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Attending a lecture at UC Berkeley
Interested in sitting in on a lecture?
Visitors to UC Berkeley are encouraged to sit in on a lecture as a complement to their campus tour.
The Visitor Center maintains a list of classes that we feel will be the most beneficial to prospective students, while best maintaining the integrity of normal classroom activity; this list is known as the “Class Pass,” though no actual “pass” is required to visit these courses!
You can access the “Class Pass” in a few different ways:
- Click here to read the list of classes alphabetically by subject.
- Click here to read the list of classes by day and time.
- Click here to see a selection of some of the best courses the campus has to offer, our “Distinguished Classes and Faculty.”
Important Information to Keep in Mind…
Please remember that these are some of the largest lectures at Cal, and that they are indicative of only one type of learning opportunity. In fact, we pride ourselves on fostering student and faculty interaction through small classes, undergraduate research, and seminars. Our average class has roughly 30 students, and our student-to-faculty ratio is 15-to-1.
When visiting a lecture, please remember to be respectful of classroom etiquette, take seats only at the back of the lecture hall, and be on time (Berkeley classes start 10 minutes after the time listed, a practice known on campus as “Berkeley Time.”) Also, please be aware that courses are NOT available on weekends or university holidays, and that some courses may be unavailable to visitors on certain days without notice due to midterms or other tests.
PLEASE NOTE: The Class Pass is only available to visitors during the fall semester (August–December). During the spring semester (January–May), our lecture halls simply cannot accommodate the sheer number of visitors our campus receives! If you are visiting in the spring and would like to sit in on a lecture, please contact the department of interest directly.
Many academic schedules and majors include courses from a variety of departments and disciplines. You may want to consult your prospective department or website to find classes that suit your academic interests and requirements.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the Visitor Center: 510-642-5215, or visitorinfo@berkeley.edu.
Enjoy your visit to Cal!
Class Pass FAQ's
Why did you choose these particular courses?
We feel that these courses will be most beneficial to prospective students, and showcase some of the best material and professors that the campus has to offer. Additionally, these are generally the campuses’ large introductory courses, so as to ensure that visitors will not interfere with normal classroom activity.
Can we attend courses not on this list?
We ask that you only attend classes on this list. Unfortunately, some departments do not offer classes that fit the above criteria (that is, classes that are large enough to eliminate the possibility of interference), or may not be offering such classes this semester. If a department you are looking for is not on the list, we encourage you to consider attending something a different course.
Do we need to check in with the Visitor Center or the professor before attending the class?
No, you are not required to check in or register to sit in on a class, but if you’d like to visit the Visitor Center before class begins, we’d be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. It is our hope that with your good judgment and respect for classroom etiquette, the professor will never know you’re there!
Some of these courses conflict with the tour. Should we skip the tour and attend class instead?
NO! We cannot stress enough the value of a campus tour for prospective students. It will provide a far more comprehensive orientation to the campus than a classroom visit. The course visit program is meant to be a complement to the campus tour, NOT a replacement. These conflicting courses are intended only for visitors who will be in the area for multiple days, or those who have already taken a campus tour.
What about missing a portion of the tour to attend a class?
NO! We cannot stress enough the value of a campus tour for prospective students. Even a fraction of the tour will provide a more comprehensive orientation to the campus than a classroom visit. The course visit program is meant to be a complement to the campus tour, NOT a replacement. Furthermore, since each tour guide has their own individual route, there is no guarantee that late arrivals will be able to catch up with the tour, and departing early from a tour may be disruptive and disrespectful to your guide and the other visitors.
How about only attending a portion of the lecture?
As a courtesy to our professors and our students, we strongly request that you arrive to the lectures on time and stay for the entire lecture. Even in large lecture halls, entering a class late or leaving early can be highly disruptive. For the same reason, we request that you sit in the back of the lecture hall if possible, so as not to disrupt the class. Our intention is to provide you with a rewarding experience that interferes minimally with normal classroom activity.
May I participate in class discussion or ask questions during lecture?
We would prefer that you did not. Please remember that you are there as an observer. Because you are only attending one lecture, it is likely that you are unaware of the lecture’s context, or that your question has been answered previously. While we want you to have the most rewarding experience possibly while at Cal, it is also our goal to make sure that visitors interfere as little as possible with daily classroom activity.
Additionally, please do not ask professors about their respective departments or programs. Professors are not admissions offices or department representatives. If you have any questions regarding admissions, course offerings, or a specific department, please contact the individual office. The Visitor Center can provide you with the locations and contact information for official representatives from all the campus colleges and departments.
What if a professor is not accepting visitors, or asks us to leave?
While these professors are generously opening their classrooms to you, there may be times (such as during a test) when visitation is not appropriate. All visitors are required to observe and respect the requests of campus faculty and staff. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may pose.
Where can I find more information about these courses or professors?
Most department web pages have detailed faculty and course information. You can find these pages by performing a search for the department at www.berkeley.edu.