Getting Started: Making a Schedule

Phases of Registration

"Getting Started" Home | Environmental Sciences Home | UC Berkeley

Once you have decided which classes you want to take, you need to get ready to register for them. The registration process can seem complicated at first, so don't hesitate to contact the ES advisor if you have any questions. Much of this information can also be found in online Schedule of Classes.

Links on this page:

• Explanation of the Registration Process and "Phases of Registration"
• Which Classes are Phase One priorities?
• Enrolling in Freshmen Seminars
• Examples

Explanation of the Registraion Process and "Phases"

Registration for classes is divided into two phases, Phase One and Phase Two. There is also an adjustment period at the beginning of the semester for you to make final changes. Here's how it works:

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Which Classes are Phase One Priorities?

It is important that you use Phase One to enroll in the most impacted and most important classes. The information below is a guide to what the most impacted and important classes are for ES students. Use it as a guide, but also ask the ES advisor, ask the CalSO counselors, and look at the enrollment numbers online. By gathering information, you should be able to assess fairly well in which classes should you should enroll first.

Courses that Fulfill Requirements--Your First Priority
When you register for classes, courses that fulfill requirements are your first priority. After you get the essential classes, you can add electives and seminars. Chemistry, Math, Environmental Sciences 10 & 10L, and Reading & Composition all fulfill requirements for ES majors.

Since you will not be able to register for all of the classes that fulfill requirements in Phase One, you will have to prioritize. Chemistry is a very impacted course, so if you are planning on taking it, you need to register for it in Phase One. On the other hand, ES 10 & 10L are less impacted. Prioritize your enrollment for these classes using the chart below. Use Phase One to enroll in as many of these classes as possible. Remember--you are limited to 10.5 units in Phase One.

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Enrolling in Freshman Seminars

Although Freshman Seminars do not fulfill requirements, they fill up quickly. Most students should try to register for a seminar during Phase One so long as it doesn't keep them from signing up for at least two course requirements. This is pretty easy for most people to do because of how the units add up.

For example, a student who is taking Chemistry, R&C, ES 10& 10L, and a Freshman seminar will first sign up for Chemistry (4 units) and R&C (4 units). With 8 total units, the student cannot sign up for ES 10 (3 units) since that would exceed 10.5 total units. To take full advantage of Phase One, this student should fill-in with the freshman seminar for one unit. Then he or she will wait until Phase Two to add ES 10 and 10L.

In general, once you are unable to enroll in any more requirements in Phase One, try to add electives.

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Examples

These typical first term schedules show recommendations for the phase in which students should register.

Open the Scheduling Worksheet (pdf) in a new window.

Open the Class Schedule Grid (pdf) in a new window.

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Environmental Sciences
260 Mulford Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-3100
phnoe: 510-643-9479
fax: 510-643-3132
e-mail: es-help@nature.berkeley.edu

Modification Date: 07/25/2005