Commencement

2024 History Commencement | Tuesday, May 14 @9:30am, Zellerbach Auditorium

The Department of History holds one commencement ceremony and reception each year in mid-May. This year's ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 9:30 am at Zellerbach Auditorium. 

History Commencement Ceremony

* The below information is intended for all graduating students within the History Department, a seperate set of information for guest attending commencement will be made available soon. *


GRADUATION CEREMONY

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 9:30 am, Zellerbach Auditorium

  • 8:30am: Doors open for guest seating
  • 8:30-9:00am: Graduating students assemble (see below for details)
  • 8:30-9:30am: Musical Interlude
  • 9:30am: The ceremony begins

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ATTEND

For Undergraduates: Register online via the Undergraduate Student Registration Form by Friday April 26th.

For M.A./Ph.D.: Register online via the M.A./Ph.D. Student Registration Form by Friday April 26th.

In order to keep the ceremony lively, the Department Chair includes a few student stories in their speech. When registering for commencement, you will be asked to list your notable accomplishments and activities, and to provide a brief anecdote that might help the audience understand what the process of earning your degree in history has been like.


TICKETS

Tickets are required of all guests (not you). Buy tickets online through Cal Performances, beginning mid-April (date TBD). Commencement tickets may also be purchased through Cal Performances in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office and by phone. Tickets are $15 each.

We recommend that you purchase tickets in advance to ensure that you secure the extra seats you may need for your guests. Last minute additional tickets if available, will be sold at the venue on Commencement Day. No tickets will be sold through the History Department.

NOTE: Since there will NOT be reserved seating, tell your guests to get there early for the best view! 


REGALIA

Caps and gowns, as well as tassels and honor cords, are optional, but 99% of participants wear the gear. Caps and gowns are available to purchase and to rent at the Cal Student Store

For M.A./Ph.D.: If you are interested in purchasing a higher quality version of a cap and gown in official Berkeley Blue you may either order it from a non-campus vendor, Cap and Gowns or PhinishedGown. Cap and Gown’s price depends on the number of sets ordered on one invoice. Check the website www.capandgowns.com for details. For additional options, check www.phinishedgown.com. If you wish to order the higher quality regalia you may do so any time now, but must get your order in by mid-March as they are custom made and will take six to eight weeks to arrive. Whichever kind of regalia you choose, your tassel goes on the left of your cap/tam. Since you already have the BA, you won’t be moving it during the ceremony


ACCESSIBILITY

The ceremony and reception are wheelchair-accessible. If you require accommodation to participate fully in the commencement ceremony please contact history-events@berkeley.edu. Please request accommodations as soon as possible since some types of accommodations take several weeks to arrange. In most cases, the University can respond to requests for accommodations up to a week prior to the event.


ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

Arrive by 9:00am at the absolute latest. Please note that there is nowhere to store personal belongings backstage, so be sure to leave any purses, umbrellas or other items with family or friends.

For Undergraduates: IMMEDIATELY upon your arrival, go to the grad assembly area in the second-floor Mezzanine in Zellerbach. Department staff will be distributing yellow cards in the area near the (closed) café, so please pick up the card with your name pre-printed on it. Then, line up by the sign that bears the name of your general area of emphasis—US, East Asia, Latin America, etc.

For M.A./Ph.D.: If you wish to have a headshot taken by the photographer, you will need to arrive no later than 8:30am (note that there is no obligation to purchase the photo and you get a free proof). Find History staff in the backstage area on the left side of the stage as you enter the auditorium. Resist the urge to go to the right (faculty side) of the stage area, even if you are directed there by the ushers. You now look like faculty, but really still do belong on the left (student side) of the stage a bit longer. History staff will direct you to your position in line, and a map with a diagram of the stage showing how you will process. Please line up as instructed. Despite the temptation to look for family and friends, don’t veer from the procession line.


REHEARSAL

There isn't one.


PROCESSIONAL

For Undergraduates: Staff will direct you from the second-floor Mezzanine in Zellerbach into the graduate seating area inside the auditorium. You will be led down a center aisle and directed into the seats in front of the stage area. Do not change your seat. Do notlose your yellow card.

For M.A./Ph.D.: You will then “process” from the backstage into the seating area on stage when directed to do so. In order to avoid problems, please remain in the processional order and do not deviate from your assigned seat. Proper placement of the doctoral hood is draped over your arm. You will carry it this same way when you later walk across the stage to be hooded.


ORDER OF EVENTS

The first order of the day will be the speeches. Next is the announcement of awards and prizes. After that comes your moment in the limelight! There is a photographer positioned to capture this special moment, so exhale, and try to look relaxed.

For M.A./Ph.D.: The Ph.D.s will be first up to receive their "diplomas," The Vice Chair of Graduate Studies will be announcing the names of all graduate degree participants, and either a member of the students committee, or the Department Chair will offer a handshake and do the honor of hooding you. Graduating M.A. students will follow.

For Undergraduates: Rise when we cue your group and walk gracefully down the aisle toward the stage; smile for the camera-person; hand your yellow card—remember those yellow cards?—to the speaker at the podium; saunter sophisticatedly across the stage as your name is announced, accepting your handshake to thunderous applause; trip light-headed back to your original seat. An usher will show the way.


RECEPTION

A reception for graduates and their guest will immediately follow the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. 


DIPLOMAS AND OTHER PIECES OF PAPER

For Undergraduates: You will receive only a souvenir certificate at graduation. Because Spring grades must still be processed, diplomas will be available about four months after the end of the term. If you need proof of graduation before then, you can request this at Cal Student Central in 120 Sproul Hall. Please go to CalCentral online now to record a diploma mailing address. If you do not supply an alternative address by the July deadline, the diploma will be mailed to your permanent home address.

For M.A./Ph.D.: Diplomas will be mailed to your permanent address approximately 4 months after graduation. Make sure you update Cal Student Central with your future address. If you need proof of graduation before then you can use the Certificate of Completion which will automatically be email to you from Graduate Division; please be aware of that Certificates are automatically generated by the grad div system and emailed to students as soon as all steps in the filing process have been completed AND all requirements have been met on the student’s Academic Progress Report (APR).


UNIVERSITY-WIDE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Spring 2024: Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 10:30am, California Memorial Stadium

Information is available at commencement.berkeley.edu. You are welcome to attend both ceremonies, but only the History Department will read your name and area of specialization as you cross the stage.