Data Science has not historically been restricted; all students who meet the lower-division criteria have been allowed to declare. However, the declaration process for the Data Science major will be changing for students admitted beginning in Fall 2023. Except where specifically noted below, the information on this page refers to the major declaration process for students admitted prior to Fall 2023.

Information for Students Admitted in Fall 2023:

Data Science has not historically been restricted; all students who meet the lower-division criteria have been allowed to declare. However, the declaration process for the Data Science major will be changing for students admitted beginning in Fall 2023.

First-Year Admits: Please view the official CDSS FAQ page and our answers to some frequently asked questions.

  • If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and selected data science on your Admissions application: You have a guaranteed spot in that major, subject to completing prerequisites, maintaining good academic standing, and filing a declaration form.
  • If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and DID NOT select data science on your Admissions application: You will need to apply to CDSS if you would like to pursue computer science or data science. Applications will be available in 2024-25 and will involve a comprehensive review. 

Transfer Admits: Please check out the the Data Science Transfer Student landing page to find more information about our program and how to get in touch with us. Check out our FAQ for transfer students admitted in Fall 2023.

  • If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and selected data science on your Admissions application: You are admitted as a declared Data Science major.
  • If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and DID NOT select data science on your Admissions application: You may apply to change to or add the Data Science major, subject to the declaration criteria listed below, no later than the end of your 2nd semester in attendance.

Eligibility to Declare (pre-F23 admits)

 

For students admitted to UC Berkeley prior to Fall 2023:

  • The prerequisites to declare the L&S Data Science major are: Foundations of Data Science, Calculus I, Calculus II, Linear Algebra, Program Structures, and Data Structures. The lower-division domain emphasis course is not required in order to declare.
  • All prerequisites to declare must be completed for a letter grade and passed with a 'C-' or higher.
  • Students must achieve a 2.0 Grade Point Average in Data 8, Linear Algebra, and Data Structures to be eligible to declare. The grades earned in Calculus I & II and Program Structures will not be factored into this GPA requirement.
  • If a student chooses to take more than one upper-division course toward the major prior to declaring, they must have a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average in all upper-division courses completed toward the major at the time of declaration.
  • The Data Science major follows UC Berkeley policy on repeating courses; you may repeat a course only if you received a grade of D+, D, D-, F, or no pass (NP), and if you have taken the course only once before. You must repeat the course for a letter grade. Both grades will show on your transcript, but only your most recent grade will be calculated into your GPA for declaration of the major.
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Prerequisites to Declare (pre-F23 admits)

Requirement Preferred Course Alternate Course Options

*Foundations of Data Science

Data C8 (also listed as CompSci/Stat/Info C8)

See note regarding Data C8 substitutions.

Calculus I

MATH 1A or N1A or approved high school exam credit

MATH 10A or MATH 16A

Calculus II

MATH 1B or N1B or approved high school exam credit

 

*Linear Algebra

MATH 56 (offered as Math 91 in F22) or

MATH 54/W54/N54 or

STAT 89A

PHYSICS 89 or

EE/EECS 16A+16B (both required)

Program Structures

COMPSCI/DATA C88C (formerly COMPSCI 88) or 

COMPSCI 61A

ENGIN 7

*Data Structures

COMPSCI 61B or 61BL

 

*Data 8, Linear Algebra, and Data Structures must be completed with an average GPA of 2.0 to declare the major.

The Data Science BA accepts Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and A-Level exam credit for the calculus requirements only, per the UC Berkeley Math department guidelines. Exam credit is not accepted for the Domain Emphasis or other major requirements.

When can I apply?

The application for the Data Science major is open from the 4th week of each term through the week after Finals, including during the Summer.

Please submit your application no earlier than the last 3 weeks of the term in which you will complete your prerequisites. 

Major Declaration Form Availability

Fall 2023: Sept 11, 2023 - Jan 2, 2024

  • First day to apply with prerequisites in progress in Fall 2023: November 27, 2023. Applications will be reviewed after final grades are available.

Spring 2024: February 5, 2024 - May 24, 2024

  • First day to apply with prerequisites in progress in Spring 2024: April 22, 2024. Applications will be reviewed after final grades are available.

Deadline to Declare

Students Admitted Prior to Fall 2023: Per L&S policy, declared students adding Data Science as a double major, or changing to the Data Science major, must declare before the first day of their final term in attendance. There is no deadline to declare Data Science as a single major. 

New Fall 2023 Students:

  • New first-year students admitted in Fall 2023, if not admitted directly in the Data Science major, may apply to declare Data Science only when the CDSS application review process is available. 
  • New transfer students admitted in Fall 2023, if not admitted directly in the Data Science major, may change to or add Data Science no later than the end of their second semester in attendance.

How do I apply?

Apply here

Applications are typically processed within 10 business days after submission OR after your final prerequisite grades are available.

You do not need to meet with an advisor or obtain any advisor signatures on your forms prior to submitting them.

*If you are declared in the Data Science minor, you will be dropped from the minor when you declare or add the Data Science major, as students may not earn a major and minor in the same field.

Exceptions

The exceptions to major declaration policy described below apply to any student. If you would like to request an exception other than those described below, please consult with a Data Science advisor. 

P/NP Exceptions:
  • Based on changes to L&S policy, courses completed at UC Berkeley with a grade of Pass in Fall 2022 (due to the UAW strike), Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 (due to the Covid-19 instructional disruption) will count toward Data Science major requirements, including prerequisites to declare the major. See the L&S Fall 2022 Late Grading Option Change Modification and L&S Covid P/NP policy modifications for more information.
  • Courses taken P/NP in Fall 2022 are not currently counting on your Academic Progress Report toward Data Science major and minor requirements. We are working with campus on updating this and hope to have APRs corrected later in Spring semester. In the meantime, you do not need to notify us that you elected P/NP for a major or minor class in Fall 2022 - this will be automatically updated for all declared students.
Declaration Exceptions:
  • Any student taking one or more declaration courses in Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, or Summer 2021 may declare the Data Science major at the end of any of these terms if they have completed all required courses to declare, received letter grades of C- or higher for the courses taken prior to Spring 2020, and receive grades of Pass or C- or higher for the courses taken in Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021. The 2.0 GPA requirement to declare will be waived for students meeting these criteria and declaring in Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 or Summer 2021.
  • For example, a student who completed Data 8 with a C and Math 54 with a C- prior to Spring 2020, and completes CS 61B with a Pass in Fall 2020 will be eligible to declare the Data Science major at the end of Fall 2020.