About the Program
The Berkeley Center for New Media (BCNM) is an interdisciplinary research center that studies and shapes media transition and emergence from diverse perspectives. Through critical thinking and making, we cultivate technological equity and fairness in our classrooms, in our communities, and on the internet. BCNM offers two programs for graduate students at UC Berkeley, a Designated Emphasis in New Media and a Graduate Certificate.
Designated Emphasis
BCNM's designated emphasis is for selected students from any Berkeley doctoral program. It provides enhanced skills in analyzing and/or designing future media with an awareness of historical, social, cultural, and other perspectives that might not be visible from any single disciplinary point of view. Students completing the PhD program receive the designation "in New Media" on their diplomas. New Media Designated Emphasis students are also eligible for a variety of fellowships and graduate student instructor positions through BCNM.
Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in New Media is an addition to existing master’s degree-granting programs. Students receive a certificate with the designation “Graduate Certificate Program in New Media,” which certifies their successful completion of the New Media requirements. The award is posted to students’ transcripts. Designed to enhance interdisciplinary graduate studies at UC Berkeley, the graduate certificate program emphasizes a critical understanding of the nature and implications of new media, broadly conceived, drawing on theories and methodologies from across the disciplinary spectrum—the arts, the humanities and social sciences, and science and engineering. The Graduate Certificate in New Media provides students with a competitive edge for some of the most desirable jobs in industry and academia and may enhance opportunities for innovative and collaborative research.
Admissions
Admission to the Designated Emphasis
Any UC Berkeley PhD student in good standing may apply. Admission to the BCNM Designated Emphasis program is determined by the BCNM DE Academic Programs Committee. Applications are accepted twice a year, with deadlines for admission on March 1 and November 1. To apply, students must send the following to the Berkeley Center for New Media:
- letter of intent,
- curriculum vitae,
- letter of recommendation from their UC Berkeley faculty adviser,
- Berkeley course transcript,
- BCNM course requirements worksheet,
- BCNM application form.
Admission to the Masters Certificate Program
Any UC Berkeley master's student in good standing may apply. Applications are accepted twice a year, with deadlines for admission on March 1 and November 1. To apply, students should send the following through to the Berkeley Center for New Media:
- letter of intent,
- curriculum vitae,
- letter of recommendation from their UC Berkeley faculty adviser,
- Berkeley course transcript,
- BCNM course requirements worksheet,
- BCNM application form.
Additionally, applicants may supplement their portfolio with their own research publications and creative productions, which pertain to the critical study of new media, in the form of DVDs, websites, and so on. Submitting a creative portfolio is optional.
Designated Emphasis Requirements
Curriculum/Coursework
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core courses | ||
| NWMEDIA 200 | History and Theory of New Media | 4 |
| AND | ||
| NWMEDIA 201 | Questioning New Media | 3 |
| Tech course | ||
| NWMEDIA 202 | New Media Methods | 3 |
| OR | ||
| NWMEDIA C203 | Critical Making | 4 |
| OR | ||
| NWMEDIA 204 | Critical Practices: People, Places, Participation | 4 |
| OR | ||
| NWMEDIA 205 | Locative Media | 4 |
| OR | ||
| NWMEDIA C262 | Theory and Practice of Tangible User Interfaces | 4 |
| OR | ||
| NWMEDIA C265 | Interface Aesthetics | 3 |
| OR | ||
| Selected NWMEDIA 290 courses, as subject matter allows. | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select at least two additional 3-4 unit courses that significantly deal with new media, approved by the BCNM graduate adviser. All NWMEDIA courses automatically count towards the elective requirement. | ||
It is possible to provide evidence of equivalent level of experience/skill in an area and request a waiver of a core course by writing a petition to the DE academic program committee, endorsed by your program adviser, describing how the requirement has been met with a previous course (include a copy of your transcript to confirm completion) or provide evidence of equivalent experience. Questions about the core requirements may be addressed to the BCNM graduate adviser, Jacob Gaboury, at gaboury@berkeley.edu.
Qualifying Examination
Your PhD qualifying exam committee must include at least one member of the BCNM Graduate Group/Affiliated Faculty who will evaluate your knowledge related to the designated emphasis.
Dissertation
Your PhD dissertation topic must be related to New Media and your PhD dissertation committee must include at least one member of the BCNM Graduate Group/Affiliated Faculty who can evaluate it from that perspective.
Certificate Requirements
Curriculum/Coursework
Core Classes
Certificate students must take one of the following core seminars offered each year by BCNM:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core course | ||
| NWMEDIA 200 | History and Theory of New Media | 4 |
| OR | ||
| NWMEDIA 201 | Questioning New Media | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Students should take two 3-4 unit graduate courses that substantially deal with new media and are approved by the Graduate Advisor. Each elective should represent a different field of the following three fields: humanities, arts/design, technology. Contact the Associate Director for a list of courses that have been approved in the past. | ||
| The following courses are pre-approved to count for electives: | ||
| NWMEDIA 202 | New Media Methods | 3 |
| NWMEDIA C203 | Critical Making | 4 |
| NWMEDIA 204 | Critical Practices: People, Places, Participation | 4 |
| NWMEDIA 205 | Locative Media | 4 |
| NWMEDIA C262 | Theory and Practice of Tangible User Interfaces | 4 |
| NWMEDIA C265 | Interface Aesthetics | 3 |
| NWMEDIA 290 | Special Topics in New Media | 1-4 |
| NWMEDIA 291 | Topics in New Media | 1-4 |
| NWMEDIA 299 | Individual Study or Research | 1-4 |
Research Resources
Lyman Fellowship
The Peter Lyman Graduate Fellowship in new media, established in the memory of esteemed UC Berkeley Professor Peter Lyman, provides a stipend to a UC Berkeley PhD candidate to support the writing of his or her PhD dissertation on a topic related to new media. The fellowship is supported by donations from Professor Barrie Thorne, Sage Publications and many individual friends and faculty. Funds total approximately $6,000 each year. More information can be found here.
Summer Research Fellowships
The Center for New Media offers summer research fellowships of $1,000 to support its graduate students’ research agendas. More information can be found here.
Conference Fellowships
We’re proud to support our students as they share their scholarship across the globe. Each semester, the BCNM is able to offer a small subsidy for students attending the premiere conferences in their fields. To be eligible to apply, students must be presenting a paper or poster on their research at a professional conference. Grant amounts depend on the location of the conference and the number of applications received. More information can be found here.
Undergraduate Research Support.
Each year, graduate students have the opportunity to apply for undergraduate research assistance. We select three to four projects and fund a research assistant to support the graduate's work. The graduate student also receives $500 for their mentoring. More information can be found here.
Additional Conference and Research Support
Each year, BCNM provides seed funding for student-led conferences. These awards are available by petition to the director and program officer.
Space
Cubicles are available by application on the fourth floor of Sutardja Dai Hall. The BCNM also administers 340 Moffitt, which can be booked for classes, office hours, seminars, and meetings.
Community
- We are affiliated with several working groups across campus, including the New Media Working Group and the Color of New Media Working Group.
- We offer our Art, Technology, and Culture Colloquium, and History and Theory of New Media Lecture Series each year, as well as additional symposia. In 2020, BCNM launched its Indigenous Technologies Initiative. Our graduate students receive reserved seats and are invited to attend speaker dinners.
- Our faculty cross schools and divisions across campus and are available to offer interdisciplinary advice and mentoring.
Teaching Opportunities
The BCNM strives to provide its graduate students with opportunities for teaching experience. Each year, the center employs three to six GSIs (graduate student instructors) to staff small discussions or assist with grading its three core courses.
The BCNM seeks to offer summer session courses and encourages its students to apply for these positions.
For more information, visit the Berkeley Center for New Media website.