Data Science Minor

Based on changes to L&S and campus policy, courses completed at UC Berkeley with a grade of Pass in Spring 2020, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 will count toward Data Science minor requirements. Please see the L&S P/NP policy modifications for more information.

Effective Fall 2019: UC Berkeley requires all students to declare a minor at least 1 semester in advance of graduation.

The Minor in Data Science at UC Berkeley aims to provide students with practical knowledge of the methods and techniques of data analysis, as well as the ability to think critically about the construction and implications of data analysis and models. The minor will empower students across the wide array of campus disciplines with a working knowledge of statistics, probability, and computation that allow students not just to participate in data science projects, but to design and carry out rigorous computational and inferential analysis for their field of interest.

The minor in Data Science has been approved for all undergraduate students.

Requirements for the Data Science Minor

Lower Division Requirements
1. Foundations Data C8 (CompSci/Stat/Info C8)
2. Programming CompSci 88 or CompSci 61A or ENGIN 7
3. Probability

Stat 88 or CivEng 93 or CompSci 70 or Math 10B or Math 55

(Students may choose to substitute Stat 134, Stat 140, IND ENG 172, or EECS 126. If counted here, the same course will not also count toward the upper-division electives in the minor.)
Upper Division Requirements

1-Course Core Pathway

The 1-course core pathway requires mathematical experience/competence equivalent to at least 2 semesters of calculus and some linear algebra. In its current implementation, Data 100 uses Python.

2-Course Core Pathway

The 2-course core pathway requires mathematical experience/competence equivalent to at least 1 semester of calculus. In its current implementation, Stat 131A and 133 use R.
1. Gateway Data 100 (CS/Stat C100) - Principles & Techniques of Data Science

Data/Stat 131A - Statistical Methods for Data Science and

Stat 133 - Concepts in Computing with Data
2. Human Contexts & Ethics Choose ONE from: AMERST/AFRICAM 134 or C134, BIO ENG 100, CY PLAN 101, DATA C104/HIST C184D/STS C104, DIGHUM 100, ESPM C167/PBHLTH C160, INFO 188, ISF 100J, NWMEDIA 151AC, PHILOS 121

Choose ONE from: AMERST/AFRICAM 134 or C134, BIO ENG 100, CY PLAN 101, DATA C104/HIST C184D/STS C104, DIGHUM 100, ESPM C167/PBHLTH C160, INFO 188, ISF 100J, NWMEDIA 151AC, PHILOS 121

Elective(s)

Choose TWO from the approved electives list

 Choose ONE from the approved electives list

Grading Rules

  1. All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade.
  2. Students must earn a C- or better in each course, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA in all courses towards the minor.

Overlap Rules*

  1. Students may overlap up to 1 course in the upper division requirements for the Data Science minor with each of their majors (for example, a Computer Science major may count COMPSCI/STAT C100 toward both their major and the Data Science minor).
  2. A maximum of one course offered by or cross-listed with the student’s major department(s) may count toward the data science minor upper-division requirements, including any overlapping course (for example, if a Computer Science major takes COMPSCI/STAT C100 toward the Data Science minor, this is the only COMPSCI, ELENG, or EECS course which may count toward the upper-division requirements for the minor).
  3. An upper-division course used to fulfill a lower-division requirement (for example, Stat 134 to fulfill the probability requirement) will not be counted toward the maximum 1 course allowed to overlap with the major, nor will it fulfill one of the four upper division course requirements.
  4. There is no restriction on overlap with another minor.

*Please also be sure to check with your home College about any overlap rules that may apply to minors. If your College has a different policy, the most restrictive policy applies. 

Step 1. Declaring the Minor

Criteria to declare:

  • Data 8 completed with a C- or better, and 
  • 2 additional courses toward the minor completed or in progress in the current term

Process:

Submit your application to declare the minor online. The form is available here from the 3rd week of classes through Friday of RRR week in each term. 

Once approved, the Data Science minor will appear on your student record in CalCentral.

Deadline: 

You must submit your application to declare the Data Science minor at least one semester in advance of your Expected Graduation Term (the last day of RRR week or, if the semester before your final term is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions). You can check your Expected Graduation Term (EGT) on CalCentral.

Exceptions will be granted for students graduating in Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 only.

Step 2: Completing the Minor

Requirements to complete:

  • All 7 courses completed with a letter grade of C- or better in each, and 2.0 overall GPA in the minor by the end of your final term

Process:

In your final semester, fill out the Data Science Minor Completion form and obtain a signature from your major advisor. Students with more than one major should complete one form for each major.

Scan and submit your completed and signed form to our Minor Completion online form.

Once approved, the Data Science minor will appear on your UC Berkeley transcript. Minors do not appear on the diploma.

Deadline: 

You must submit your Data Science Minor Completion form by the last day of RRR Week in your Expected Graduation Term (or, if your final term is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions).

Forms will not be accepted earlier than the term in which you expect to graduate, regardless of when you complete the requirements for the minor.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've advanced beyond Data 8. Will the “grandfathered” substitution option for the major also be accepted for the minor?

  • For students admitted to UC Berkeley as freshmen prior to Fall 2018 or as transfers prior to Fall 2019, we allow a "grandfathered" option to substitute for Data 8 in the minor if both courses are completed no later than Summer 2019:

    • Stat 20, 21, 131A or 135 and

    • CS 61A or ENGIN 7

  • Stat 131A or 135 may not be used toward both the Data 8 substitution and the upper-division requirements in the minor.

Are there any exceptions to the deadline to declare the minor?

  • Students must declare the minor a semester before their expected graduation term (EGT). 
  • Students who have an EGT of Spring 2021 or Summer 2021, and who will complete Data 8 in the term immediately prior to graduation, may declare the Data Science minor with Data 8 in progress in the same term they are declaring, with 2 additional courses toward the minor completed or in progress.

I already completed one or more of the courses for the minor on a Pass/Not Pass basis before Fall 2019. Will they be accepted?

  • We will accept up to 2 courses completed with a Pass prior to Fall 2019 toward the Data Science minor, of which 1 may be upper-division. Courses completed with a Pass in Fall 2019 or later will not be accepted toward the minor.

Can I use a second course offered by the department of my major toward the upper-division requirements of the Data Science minor if the course is not being counted toward my major?

  • No. The overlap rules allow a maximum of 1 course offered by or cross-listed with the department of your major to count toward the upper-division requirements, regardless of whether the course is meeting any requirements in your major. Because Data Science is very interdisciplinary and spans many subject areas, our faculty feel that you will benefit most from the minor if you expand your knowledge and skill set beyond the area(s) in which you are already pursuing a major.

What kind of priority (if any) will Data Science minors receive for enrollment in classes for the minor?

  • Currently, there are no plans to provide priority enrollment in any courses for Data Science minors, as a minor is not required to graduate.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement to declare the minor?

  • There is no minimum GPA to declare the minor, but you will need to earn a minimum 2.0 overall GPA in the minor in order to have it conferred at graduation. You must also earn a minimum C- or better in each course.

Where does the minor appear on my student record?

  • Once declared, the Data Science minor will appear on your CalCentral dashboard and your Academic Progress Report. Please note that courses listed on the Academic Progress Report may not accurately reflect the minor overlap policies. 
  • Once completed and verified, the Data Science minor will appear on your UC Berkeley transcript. Minors do not appear on the diploma.

What happens if I declare the minor but don’t finish the requirements by the end of my final semester?

  • If you know that you will not complete the requirements for the Data Science minor, please submit an online request to drop the minor from your student record prior to the end of your Expected Graduation Term.

  • If you do not complete the requirements and/or do not submit a Minor Completion Form by Friday of RRR week in your final term, the minor will be automatically dropped and you will graduate without the minor. However, this may cause delays in processing your graduation so it is strongly recommended that you drop the minor in advance.

  • If you wish to change your graduation date to a future term in order to complete the minor, you must notify your College Advisor before Friday of RRR week. Note that a minor does not entitle a student to an extra semester, or an exception to the L&S unit ceiling.

How can I drop the Data Science minor?

Does the Data Science Education Program use the Academic Progress Report in CalCentral?

  • While the requirements for the Data Science minor appear on the Academic Progress Report, it may not accurately reflect the minor overlap policies. Please check with a Data Science advisor if you have questions or are not sure which classes you can overlap with your major(s).

Who should I ask if I have more questions about the minor?

  • Review other frequently asked questions and answers on our Data 001 Piazza page, or post one.
  • If you have questions about choosing classes for the minor, please see the Data Science Peer Advisors during their drop-in advising hours.
  • If you have questions about enrolling in a specific course, please contact the instructor or department offering the course. For Data courses, contact ds-enrollments@berkeley.edu.

Topics

Courses topic page, Minor topic page