FAQ

UCSF

Q: How do I get my student ID/replace my student ID?
A: On the first day of BioE orientation, you will go to the UCSF police office to get your ID. Arrangements have been made to pay for your ID. If you lose your ID, you can get a replacement UCSF IDs from the Police Department for a fee. You can call the ID section at (415) 476-7065 for more information about the cost and hours of operations. (Source: BEAST and UCSF Graduate Division)

Q: What is the web page for the UCSF mail system?
A: mail@UCSF.

UCB

Q: How do I get my student ID/replace my student ID?
A: Cal IDs can be obtained at the Cal One office right by Sproul and Zellerbach Hall. you can get a replacement for a fee. Make sure to pick up your EasyPass afterwards as well so you can ride AC transit for free (Berkeley ID required to pickup/replace).

Q: What is the web page for the UC Berkeley mail system?
A: CalMail.

Q: Do I have to pay the membership fee to use gyms?
A: No. You can show your UCSF ID and study list to enter the UCB recreation center and vice versa with the exception of the summer term. In fact, you have access to any UC gym with either of your UC ID thanks to Reciprocity Agreement.

BEAST

Q:What is BEAST?
A: The BioEngineering Association of STudents. Every student is automatically a member of BEAST. Its purpose is to facilitate student involvement and leadership in areas ranging from social activities to prospective student visit weekends, from running the annual retreat to organizing BEST (the BioEngineering Student Talks). There are several elected positions, but the structure is informal and anyone wishing to volunteer with any activity is welcome. (Source: BEAST)

Q: What is the purpose of the BEAST wiki?
A: The wiki is a forum and repository of information for students in the Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering. You can find contact information for current students, suggested course lists from a variety of students, and a chunk of departmental paperwork you will need to fill out through your time in the program

Q: How do I become a BEAST officer?
A: Every fall, we have nominations and elections to choose BEAST officers.

Q: What’s the difference between Faculty, Research and Peer Advisors?
A: Your faculty advisor helps with choosing courses, making sure you are progressing well within the program (they help you fill out an annual progress report), and answer general questions about the program. Your research advisor is your principal investigator. Your peer advisor is an older student who is there to answer your questions and help you settle into the program. (Source: BEAST)

Fellowships

Q: What are the names of fellowships I should apply?
A: Check out the Fellowships and Travel Awards page!

Advising

Q: My graduate group advisor isn’t in my area of interest and they weren’t able to recommend classes. What should I do?
A: Look on the the BEAST wiki for the suggested course list in your area of interest. You can also reach out and contact other grad students to answer any other questions you may have.

Q: What is the purpose of my BEAST peer advisor?
A: Your BEAST peer advisor is assigned to you before you come to orientation and there to help you with your transition into grad school. During your first year, we’re sure you’ll have tons of questions about how to access resources and make useful contacts. Be sure to contact your peer advisor for help.

Q: What are the responsibilities of the primary graduate group advisors and program administrators?
A: Rocio and SarahJane are the program administrators at UCB and UCSF respectively who help out grad students with various grad student issues. If you have any questions about advising, course requirements, funding, or contacting a professor for a rotation, they are the ladies to talk to. If you have questions about anything else, they will do their best to either answer your question or point you in the right direction.

Program Requirements

Q: Is it required that I rotate with three different labs?
A: You are required to complete three rotations during your first year. However, if you find a lab you truly enjoy, the department may allow you to commit to a lab early. Three rotations are strongly recommended as this is the only chance you have to explore the many labs the BioE graduate group has to offer. (Source: BEAST)

Q: What are the differences between satisfying major, minor, and area requirements?
A: Area requirements are general bioengineering requirements that all students must complete. The requirements include Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Statistics, and general Engineering courses. If you have taken some of these courses in undergrad, you may be able to apply them towards your area requirements. Your major field of study requirement consists of 16 semester units of graduate level courses that will be in your field of expertise. Your minor requirements consists of 8 semester units of graduate level courses. For more information, check out the Course Information page.

Q: Where can I find information about quals requirements and how to choose committee members ?
A: Take a look at the Bioengineering handbook, the Second Year Information page, and the Qualifying Exam and Dissertation page.

Q: Where can I find my required forms?
A: Try the Bioengineering handbook, the Academic Resource page relevant to you, or the sidebar link that literally says Required Forms and Documentation.

Coursework

UCSF

Q: Where can I find a schedule for UCSF courses?
A: Your best bets is the the general catalog at UCSF as well as an email from SarahJane when the time for enrollment approaches.

Q: How do I register for UCSF courses?
A: MyAcess.

UCB

Q: Where can I find a schedule for UCB courses?
A: Online Schedule.

Q: What is the web page for registering for courses?
A: Calcentral.

Q: What are the different levels of courses?
A: At Berkeley, 1-99 is lower division, 100-199 is upper division, 200-299 is graduate level, 300-399 is professional.(Source: BEAST)

Both campuses

Q: How do the credit units transfer between UCSF and UCB?
A: 1.5 Quarter Units (UCSF) = 1 Semester Unit (UCB)

Q: How many courses should I take at a time?
A: There is no “official” answer to this question. Each person will give you a slightly different answer. Some folks like to “front load” their courses and try to get most (if not all) done in the first two years. If this is the case, you will most likely be taking about 6-9 units a semester.
In your first year, you will be doing research rotations AND taking classes. That being said, don’t overload yourself. The course requirements are pretty flexible and meant to complement your research; you have your entire PhD to finish the course requirements. Remember: if a course doesn’t seem worthwhile to you, your time, or your research, then either don’t take it or, if you are already in it, drop it! No one is really forcing you to take a class except yourself.

Q: What is the difference between satisfying major, minor, and area requirements?
A: Area requirements are general bioengineering requirements that all students must complete. The requirements include Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Statistics, and general Engineering courses. If you have taken some of these courses in undergrad, you may be able to apply them towards your area requirements. Your major field of study requirement consists of 16 semester units of graduate level courses that will be in your field of expertise. Your minor requirements consists of 8 semester units of graduate level courses. For more information, check out the Course Information page.

Q: What are credit requirements for enrollment?
A: If you are UC Berkeley-based, you should register for 12 units at Berkeley. If you are UCSF-based and UC Berkeley funded (ie, Berkeley mentor) you will need to enroll in 12 units of research (299) with that faculty member. If you are UC Berkeley-based but working in a UCSF lab, you must register also for 8 units of research at UCSF. (Source: Rebecca Pauling)

Q: What are dummy courses and how do I sign up for them?
A: Dummy courses are what you sign up for if you aren’t taking any courses at either Berkeley or UCSF. If you are UCSF-based and UCSF funded – taking no courses at Berkeley, enroll in courses based on the emails Sarah-Jane and Kristin send regarding the 299 courses each semester.

Quals

Q: Where can I find information about quals requirements and how to choose committee members ?
A: Take a look at the Bioengineering handbook, the Second Year Information page, and the Qualifying Exam and Dissertation page.

A: How can I find out if a professor is on the Academic Senate?
A: For UCSF, see the UCSF Academic Senate Membership website. For UCB, see the UCB Academic Senate Membership website. It’s also a good idea to double-check by asking the professor in question.

Q: What are the requirements for my quals committee members?
A: See the Bioengineering handbook, the Second Year Information page, and the Qualifying Exam and Dissertation page.

Q: What is the expected scope of my quals proposal?
A: Your proposed project should last 6-12 months. Your qualifying exam is not expected to cover the entirety of your thesis work. (Source: JGGB Executive Committee.)

Q: Do I need preliminary data for my quals proposal?
A: Preliminary data is NOT a requirement. However, students *sometimes* find it easier to support their hypotheses and choice of projects when they have a small set of pilot data to show their committee. If one chooses to include “expected results,” be *sure* to label them as such. Never present hypothetical data in a way that implies that they are real.  (Source: BEAST)

Q: What do I do if one of my committee members cannot make it to the meeting?
A: The short answer is that you must reschedule. According to UCB Graduate Degree policy, if any committee member cannot attend, the exam should be rescheduled or the committee reconstituted. The Graduate Division can expedite reconstitution of committees under these circumstances. If you have a (one) committee member who is not on campus, they may participate through a conference call, videoconferencing, Skype, or other media with prior approval from the Associate Dean for Degrees.

Q: Where can I practice for quals?
A: Present at a BEST! Contact your friendly neighborhood BEST Coordinators according to current BEAST Officers.

Dissertation

Q: It is difficult to schedule a meeting with all five members of my dissertation committee. On the dissertation committee form, there are only 3 lines for signature… does that imply that it’s ok to have only 3 of the 5 members there?
A: It is the consensus of the graduate advisors that you are best served when you have a full committee meeting. If that looks impossible, then a meeting with the signing members, or as many as you can get. It is hard to get them all together, we know. But it is very useful to you. Do your best. (Source: Rebecca Pauling)

Life Outside the Program