MDes2024 Cohort Commencement

A recording of the livestream will be shared with students after the event.

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EVENTS SCHEDULE

Graduates, for more information on other end of semester dates and activities, check your MDes2024 Cohort Calendar.

Date & Time	Event	Location
Friday, December 20 4:00-7:00 PM	MDes Graduate Exhibition	Jacobs Hall
Saturday, December 21 9:00-11:00 PM	Campus Winter Commencement (optional)	Haas Pavilion
Sunday, December 22 1:30-3:00 PM *MDes students arrive 12:30 PM	MDes Commencement Ceremony	Hertz Hall
Sunday, December 22 3:00-4:30 PM	MDes Commencement Reception	Bauer Wurster Hall

 

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DIRECTIONS

The MDes Commencement will be held on the south side of UC Berkeley Campus. The locations for the Ceremony (Hertz Hall) and Reception (Bauer Wurster Hall) are adjacent to each other (about 200 feet apart on a level, paved path).

The closest parking lot (5 min walk) is the Stadium Parking Garage at 2175 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720. See this map for walking directions from the Stadium Parking Garage to Hertz Hall.

For more information about visitor parking, see the visitor parking map or visit Berkeley Parking & Transportation website.  Visitor parking rates will be posted in the parking lots and are also on the P&T website.

 

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FAQ

What time do MDes Graduates need to be at the Commencement?

You must be at Hertz Hall by 12:30pm for class photos and commencement ceremony rehearsal.

 

What time can guests arrive at Commencement?

Hertz Hall will open for guest seating at 1:00pm. We will have live music for guests to enjoy before the ceremony begins at 1:30pm.

 

How many guests can I have for MDes Commencement?

The venue has ample seating, so there is no restriction on the number of guests each graduate can invite, within reason. Please check your email inbox for the event registration link to register yourself and your guests. 

 

Is there ADA access for guests?

Yes, the commencement venue has ADA seating and an elevator for guests with mobility issues. The reception venue also has ADA access.

Unfortunately, UC Berkeley does not offer have any wheelchair loan or rental services, but the UCB Disability Access & Compliance office recommends Johnston Medical for wheelchair rental.

Guests can also refer to these campus access maps from UCB Disability Access & Compliance; they are designed to assist individuals with disabilities navigate and/or plan ahead during their time around campus.

 

Will the MDes Commencement Ceremony be live-streamed or recorded for friends and family who cannot join in-person?

Yes; we will have a live-stream video of the MDes Commencement Ceremony, and post the recording afterward. The live-stream link will be posted to the top of this page. The live-stream will start around 1:00pm PST and the actual ceremony will begin at 1:30pm PST. The ceremony, and the live-stream, will conclude around 3:30pm PST.

The Campus Winter Commencement will also have a live-stream and post-event recording (more information on the Campus Winter Commencement FAQ).

 

What are the differences between the MDes, College of Engineering, and Campus commencement events?

The MDes Commencement is for only Master of Design graduates and their invited guests; the event is held every December for the graduating cohort and features a keynote speaker, student speaker, student awards, and reading of graduate names. 

The College of Engineering (COE) hosts a Master’s Commencement for Master’s students in all COE programs each May. The event features guest and student speakers, awards, and reading of graduate names. The graduate processional is organized by program; students in each program gather and walk into the venue together behind their program banner. The COE does not host a Fall commencement; Fall semester graduates can participate in the COE commencement either in the semester prior to or after graduation (but not both).

The Campus Commencement is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, in every school and college. Graduate names are not read at Spring Campus Commencement but they are at the Winter Campus Commencement. Program affiliations will not be read aloud; however, the live-stream video feed on the jumbotron will include degree information. Although graduates are not formally organized by program at the campus commencement, individuals who wish to walk together can gather together in the staging area before entering the venue. Here is a video of the Winter 2022 Campus Commencement livestream to provide a sense of what to expect. The Winter Campus Commencement is typically held in Haas Pavilion while the Spring Campus Commencement is usually held in Memorial Stadium since more people participate in the latter.

 

Am I allowed to go to multiple commencement events?

Yes; you can go to each type of event once–so you could attend up to three commencement events.

We hope that all MDes graduates participate in their MDes Commencement. Graduates can choose whether they will additionally attend the Campus and COE Commencement events. 

The COE Commencement event occurs once a year, each May. MDes2023 Graduates are eligible to walk in either the semester before OR the semester after their graduation (e.g., May 2023 or May 2024).

The Campus Commencement event occurs at the end of each Fall and Spring semester. MDes2023 Graduates are eligible to walk in ONE of the following Campus Commencements: May 2023, December 2023, or May 2024.

 

Are students required to purchase graduation regalia to participate in commencement?

Regalia is not required for MDes Commencement. Each graduating cohort will collectively decide how they would like to dress for their MDes Commencement.

Regalia is optional for the Campus Commencements in Winter and Spring. If graduates choose not to wear regalia, they can alternatively dress in business casual or cocktail attire. 

Regalia is required for COE Commencement in the Spring and can be purchased in the Cal Student Store or any third-party vendor of your choice. The designated Master’s hood color for the MDes is brown.

 

What commencement events can MDes2025 students attend?

We encourage students in the MDes2025 cohort to attend the MDes2024 cohort’s Graduate Exhibition on Friday, December 20th. MDes2025 students can attend the MDes Commencement on Sunday, December 22nd if they are an invited guest of a graduating student.

 

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LEARN MORE

Please contact Evelyn Thorne (evelynthorne@berkeley.edu). 

Graduates, for more information about other end of semester dates and activities, check your MDes2024 Cohort Calendar.