• What is the College of Natural Resources?
• Do I have to decide on a major before applying to CNR?
• How do I switch into CNR from another college on the Berkeley campus?
• Once I’ve declared a major, may I change it, or am I locked in?
• If I am enrolled in CNR, will I be able to take courses from other colleges?
• Once I’m a student at CNR, if I decide it’s not for me, will I be able to transfer to another College?

Q: What is the College of Natural Resources?

A: UC Berkeley is organized into 14 schools and colleges, including the College of Natural Resources, or CNR for short. Each college has its own set of degree requirements and major offerings – CNR is home to 4 academic departments, offering 10 undergraduate majors. CNR’s departments are united by a broad mission to increase knowledge, promote the sustainable use of natural resources, and provide the foundations of wise and responsible environmental management.

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Q: Do I have to decide on a major before applying to CNR?

A: Not necessarily – Freshmen in their first year in the College are not required to declare a major, although they must select one by the end of the third semester. All other undergraduates (including junior-year transfers), must be affiliated with one of the major programs in the college. Forms for declaring a major are available in the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs, 260 Mulford Hall, and must be signed by the advisor for the major in question.

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Q: How do I switch into CNR from another college on the Berkeley campus?

A: Students wishing to declare a major in the College of Natural Resources should contact the department in which the degree program resides. It is recommended that you bring a copy of your unofficial transcript, so that the undergraduate advisor will be able to plan out a program of study. Change of College, Major, or Curriculum Petitions are available at the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs, 260 Mulford Hall. Some majors have a formal application process, so it’s a good idea to meet with an advisor from your desired major.

More about changing colleges

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Q: Once I’ve declared a major, may I change it, or am I locked in?

A: Your choice of major should be based on your interests and goals. However, students' interests often change during their first years of college, and students do not need to feel locked into their initial choice. Many of the major programs have similar lower division requirements, and changing majors during the first two years generally creates no difficulties. Changes in major may be made with the approval of the new major advisor and the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs.

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Q: If I am enrolled in CNR, will I be able to take courses from other colleges?

A: Yes – all freshmen at UC Berkeley take an assortment of courses provided by many departments on campus. Although CNR requires its students to take courses within the College during each term they’re enrolled, students will also have room for outside electives.

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Q: Once I’m a student at CNR, if I decide it’s not for me, will I be able to transfer to another College?

A: If you enroll in the College of Natural Resources and later decide you'd like to change to a different college, you must apply for admission to another college on the campus. It is up to you to determine how to do this for the college you are interested in, and to assess your chances of admission--ability to transfer is not guaranteed. Advising websites are a good place to start. While you remain in CNR, you must follow CNR's curriculum requirements to remain in good academic standing. If you lose good standing, it will be very difficult to gain admission to another college.

Further, if you are not successful in your application to another college, you will need to finish your degree in one of our majors, and you need to be prepared for that and not fall behind. Be sure to check out all our majors--including Conservation and Resource Studies, which lets you design your own program--to see if we can meet your needs right here. It may turn out that you can accomplish your goals even more effectively by remaining in CNR.

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