Academics matter. Employers hire Haas grads for their superior understanding of business principles that evolve and drive businesses into the future. Companies are looking for thought leaders, and they’re willing to hire based on the potential that’s demonstrated with admittance to a top tier program.

The outcome of your academic experience mirrors what you put into it.

The Academics Team

The FTMBA academics team will support and guide you through the curricular choices that will enable you to meet your career goals. They can provide expertise on topics such as:

  • Graduation Requirements
  • Course Planning
  • Managing Academic Workload
  • Tutoring Resources
  • CPT/OPT Authorizations
  • Independent Study

The team can also offer advice on priorities, health and wellbeing, and leadership development opportunities, as well as serve as a sounding board and connect you to other resources.

Academic Norms

The program’s core faculty and the MBA Association (MBAA) have co-created academic norms to facilitate a classroom experience that is as supportive and productive as possible for all students.

Students are expected to be:

Attendance

Attendance in the core is mandatory. For all other classes, policies are established at the discretion of each professor and are often tied to participation grades. Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to attendance policies as communicated by the instructor for each class.

Exam Attendance

Examinations are scheduled in advance and students are required to attend during the assigned dates and times. Makeup exams are only considered for extenuating circumstances, such as family death or serious health issues.
Please note that core exams may be held at a time that differs from the regularly scheduled class. Students should not plan any other activities during the posted final exam schedule shown on the online academic calendar.

Academic Information and Processes

There’s a lot of information out there, but we’ve rounded up everything you need to know to plan, schedule, and participate in your classes.

Academic Calendar
Academic Planning
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Bidding and Registration
Core Courses
Elective Courses
Graduation Requirements

Academic Opportunities

Depending on your personal interests, you may want to take a cluster of classes on a specific subject, travel abroad to gain international experience, or earn a concurrent degree. Below are opportunities available to you.

Study Emphasis Areas

Certificates
Concurrent Degrees
Exchange Program
Non-Haas Courses
Special Courses
Volunteer Service Projects

Policies & Standards

Policies and standards are voted on, approved by, and enforced by UC Berkeley faculty. The Program Office provides clarity to students on their specific situations, so they can better understand how policies directly impact their academic outcomes.

Access to Student Records
Accommodation for Pregnancy and Parenting
Auditing
Code of Conduct
Discrimination and Harassment
Grading & Exam Attendance
Grade Appeals
Leaves, Transfers, Withdrawals
Religious Holidays

Academic Probation

Any student with a cumulative GPA less than 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. The purpose of probation is to give a student whose performance is less than satisfactory the opportunity to improve by providing them time to address any deficiencies that have been noticed. Academic probation may result in, but is not limited to, the following outcomes: dismissal from the program; ineligibility to work as an Academic Student Employee such as Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Graduate Student Research (GSR) or Reader and ineligibility from certain leadership opportunities. The FTMBA Academics Team is dedicated to assisting students who are on probation and/or having academic difficulties. For more information on Academic Probation, refer to the Guide to Graduate Policies.

Academic Honors

For students entering in August 2022 or earlier, the top 10% (approximately) of students in each graduating class, as measured by cumulative GPA, will have the distinction of Graduation with Honors. The likely candidates will be recognized at Commencement. However, the final determination for Graduation with Honors will occur a few weeks after Commencement and will be based on the cumulative GPA for all courses completed during the MBA Program.

For students entering in August 2023 or later, any student who earns a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher upon graduation will be considered an honors recipient. The likely candidates will be recognized at Commencement. However, the final determination for Graduation with Honors will occur a few weeks after Commencement and will be based on the cumulative GPA for all courses completed during the MBA Program.

Resources and Support

Haas and UC Berkeley want you to succeed in your studies and offer a multitude of resources to help you.

These include:

If there is additional content you’d like to see included here, please email us at [email protected].