Interdisciplinary Studies Field

The Interdisciplinary Studies Field (ISF) major program invites you to our Fall 2026 ISF Symposium: Marx for the Twenty-first Century. Distinguished scholar, translator, and Berkeley alumnus Professor Paul Reitter (Ohio Eminent Scholar of German) will discuss his acclaimed, award-winning new English translation of Marx’ Capital (Princeton University Press, 2024). He will be joined in conversation by Bradford DeLong, Professor of Economics at Berkeley, and Rakesh Bhandari, Associate Director of ISF. Light refreshments will be provided. Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026 Time: 3:30-6:00 pm Location: 220 Stephens Hall (Townsend Center Geballe Room) RSVP (link: https://forms.gle/RFRtgkm6t88MMvPY6) by November

ISF Workshop: Major Declaration and Course of Study Proposal To help students make sense of the declaration process and the short answer questions included in the ISF Declaration form, Prof. Shreeharsh Kelkar will host a workshop on Wednesday, October 7th from 2:00-3:15PM in 507 UAB (Undergraduate Academic Building, 5th floor). No need to RSVP. When: Wednesday, October 7th 2:00-3:15PM Where: 507 UAB (Undergraduate Academic Building, 5th floor)

Effective Fall 2026, the ISF Major Declaration Form will be open for submissions from weeks 5-10 of the Fall and Spring semesters. There will be no summer declaration window. Also effective Fall 2026: the final deadline to declare the ISF major is the end of Week 10 of a student’s 3rd year (6th semester for freshmen admits; 2nd semester for transfer admits). Students will receive a confirmation of declaration or other response from isf@berkeley.edu during weeks 11-12 of the semester. Additionally, the ISF MAJOR DECLARATION FORM is now a Google Form that will

ISF 198 001: Teaching Kids to Think, With (and About) Mass Media will be offered this semester, Fall 2026! This is an interdisciplinary critical study of the children’s media industry in a time of great change. The class will be facilitated by Channing Kennedy, a current ISF senior, student parent, kids’ comic artist, and former preschool story time Youtuber (same person). In Channing’s words: “Come yap and hear guest lecturers yap about: developmental psychology, advertising vs. membership business models, public policy regulation and deregulation, UI/UX, the practice and history of

Explore the nature of ‘science’ and the human and structural factors that shape its practice, impact, and human drama. This course deeply reads three foundational texts: James Watson’s “The Double Helix” (1968): A first-person unfiltered memoir of DNA discovery, fame, success, and the pursuit of truth. Tracy Kidder’s “The Soul of a New Machine” (1981): A look at what it takes to invent, build, and manufacture a new mini-computer, exploring money, office politics, and ingenuity. John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood (2018): The cautionary story of Theranos, Silicon Valley start-ups, scientific fraud,

Summer 2026 course registration has begun and students from all majors can enroll in the ISF course offerings. If you are interested in the ISF major, are interested in the course topics, or if you need to satisfy L&S breadth requirements, please find more information about each course below! Session A: 6 weeks, May 26 – July 2 ISF 100A: Introduction to Social Theory and Cultural Analysis Taught by Rakesh Bhandari On campus Monday-Thursday 10a-12p Class #: 14183, 4 units Satisfies Philosophy & Values or Social & Behavioral Sciences L&S

The ceremony will be live streamed with captioning, and recorded. This ceremony is for students in the ISF, American Studies, and Media Studies who are graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026 and Fall 2026. More information will be posted as it becomes available on the Commencement page on the ISF website and on the UGIS Commencement website. We recommend students and guests bookmark these pages to easily check for updates in the Spring semester. We look forward to seeing you there!

ISF is offering TWO new courses this upcoming Fall semester. Any Berkeley student may use these courses to satisfy L&S Breadth requirements. Please check the ‘Rules & Requirements’ section on the Class Information page via the Class Schedule or view the details below. Prospective ISF students (registered at UC Berkeley) may use either course to satisfy a declaration requirement and current ISF students may use either course to satisfy a Course of Study requirement with their ISF faculty advisor’s approval. ISF 110: Fundamental Texts: The State Students with Research Fields