FAQs: Undergraduate Students in Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics

The College of Computing, Data Science, and Society plans to open a college advising office in Summer 2024. CDSS policies and requirements are available online in the meantime. 

CDSS College requirements can be found at this link. These will also be available in the Berkeley Academic Guide in Summer 2024.  

Briefly, in terms of college course requirements:

• CDSS requires four essential skills:
  • English Reading and Composition
  • Computational Reasoning
  • Human and Social Dynamics of Data and Technology
  • Statistical Reasoning
• CDSS breadth requirements are the same as L&S breadth requirements, with one exception: a second semester foreign language course can be used to satisfy the International Studies breadth requirement. 

In terms of policy, the most important difference is that CDSS will use semesters to determine eligibility to enroll. Students who entered Berkeley in their first year can enroll for 8 semesters. Transfer students can enroll for 5 semesters.  
 

The majors in Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics will continue to be Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees.

Yes, CDSS allows double majors. If you are interested in declaring a second CDSS major, you should contact a major advisor in the second program. Some limitations may apply depending on your choice of a second major. Applications to double major will be available beginning in the 2024-25 academic year and will involve a comprehensive review. Transfer admits should consult with an advisor for their intended major about eligibility to add a major. 

Yes, provided you receive approval from the other major and college. Students wishing to pursue multiple major programs must secure approval from the relevant departments or faculty groups. All degree requirements must be completed by the eighth semester (fifth semester for transfer students). Students must submit a petition for a simultaneous degree at least two semesters in advance of graduation in order to meet all residence requirements. 

Yes, applications to change your major will be available beginning in the 2024-25 academic year and will involve a comprehensive review. Transfer admits should consult with an advisor for their intended major about eligibility to change their major. 

Yes, CDSS offers minors in Data Science and Statistics. A Computer Science minor is offered in the College of Engineering and currently requires students to take some classes in the summer. These minors are open to students from any College at UC Berkeley.

If you are graduating in Spring 2024 or Summer 2024, you will automatically receive a degree from CDSS, unless you have opted to remain in L&S.

If you are a continuing student with a CDSS major, you will be moved automatically into the college. If you are a double major with a major that is not in CDSS, then you will be automatically approved for a simultaneous degree. All changes of college will be officially reflected in CalCentral in Summer 2024.

Major requirements have not changed.

If you are graduating in Spring or Summer 2024, then you must satisfy L&S requirements to graduate.

If you were admitted prior to Fall 2023, then you have the option of meeting L&S or CDSS essential skills and breadth requirements. A process will be in place in Fall 2024 for you to choose which college’s course requirements you wish to satisfy.

If you were admitted in Fall 2023 or after, you must complete the CDSS essential skills and breadth requirements.

CDSS policies, such as semester limits, P/NP limits, etc. will apply to all continuing students with one exception:

CDSS uses semesters completed, rather than units completed to determine eligibility to graduate. If you were admitted prior to Fall 2023, then you have the option to continue under the L&S policy where students are eligible to enroll in a semester provided they have not exceeded 130 units as a single major, or 136 units as a double major or simultaneous degree student. 

Students admitted in Fall 2023 or later are subject to CDSS semester limits: 8 semesters for students entering in their first year; and 5 semesters for transfer students.

Admitted Before Fall 2023

• If you were admitted before Fall 2023, you should remain in your current college until eligible to declare. The eligibility requirements will remain the same as the requirements for the year that you were admitted. Please see a major advisor to confirm those requirements. 

Admitted in Fall 2023

• If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and want to declare the Statistics major, you should remain in your current college until you have completed the prerequisites and are eligible to declare. Please see a major advisor to confirm those requirements.
• If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and selected Computer Science or Data Science on your admissions application, then you have a guaranteed spot in that major, subject to completing prerequisites and maintaining good academic standing. Information about filing a major declaration and Change of College form will be available in Summer 2024.
• If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and did not select Computer Science or Data Science on your admissions application, you will need to apply to CDSS if you would like to pursue these majors. Applications will be available during the 2024-25 academic year and will involve a comprehensive review. Transfer admits should also consult with an advisor for their intended major about eligibility to change or add majors.  

Admitted Fall 2024 or Later

• If you were admitted to another college in Fall 2024 and want to declare a Computer Science, Data Science, or Statistics major, then you should follow the Change of College or Simultaneous Degree process to be announced in Fall 2024. Applications will involve a comprehensive review. Students are encouraged to continue following the major pathway they declared when admitted to UC Berkeley until a new major pathway is approved.

If you wish to add a CDSS degree as a second major, you will need to submit a Simultaneous Degree application as part of your major declaration. Applications will be subject to comprehensive review and must be submitted at least two semesters in advance of graduation in order to meet all residence requirements. All degree requirements must be completed by the eighth semester (fifth semester for transfer students). Contact the major advisors to discuss eligibility. 

The Data Science and Statistics minors are housed in the College of CDSS. The Data Science and Statistics minors are available to any UC Berkeley undergraduate student in any college.

The Computer Science minor is offered in the College of Engineering and currently requires students to take some classes in the summer.

Most lower-division classes offered in CDSS are open to students of any major and are widely accessible to all UC Berkeley students. At the upper-division level, some classes may be restricted while others are generally open for non-majors to enroll; this is determined by each department each semester.