Field Studies

Overview and Program Benefits

Through this optional program, students will spend 20 hours per week in an unpaid placement in a local company or organization. You would be enrolled in a 7-unit graduate course (SOCIOL 299: Individual Study and Research), taken along with other units in order to reach your unit requirement for the semester. The professor for the SOCIOL 299 course will oversee the placements, including selection and assignment.

In Spring 2022 and 2023, most placements were related to social marketing, market research, business development, strategy, and other roles specifically related to business and entrepreneurship. The companies were primarily located in the San Francisco Bay Area and ranged in size from just a small handful of employees to over 100 employees. 

Eligibility
At this time priority will go to graduate students.

Cost
There is an additional $1,000 USD fee for the Field Studies in Entrepreneurship program which goes towards the placement and selection process.

Applying for the Field Studies
If you are interested in applying for the Field Studies program, you must first apply for a program such as the Berkeley International Study Program (BISP). Click the Apply link at the top of this page to see what materials are required. When you write your personal statement, make sure to indicate your interest in the Field Studies program.

If you are already enrolled in BISP or another concurrent enrollment program, please email bisp@berkeley.edu to inquire about adding the Field Studies to your upcoming semester!

More Information
After reviewing the field studies program, please contact us if you have any questions: bisp@berkeley.edu