The Undergraduate Certificate program emphasizes the critical understanding and practice of new media through interdisciplinary perspectives. The certificate introduces students to the changing new media landscape that is transforming the way we think in the fields of art, technology, the humanities, and social sciences. Our students learn to innovate as they question the impact of new media on the human experience. The certificate program will serve as a pilot and a portal for undergraduate engagement in new media. The certificate is not an official program offered by Undergraduate Education and will not be noted on a student’s transcript.
Requirements
Core Class: NWMEDIA 100
Students must take NWMEDIA 100: Introduction to New Media. The course's learning goals will include new media theory, new media tools, prototyping, evaluation methods, and collaboration methods. Students must receive a grade of B or higher for the class to count for the Certificate.
Two Electives from Pre-Approved Course List
Students must take two electives from a pre-approved course list. These courses can either be two "Special Topics" New Media courses or one "Special Topics" New Media course and one practicum. Courses that we have offered in the past to fulfill these requirement include an instrument-building studio, a mobile applications development course, a hands-on social practice lab, as well as theoretical seminars.
Pre-Approved Courses
Art 163 "Social Practice" (Prof Jill Miller)
Art C179 / Anthro C146 "Mobile City Chronicles" (Prof Greg Niemeyer)
Chinese 188, "Popular Media in Modern China" (Prof Andrew Jones)
Film 155 "Media Technologies" (Rotating Instructor)
Geography "Virtual Worlds: Games, Play, and Geography" (Prof Emma Fraser)
Music 158A "Sound and Music Computing with CNMAT Technologies" (Prof Edmund Campion)
Music 158B "Situated Instrument Design for Musical Expression" (Prof Edmund Campion)
Music 159 "Computer Programming for Music Applications" (Prof Carmine Emanuele Cella)
Show New Media Engagement
Students must show engagement in New Media. Students might help organize and manage a BCNM conference, lecture, hackathon, or workshop, where they have the opportunity to interact extensively with new media faculty, and are immersed in the subject. Students can also propose a new media event to BCNM. These applications will be considered by the Executive Committee.
Applications
Applications for Fall 2025 are now open. To apply for the undergraduate certificate in New Media, fill in this form by November 1, 2025.
Decals
More information here!
Research Opportunities
We also strive to offer our undergraduates direct mentoring and research opportunities. Our students have preference on our undergraduate research fellowship, which offers undergraduates $1000 to work on one of several selected graduate research projects over the course of the Spring semester. You can learn more about the projects students have collaborated on in the past here.
Eugene Jarvis Scholarship
The Berkeley Center for New Media is proud to host the Eugene Jarvis Scholarship for Innovation in New Media. The endowment offers one student on financial aid $6,000 towards tuition. Read more about the scholarship here.