Creative Projects

Study

Students can study and practice the arts here at Cal by taking rigorous coursework, culminating in creative projects that center the student experience and are often shared with the public. 

• Where to start: Explore arts-related majors and minors within the Arts & Humanities Division(link is external) and College of Environmental Design(link is external), get a certificate in Design Innovation(link is external) at Jacobs Institute, enroll in an Art of Writing course(link is external), or take an introductory gateway course(link is external) or cross-disciplinary Big Ideas course(link is external)to expose yourself to different disciplines and fulfill breadth requirements.

Make

Students can also take studio-based classes to learn about artistic processes, to enhance personal growth, and to expand creative capacities. There is the rich and long history of the arts and design intersecting with other fields of research and inquiry to create knowledge and solve challenging problems.

• Where to start: Search classes in the Academic Guide(link is external) class schedule by “Studio”, sign up for a class at the Berkeley Art Studio(link is external) at the student rate, including digital art classes by the student-run Creative Lab(link is external), take one of Jacobs Institute of Design Innovation studio-based courses(link is external), or take advantage of summer courses within Theater, Dance & Performance Studies(link is external), Art Practice(link is external), and College of Environmental Design(link is external). 
• You can also utilize tools for making your own projects with the Jacobs Maker Pass(link is external), and spaces like the UC Berkeley Library Makerspace(link is external), Mechanical Engineering Student Access Machine Shop(link is external), Cory Student Workshop(link is external), Supernode(link is external), and College of Environmental Design Fabrication Lab(link is external)

Research

Modes of creative expression and art makers play a large role in historical, political, and cultural movements in our world. Students can learn about the impact of arts and design within historical archives, through ethnographic research, observation, and data collection to deepen their research projects. 

• Where to start: Search the Discovery Opportunities Database for arts and design opportunities, pursue an Honors or Senior Thesis(link is external) in Arts & Humanities, apply for research programs that focus on creative projects including the Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars(link is external), Haas Scholars(link is external), Fung Fellowship(link is external) and Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship(link is external), or look through the list of UC Berkeley research center(link is external) for creative research teams like the Co-Design Lab(link is external).

Inquire

Students can gain skills in analysis, theory, and critical reflection through creative inquiry - adding new ways of thinking about how art and creativity (and those who utilize these modes of inquiry) impact our world. 

• Where to start: Study interdisciplinary inquiry through L&S Big Ideas courses(link is external) that fulfill Breadth requirements, get an Undergraduate Certificate in Urban Humanities(link is external) to learn how arts and humanities interact with our environment, or combine classes to earn a Townsend Center for the Humanities course thread(link is external) certificate in topics like Culture & Globalization or Humanities & Environment, attend lecture series like the Design Field Notes(link is external) and Citris Research Exchange(link is external) or watch archived lectures on Arts+Design YouTube(link is external).  
  

Immerse

Students can also gain access to the arts and design through real-world experiences involving the arts within community-focused initiatives, student-led teaching, social activism, public engagement, and more. 

• Where to start: Get involved in arts and design on campus by joining a student club (search Cal Link(link is external) by Arts Student Organizations, Media & Film Student Orgs, Performing Arts Student Orgs), take an American Cultures Engaged Scholarship(link is external) course to work on a community project, join the CREATE program(link is external) in the Public Service Center to receive mentorship for teaching arts classes in the community, find arts and design related opportunities through the Discovery Opportunities Database(link is external), UCDC(link is external), or Berkeley Global Internships(link is external), or make an idea a reality at the Big Ideas Contest(link is external) or Innovation Catalysts Grant(link is external)