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What is Student Status?

Determining Your Status

At UC Berkeley, your class level is not determined by how many semesters you have been on campus, but by how many units you have completed.

  • Freshman: under 30 units completed
  • Sophomore: at least 30 but less than 60 units
  • Junior: at least 60 but less than 90 units
  • Senior: at least 90 units

Your status can have a bearing on your program activities; for example, once you reach senior status, you must begin your Senior Residence requirement. This is the reason why Junior Transfers can only apply 70 units' worth of coursework from a previous institution toward their Berkeley degree - otherwise, they could reach Senior status too quickly and not have time to complete all their requirements.

Good Standing

You are in good standing if you are making progress toward your degree (ie, taking at least one course toward your major per semester, or if undeclared, taking at least one course that fulfills your general requirements), and are meeting your requirements for any scholarships or financial aid awards. You must also take at least one course offered by CNR per semester.

Full-Time Status

Full-time students paying full registration fees must be enrolled in a minimum of 13 units and a maximum of 19.5 units per semester.

In order to go under the minimum or exceed the maximum, you must seek special permission from the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs.

Be aware that even if the college permits you to take fewer than 13 units, other departments and units on the Berkeley campus may not, such as Financial Aid. It is your responsibility to check with all campus programs pertinent to your academic and financial status.

Part-Time Status

Part-time students are taking fewer than 13 units per semester and are paying reduced educational fees. CNR rarely allows part-time status and only in the case of occupation, family responsibility, or health. Further information is available in the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs.

Part-Time Status differs from Reduced Study List, which is explained in the next section.

Limited Status

Limited status is restricted to students who already have a bachelor’s degree or who have had substantial previous college work, and who have a specific, well-defined academic goal for which additional undergraduate work is necessary. Please contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.

Reduced Study during Emploment

CNR allows students who are employed for a minimum of 15 hours per week to enroll in fewer than the minimum 13 units per semester, but you must fill out an "Employment Verification for Reduced Study List" form and get it approved by the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs. See Verifying your Employment for more information.

Your student records are protected from disclosure by the Berkeley Campus Policy Governing Disclosure of Information from Student Records (1994). All records of your business as a student are confidential except:

  • Your name
  • Your dates of attendance
  • Major (if declared)
  • Degree(s) awarded
  • Date degree(s) awarded
  • Honors received

This information is used publicly in such fora as the posted Dean's List, during Commencement in the program, and at other offical CNR functions (Honors Symposia, etc). If you wish not to have any of this information disclosed, you must contact the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs in writing to that effect.

CNR cannot give out information regarding any other activities (such as your transcript or financial aid status) to anyone other than you, including your parents. Only the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs (deans, undergraduate staff advisors, and support staff) has access to your records.

Disabled Students Program

If you have a documented and verifiable disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations and support services (such as readers, notetakers, sign language interpreters), attendant referral, assistive technology, and housing assistance.

If you qualify for the services provided through DSP, please bring a written document from DSP stating that fact to the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs in 245 Mulford Hall. Failure to provide appropriate documentation of your status means, for example, we will be unable to help you drop a class if that is a course of action you need to take. We can accept only an official letter from DSP (no phone calls or emails), and your letter is valid for the current semester. This means you must bring us a new letter for every semester you want to carry a reduced study list via the Disabled Students Program.

To find out how, or if you qualify for the services provided through the Disabled Students Program (DSP), please contact them directly at (510) 642-0518 or (510) 642-6376. The DSP is located in 230 Cesar Chavez Student Center, and on the web at the Disabled Students Program.

Check with your Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) to find out what requirements you must meet to remain eligible for competition. For NCAA student athletes, in order to add, drop, or change the variable unit load for an individual course, you must file Late or Retroactive Petition to Change Class Schedule (available from your undergraduate staff advisor) with the advisor’s and your FAR’s signatures.