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 portal for undergraduate engagement and community in new media.
The certificate is not an official program offered by Undergraduate Education and will not be noted on a student’s transcript.
For any questions regarding the certificate, please contact Associate Director Aaron Fai, afai@berkeley.edu.
Requirements
We encourage students to complete the Undergraduate Certificate in two academic years, though you may complete the requirements in one academic year if necessary.
Engagement Requirement
Students must demonstrate engagement in BCNM through at least one of the following three methods. Regardless of which path you chose, all students are highly encouraged to regularly attend the Monthly Cohort Meetings to meet other new media students and build a sense of interdisciplinary community.
(1) BCNM Events and BCNM Cohort Monthly Meetings: Regularly attend BCNM events and participate in cohort meetings alongside other new media undergraduates to discuss our events as well as the discipline of new media in general. In order for your attendance and participation to count towards the engagement requirement, you must attend at least three BCNM events and four cohort meetings, preferably within one academic year. The cohort is a space created and led by the scholarly interests of its participants, and each year 1-2 BCNM undergraduate students will serve as the administrative leader(s) of the cohort.
(2) BCNM Undergraduate Research Fellowship and BCNM Undergraduate Research Symposium: Participate in the BCNM Undergraduate Research Fellowship and present at the fall Undergraduate Research Symposium. You must submit a separate application for the fellowship program and be accepted as a participating fellow. If presenting at the symposium is not possible for your timeline, you may choose to present at a monthly meeting of the BCNM Cohort instead.
(3) Independent Research Project and BCNM Undergraduate Research Symposium: Independently organize a new media research project, program, or event. The graduate coordinators of the New Media Working Group and the BCNM Associate Director are available to consult on projects, and BCNM will assist with co-promotion of any programs and events. We highly encourage community engaged activities as well as projects that focus on women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Global South, ability diverse, and socioeconomically disadvantaged peoples as makers and users of new media. If presenting at the symposium is not possible for your timeline, you may choose to present at a monthly meeting of the BCNM Cohort instead.
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.
In 2026-27, NWMEDIA 100 will not be offered. For this academic year, students are welcome to take FILM 35: Intro to Digital Media in Fall 2026 with Jacob Gaboury in order to fulfill this core requirement. We anticipate offering NWMEDIA 100 in Fall 2027.
Two Electives
Students must take two electives related to new media from the below pre-approved course list or courses they propose to the BCNM Associate Director. These courses can be from any department, as long as they represent an aspect of new media scholarship.
Courses that New Media has offered in the past to fulfill this requirement include an instrument-building studio, a mobile applications development course, a hands-on social practice lab, as well as theoretical seminars. "Special Topics" New Media courses will automatically count towards the elective requirement.
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 145 "Global Media" (Prof Iggy Cortez)
Film 155 "Media Technologies" (Prof Jacob Gaboury and rotating instructors)
Geography 103 "Virtual Worlds: Games, Play, and Geography" (Prof Emma Fraser)
Music 159 "Computer Programming for Music Applications" (Prof Carmine Emanuele Cella)
New Media 90 "Special Topics" typically offered in-person in the summer term
New Media 131-139 on Global Digital Infrastructure, offered online during the summer term
New Media 151AC: Transforming Tech: Issues and Interventions in STEM and Silicon Valley, offered online during the summer term
Applications
Please apply using this form. Fall 2026 applications are due November 1, 2026, and Spring 2027 applications are due on March 1, 2027.
Grant Opportunities
Accepted BCNM undergraduate students will be eligible and be given priority for the following funding opportunities:
- 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. New Media undergraduates who are financially eligible will be automatically considered for this opportunity. No deadline.
- Conference Grant: Each semester, 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, poster, or otherwise sharing their research (such as through a performance or art installation) at a professional conference (or exhibition etc.). Deadlines Oct 1 and Mar 1.
- Undergraduate Research Fellowship: BCNM undergraduates support graduate students on dissertation-level research during the summer term. Fellows will receive $1000 for approximately 50 hours of work. Deadline Mar 1.
Contact
For any questions regarding the certificate, please contact Associate Director Aaron Fai, afai@berkeley.edu.