from anywhere!
The College of Engineering is working on presentations, taped and live, that will allow you to meet advisers, current students and more. We will continue to add events and resources here for Cal Week, April 24–30. Register for Cal Week events through your admissions portal or the direct registration links below. Many events will be recorded. Links to the recordings will be added this page.
Freshman admit-focused live events
Saturday, April 24
10–10:20 a.m. | Welcome & Becoming a Berkeley Engineer
Dean Tsu-Jae King Liu greets newly admitted students and families, followed by a presentation by Marvin Lopez, director of programs, Engineering Student Services (ESS). This presentation will help you determine if Berkeley Engineering is the best fit for YOU. The session includes information about services available to students and how to get involved in research, leadership or professional development opportunities in the college.
Video recording: Welcome presentation
10:20–10:50 a.m. | Q&A with your adviser, freshman-focused
ESS advisers will answer freshman-focused questions from livestream comments, moderated by ESS director of advising and policy Sharon Mueller.
Video recording: Q&A with advisers
11–11:50 a.m. | College of Engineering student panel: Life as a Berkeley engineering student, freshman-focused
In this session, a panel of current engineering students answers your questions about life in the College of Engineering.
Video recording: Student panel
Tuesday, April 27
4–4:50 p.m. | Engineering undeclared information session
This information session is for College of Engineering students admitted to Engineering Undeclared who want to learn about choosing a major. It will include time for questions and answers with the engineering undeclared academic adviser Joey Wong.
Video recording: Undeclared info session
5–5:50 p.m. | Q&A with your adviser, freshman-focused
ESS advisers will answer freshman-focused questions from livestream comments, moderated by ESS director of advising and policy Sharon Mueller.
Video recording: Q&A with advisers
Transfer admit-focused live events
Tuesday, April 27
4–4:50 p.m. | Q&A with your adviser, transfer-focused
ESS advisers will answer transfer admit-focused questions from livestream comments.
Video recording: Q&A with advisers
5–5:50 p.m. | College of Engineering student panel: Life as a Berkeley engineering student, transfer-focused
A panel of current engineering transfer students will answer your questions about student life at Berkeley.
Video recording: Student panel
Freshman and transfer live events
Sunday, April 25
1–1:50 p.m. | Taste of Berkeley Engineering
Join Engineering Student Council for a student-to-student introduction to the campus community with current undergraduate students through a Q&A and interactive session. This session will not be recorded.
4–4:50 p.m. | Meet your ESS peer advisers
Have questions about core classes, fun clubs, undergraduate research or internship opportunities for individual majors within engineering? ESS peer advisers will host open Q&A sessions for each major for you to ask all these questions and more. This session will not be recorded.
5-5:50 p.m. | Engineering Club Showcase
The Engineering Student Council invites you to join Cal’s Engineering Club Showcase, where several Competition Teams and Project Based Teams will display their projects/activities and share their personal experiences as a club member or leader. This session will not be recorded.
Spring magazine
Take a look inside Berkeley Engineering in our just-published Spring 2021 magazine, with features on fiber optic monitoring, a pocket-sized health lab, and the future of our cities.
Department presentations
Bioengineering
- Major Information Session | Monday, Apr. 26, 4–5 p.m.
- Student life in Bioengineering Panel | Wednesday, Apr. 28, 4–5 p.m.
Get the real scoop straight from our current students. Which dorm is quiet? How competitive are other students? Where to get the best burrito? They’ll be online waiting for your questions – ask them anything! - Bioengineering has a full week of events to share with new admits. Join them to learn more about the bioengineering community.
Civil & environmental engineering (register for all events through M@P)
- Faculty panel | Monday, Apr. 26, 4–4:45 p.m.
An introduction to CEE, to include several faculty members who will give a brief overview of their research and glimpse into academics in our department. They will also entertain your questions. - Overview with advisers, freshman-focused | Monday, Apr. 26, 7–7:45 p.m.
For a curriculum overview with a freshman focus, join a meeting with advisers Julia Konopasek and Catherine Bouvier Dang. They will review the courses necessary to earn your degree, show you where to find curriculum information and answer your questions. - Overview with advisers, transfer-focused | Wednesday, Apr. 28, 7–7:45 p.m.
For a curriculum overview specifically geared for transfer students, join a meeting with advisers Julia Konopasek and Catherine Bouvier Dang. They will review the courses necessary to earn your degree, show you where to find curriculum information and answer your questions.
Electrical engineering & computer sciences
- EECS students, faculty, and staff are hosting a variety of events during Cal Week. We hope that you will join them and learn about the EECS community.
Engineering science
- Overview | Monday, Apr. 26, 6–6:45 p.m.
Discover this multi-department interdisciplinary program. Meet professors and students, and learn about our majors: engineering math and statistics, engineering physics, environmental engineering science, and energy engineering.
Industrial engineering & operations research
- Information Session | Wednesday, Apr. 28, 4–4:50 p.m.
Find out what it takes to be an Industrial Engineering and Operations Research major! Prof. Robert Leachman, Head Undergraduate Adviser, will answer your questions. Learn how students use information technology and mathematical modeling to solve problems - Student Panel | Thursday, Apr. 29, 4–4:50 p.m.
What is it like to be an Industrial Engineering and Operations Research student? Hear from current IEOR students about their experience in the program, and ask questions to get an inside look from the student perspective.
Materials science & engineering
- The impact of materials science on COVID-19 | Sunday, Apr. 25, 2–2:30 p.m.
In this talk the many roles that materials are playing in key aspects of the COVID-19 response will be discussed, including how materials play a key role in personal protective equipment (PPE), rapid SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assays, and mRNA vaccines. - It’s a Materials World! | Monday, Apr. 26, 9–9:30 a.m.
MSE, which has led the world of materials research for over 150 years, has made numerous contributions to the understanding of the wonderful world of materials, and in the process has contributed much to the economy of California, the nation and the world. - New Materials for a Sustainable Energy Future | Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2–3 p.m.
Since the industrial revolution, human activities have caused the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration to rise, causing warming of the planet and changes in the weather. Learn how new materials are converting carbon dioxide into chemicals and fuels in processes which will provide a sustainable chemical and energy economy in the future. - Department Overview | Thursday, Apr. 29, 1–1:30 p.m.
Aimed at prospective students, this talk will present a brief overview of the MSE department, its past, present and future. You will learn about the academic program, research opportunities within the department, and career choices following graduation. - Faculty Panel | Thursday, Apr. 29, 1:30–2 p.m.
This panel will give you a chance to interact with faculty and ask any questions you have about coursework, research, careers, or the department at large. You’ll learn more about Berkeley MSE and the culture and community within the department. - Student Panel | Thursday, Apr. 29, 2–3 p.m.
MSE students from all years will be available to answer all your questions about Berkeley and the MSE department. What is materials science? What’s life like as a Berkeley MSE student? What do materials scientists research? Where do materials scientists work? We’ll go through all of these common questions (and more).
Mechanical engineering
- Welcome session and course demonstration | Thursday, Apr. 29, 4–5 p.m.
Learn about exciting research in Mechanical Engineering, hear an overview of the undergraduate program, and discover why mechanical engineering is such a dynamic, versatile discipline. - MechE Current Student & Alumni Panel | Thursday, Apr. 29, 4–6 p.m.
Mechanical engineering students and alumni will answer your questions about what the academics, diversity, and climate are like in this exciting department. Learn why you might choose to attend Cal, and get tips on how to navigate your first year.
Nuclear engineering
- Information session| Tuesday, Apr. 27, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
You’ll have a chance to learn more about the Department of Nuclear Engineering with the department chair and head undergraduate advisor. Plus learn about the department climate, Dosenet, the American Nuclear Society and a student panel discussion/Q&A.
Video recording: Nuclear info session
Undeclared engineering
- Information session | Tuesday, Apr. 27, 4–4:50 p.m.
This information session is for College of Engineering students admitted to Engineering Undeclared who want to learn about choosing a major. It will include time for questions and answers with the engineering undeclared academic adviser Joey Wong.
Video recording: Undeclared info session
Berkeley Engineering Facts 2021: Download the printable brochure (PDF) with the latest data on our students, faculty, alumni, rankings and contact information.