Psychology Commencement 2025

Psychology Department Commencement Ceremony, Thursday, May 22nd, Zellerbach Auditorium at 2PM!

We will update the rest of this page with commencement registration, tickets, and other information starting early Spring. Please kindly wait until updates are available before contacting us with questions.

• Ceremony Participation vs. Degree List

  Students sometimes think that these two things are the same, but they are not. CalCentral has automatically added each student to their anticipated semester to receive their degree based on your semester at UC Berkeley. If you plan to graduate early or stay for the summer/another semester, please see a college adviser. Being on the degree list means that you plan to complete all of your requirements for the degree.

  
  Signing up to participate in the Psychology commencement ceremony means that you wish to celebrate your time at Cal with your loved ones. Students and alumni may participate even if they finished their degree in December 2023; some may participate in the May 2024 ceremony even if they plan to earn an August 2024 or December 2024 degree!

• General Commencement vs. Department Commencement

  Commencement, the campus-wide ceremony for all graduating seniors from all majors and their families, includes the Chancellor's address, keynote address, and most of the traditional pomp and circumstance. Keep in mind, the Psychology commencement ceremony is a smaller, more personal celebration for Psychology Graduate and Undergraduate students. It is separate from the general, campus-wide CAL commencement ceremony. Students who wish to also attend the campus-wide ceremony need to register for it separately. More information about registration and tickets for the Campus Wide Commencement ceremony set to be held on Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 am at California Memorial Stadium can be found here. 

  Departmental graduations occur separately within their discipline and are more personal, with each graduate walking across the stage to receive a commemorative certificate.
  Students can attend either one of the ceremonies, or both.

• Tickets

  Please note that tickets are REQUIRED for guests and no guest will be allowed to enter Zellerbach Hall without a ticket including children. Students participating in the ceremony do not need a ticket to get inside the venue.

  The number of tickets allotted for each graduate is determined by the number of students registered to participate in the ceremony.

  Tickets are available via Cal Performance online, in-person, and through the phone. 

• Diplomas

  Diplomas are not presented at the ceremony; they are usually available about 4 to 5 months after the end of the semester. Graduates may pick up their diploma at the Registrar's Office (120 Sproul Hall) or request that it be mailed to them for a charge. To obtain your diploma, you must have all of your fees paid, all library materials returned, and have no other outstanding concerns. For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar.

• Regalia

  Questions regarding regalia rental may be directed to the Cal Student Store, MLK Student Union, 2495 Bancroft Way, 510-229-4703 , or visit here.

  Honor Cords may be purchased at the store by undergraduate students who are enrolled in the Honors Program.

• Photographs

  The Psychology Department has made arrangements with GradImages to photograph every graduating student in the past. If this arrangement is renewed, there will be a professional photographer present during the ceremony. A picture will be taken of each student at the moment the commemorative scroll is given to the student by the Psychology Department Chair Professor Ozlem Ayduk. For more info about ordering photos, visit the GradImages website. We will announce any information pertaining to photography arrangement as soon as it's available.

  
  To prevent crowd congestion and to ensure the safety and comfort of all, guests may only take pictures and videos from their seats or a designated area if one is available.

• Flowers

  Information will be forthcoming. 

• Parking

  On-campus visitor parking is available in any designated student lot on campus, for a fee payable by credit card only. Parking lots near Zellerbach Hall include: 1) Lower Sproul Lot and 2) RSF Parking Lot. See map for parking lots here.  NO CASH PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THESE LOTS. Traffic is likely to be heavy around the venue and parking may be difficult, so be sure to allow plenty of time to get there. Please see the Parking & Transportation website for more information on parking fees, maps and locations, disability parking, and public transportation.

  There is limited disability parking in the Lower Sproul lot for cars with certified disabled placards. Please arrive early (by 1:00 p.m.) to ensure parking.
  We recommend that your guest(s) be dropped off with their companion in front of the Zellerbach Hall while someone in your party parks the car in one of the available commencement parking areas. 

  For information on available parking lots during commencement please visit: https://pt.berkeley.edu/special-events/Commencement.

• Weather Considerations

  Please inform your guests that the ceremony is an indoor event that will take place rain or shine. Guests should be prepared for all weather conditions. Please note that the ceremony will take place inside of the venue. Please plan accordingly (with sunglasses, sunscreen, umbrellas, water, sweater or jacket, etc.) as you wait in line to enter the venue.

• Visitor Information

  Visitors coming from outside the Bay Area may wish to contact UC Berkeley Visitors Services at 510-642-5215. Information on local accommodations can be found at the Berkeley Visitors Bureau.

• Zellerbach Hall Policies & Information

  The Commencement Ceremony will be held at Zellerbach Auditorium, located in Lower Sproul. For those unfamiliar with the campus, please view/print this Campus Map.

  Security procedures at Zellerbach Hall

  All patrons entering Zellerbach Hall will be required to walk through metal detectors at the entrances to the venue. Please ensure that you arrive early enough to allow for this new security step and to ensure that you are in your seat and ready for the performance on time! We recommend you arrive at least 45 minutes early to assure you do not miss any of the ceremony.  In addition, we recommend you bring as little as possible with you in order to expedite the bag check upon entrance.

  
  The Zellerbach Hall/UCPD will be checking bags at all entrance gates. The following are prohibited inside the Zellerbach Hall:

  • Large bags or backpacks
  • Glass bottles/Aluminum cans
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Coolers/ice chests
  • Baby strollers (designated parking is available inside)
  • Skateboards/bicycles/scooters
  • Musical instruments
  • Fireworks
  • Noise-makers/air horns
  • Rolls of toilet paper
  • Balloons (may be tied-off at the entrance gates at own discretion)
  • Signs/banners/flags
  • Tripods for cameras
  • Animals (with the exception of documented service animals)
  • Lawn furniture or chairs (small blankets, cushions, and low-backed stadium seats are OK)
  • Any items that can be perceived as weapons

  There is no bag or coat check available. All bags are subject to search.

  • In order to accommodate all special seating requests, we can only seat one companion per disabled guest in the special seating area.
  • Special seating is for people who cannot physically manage stairs due to mobility impairments, have a disability that would make egress in the event of an emergency unsafe, or have a service animal that needs adequate space to perform its duties.
  • Parties that need special seating arrangements are encouraged to arrive as early as one hour prior to the ceremony start time, so as to avoid crowds, and have the best selection for seating.
  • There is an elevator at the Zellerbach Hall.
  • Zellerbach Hall does not provide wheelchairs to the public.
  • All special seats are folding metal chairs and are subject to weather conditions.  Hats, cold water, and seat cushions are suggested.
  • The staff at the Zellerbach Hall will do their best to accommodate everyone's needs for special seating.
• Disability Accommodation & On-Site Medical Aid

  If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Zoe Xu at zxxu@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.

  Information on the campus' Disability Access Services can be found at http://access.berkeley.edu/. Additional information can also be found here: https://dac.berkeley.edu/zellerbach-hall

  
  There will be a registered nurse and campus security aides on duty during the ceremony should anyone need medical attention. The nurse will be backstage.

• Important Instructions
  The Zellerbach Hall doors will open at 1:00 p.m. and the ceremony will start promptly at 2:00 pm.

  GRADUATES, PLEASE ARRIVE AT CROSS SPROUL PATH ON THURSDAY, MAY 16, BY 1:00 PM IN YOUR CAP AND GOWN AND BE READY TO GO. Students participating should sign in and line up as directed starting 1:00 pm. Guests should find their seats or mingle in designated areas that is separate from the lineup.

  When you arrive at Zellerbach Hall, you will be given a color coded index card on which to print your first and last name. If pronunciation is a concern, it should be spelled phonetically on the card. You will also be given directions regarding the processional and scroll presentation part of the ceremony by Student Services Staff who will guide you.

  Although we cannot guarantee that you will be able to sit near your friends, your chances of sitting beside them are greatly increased if you are next to each other in the same line in Cross Sproul Path. The color of the index card indicates whether you will be seated on stage or in the pit. Ask for a card that is the same color as those of your friends' and line up next to each other.

  After receiving your card, it is not possible to switch cards, so make sure you know what line you want to be in before asking for a corresponding card.

  On cue, the lines will march into the Hall and into the student seating. Please remain standing until Prof. Ayduk signals candidates to be seated.

  The first half of the ceremony is dedicated to the announcement of prizes, honors, and speeches.
  In the second half of the ceremony:

  Ph.D. candidates will be hooded individually by their Faculty Advisor.

  B.A. candidates will be presented with a commemorative scroll on stage by faculty.

  Prof. Ayduk will then end the ceremony. The audience will remain seated while the students leave the stage.

  We anticipate the ceremony will last between two and two-and-a-half hours.