College of Natural Resources, UC Berkeley
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We know that parents often have questions for us—please use this website to help you find the answers.

For general campus information of special interest to parents, please visit the Cal Parents website. Whether you only visit periodically or choose to become an active member, Cal Parents can help you effectively partner with the University in the educational experience of your student.

The College of Natural Resources is one of the 14 schools and colleges on the UC Berkeley campus. If you cannot find the answer to your question about the College of Natural Resources below, please feel free to e-mail us directly at: cnrparent@nature.berkeley.edu.

What are the advantages of the College of Natural Resources?

We are a small, student-oriented college within a large, research university. We think of ourselves as the college of "short lines." Our classes and majors are smaller than many of those in other colleges. Students often have the opportunity to work directly with faculty. They are encouraged to gain research experience in the laboratory or field, which helps them define their interests and increases their competetiveness for advanced degrees or the work force. In fact, college alumni have contributed special funding to support undergraduate research with our faculty. At the same time, students take courses with faculty throughout the campus, taking advantage of the vast resources of the Cal campus. Other parts of our website, especially the prospective student pages, provide additional information about the college.

My daughter wants to go to medical school. Will the college give her a good chance of getting in?

Many of our graduates successfully apply to medical school and other health professions each year. We believe that our college helps students get into medical and other professional schools in more than one way. Because students here have many opportunities to interact with faculty, they are often able to get the detailed recommendation letters that are most effective in helping applicants get into good programs. Several of our majors are excellent preparation for medical school, yet because they are different from the generic majors that most applicants are from, CNR students stand out from the crowd. Finally, we believe that our advising and supportive environment can help students excel.

How will my son or daughter know how to enroll in classes, and what to enroll in? What happens if they have a problem?

Our undergraduate advisors help students select and enroll in classes. Students attending the Cal Student Orientation (CALSO) enroll in classes during the two-day program. Our staff and faculty walk them through the process and help them find the classes they need. We also have a dedicated e-mail address: cnrteaching@nature.berkeley.edu. Students may e-mail us at anytime with questions and they will get a quick answer or referral. The undergraduate advisors for majors and the college are very available to students. We work with students to find alternatives to full classes and to put together a workable schedule that will help them to accomplish their goals.

My son/daughter has never been away from home. What if they become ill or have a hard time adjusting?

University Health Services offers a complete range of medical, counseling, and educational services to meet student needs. An advice nurse is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, and a full-service hospital emergency room is within several blocks of campus.

How can I find out what classes my daughter/son is taking or how they are doing academically?

We understand how much parents want to know everything about their son or daughter's progress. Keeping close tabs on the kids is for many a sign of good parenting. However, college is different. To find out how your son or daughter is doing, you will need to ask them. It might be something you want to talk about with them before classes start.

All Cal students are treated as adults, with rights of privacy and the responsibility for knowing campus and major rules and requirements. Student records at UC Berkeley are confidential according to the terms of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and provisions of state law relating to public records disclosure. Specific information can be released to parents, spouses, and other third parties only upon specific written request by the student. More information on record disclosure is available from the Registrar.

What if my son or daughter wants to work more in the humanities or social sciences?

There are four social science majors in our college: Conservation and Resource Studies, Environmental Economics and Policy, Society and Environment, and the social science track in Environmental Sciences.

These majors are often flexible and allow students to create their own interdisciplinary major with an environmental orientation. For example, one student created a major in “Southeast Asian Development and Public Health” based on Conservation and Resource Studies. The student must be able to develop and justify an independent program, and will work closely with faculty in designing the program. Students have pursued themes such as Environmental History, Environmental Film and Communications, and Environmental Justice.

Environmental Economics and Policy focuses on economics and the political institutions that affect the development and management of natural resources and the environment. The program takes a problem-solving approach to issues involving renewable and fixed natural resources, based on a foundation in micro-economic theory. The major requires preparation and interest in some forms of mathematics.

Society and Environment offers courses in how people relate to the environment. It draws on history, political science, economics, forestry, literature, art, and many other humanities-based disciplines.

There is a also a social science track in the Environmental Sciences major. Though this major provides a strong background in the natural sciences, the major stimulates cross-disciplinary capability with a social science emphasis in how scientific information is used and shapes relationships among people and groups.

An introduction to all of our majors can be found at our Undergraduate Majors page.

Will my son or daughter be able to study abroad in your College?

In addition to being able to participate in all the usual University of California Education Abroad Programs, we have a semester-long environmental studies course at the Gump Field Station in Moorea. Students design and carry out a research project under faculty supervision. Many of our faculty work abroad on a wide variety of projects, and opportunities for undergraduate students to work on those projects are periodically available.

My son or daughter applied to the College of Natural Resources, but I don't think they will be interested in any of the college's majors. What should we do?

If you are certain that your son or daughter does not want to major in a CNR major, they may want to reconsider their application. If they do enroll at CNR, it is crucial that they remain in good academic standing by showing progress toward a CNR major EACH semester. If they have not declared a CNR major by the end of their fourth semester, they will be dismissed from the college and the University. Though College enrollees must take courses that will allow them to make regular progress toward one of the CNR degrees while they remain in the college, they do have a lot of flexibility. We will work with them to help them select courses that will have broad application to Berkeley degrees, and yet help them maintain their standing. Students take classes from all over campus.

To change to a major outside the college, they must apply to that major. To do that, they will work with an advisor for the major in the college that offers that major. We cannot help them with planning for that major, or guarantee that they will be accepted by the other college. We can, however, work with them to maintain their academic standing in CNR, and advise them on possible majors within the college.

My son or daughter is considering applying to the College of Natural Resources, because they think it might have more openings than other Colleges. Is this a good idea?

Students are expected to remain in the college they apply to, and admissions standards for the College of Natural Resources are the same as those for the other Colleges. In other words, applying to CNR when you are not interested in a CNR major is both ineffective and a waste of time. To transfer to another college, a student must formally apply to another college and major, and there is no guarantee that the student’s request will be accepted. Finally, your son or daughter would be taking the place of a student who really wants to be in the college – not a good way to begin what should be a wonderful experience. Please see the response to the question above for more information.

What types of jobs can my son/daughter get after they graduate?

Doctors, lawyers, scientists, academics, economists, and a myriad of other professionals graduate from the College of Natural Resources. Our students gain a solid science and math education in the context of real-world applications. This well-rounded, rigorous program prepares students for medical or veterinary school, law school, graduate school, or professional work in virtually any environmental field. For a glimpse into some of the possible career paths, visit our careers for CNR grads.

At CNR you can save the world and see it at the same time!