Curriculum

Week 1

8/27

Welcome to Berkeley – Introduction

You've just arrived to Cal, and undoubtedly have quite a lot of questions. After we introduce the course, we let you have the rest of the time to ask what's really weighing on your mind.

  • Instructor Introductions

  • Pass out E98 Syllabus

  • General Q&A

Syllabus

Homework

Course Expectations Survey

Week 2

9/2

Meet your section – Social I

By the second week, your classes, including your E98 section, will have been mostly finalized. So now's the time to get to know the people in your section.

  • Multiple Icebreakers

  • What's fun around the campus

Homework

Attend at least 2 Engineering Major Infosessions (Due Week 10)

Attend at least 2 general meetings of different clubs (Due Week 7)

Week 3

9/9

Learn how to learn – Academic Skills

Probably the biggest concern among incoming freshmen, we tackle academic skills early, so that you can set good habits from the beginning.

  • Tutoring

  • Online Resources

  • Notetaking

  • Homework

  • Study Skills

Homework

Go to a Professor's or GSI's office hours (Due Week 6)

Week 4 

9/16

Beyond Studying - Extracurricular Activities

Believe it or not, engineers do have free time. We just generally don't have quite as much as other majors, and need to be more efficient in our play.

  • Engineering clubs, sports, working, research

  • Leadership activities and how to get involved

Homework

None

Week 5

9/23

Social II

We're about to hit the heavy stuff in the next few weeks. Time to loosen ourselves up before we take the plunge.

  • Fun group activities

  • Get to know your classmates

Homework

Group Photo Scavenger Hunt (Due Week 11)

Week 6

9/30

Exploring your Major - Finding Information

"Whaddaya wanna do?"

"I dunno, what do you wanna do?"

Let's try to eliminate this kind of conversation.


  • Resources for learning about your major

  • Techniques for choosing a major

Homework

Plan your schedule for next semester

Week 7

10/7

Exploring your Major II – Putting Your Major Into Practice

In a world that isn't determined by midterms, you might find that things work a little differently.

  • Internships

  • Undergraduate Research

  • Applications of classes

Homework

Write a resume

Week 8

10/14

Getting your foot in the door - Professional Development I

Learn the basics of not just getting a job, but getting the job you want.

  • Introduction to Resume Writing

  • Introduction to Interviews

Homework

Refine resume



Sign up for Career Center OCR (CalJobs)

Week 9

10/21

Practice your skills - Professional Development II

If you're wearing black shoes, don't come to class wearing white socks.

  • One-on-one interviews

  • Career fair information

Homework

Go to the Career Fair, collect 2 business cards

Week 10

10/28

E Futures/ People Skills

In the "real world," you have a team, you have a boss, and you might even have some underlings to torme-, um, lead. Know how to interact with all three.

  • Hands-on learning and practice of communication and leadership skills

  • Fun, interactive training for future professional skills

Homework

None

Week 11

11/4

Being independent - Life Skills

Here's where we fit all those things that they don't really teach you in class, but you're expected to know anyway as you, uh, “grow up.”

  • The Tang Center and Health Insurance

  • Credit Cards

  • Time management

Homework

None

Week 12

11/11

Team Scrabble – Social III

It just so happens that this is a good way to sum up everything that we've covered so far. That it's also ridiculously fun, well, that's just a side benefit.

  • Inter-sectional (when available) Team Scrabble

Homework

Course Evaluations

Week 13

11/18

Beyond your first year – Future

This stuff doesn't really come into play until a little later in your Berkeley career, but it's always good to think ahead.

  • Graduate School or Industry

  • Study Abroad

  • Summer Activities

  • Housing

Enjoy your experience at Cal