Declaring the Major

Prerequisites to Declare

How to Declare

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

Declaration Eligibility

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

Prerequisites to Declare

RequirementPreferred CourseAlternate Course Options
*Foundations of Data Science Data 8 (COMPSCI/STAT/INFO C8)
Calculus I MATH 1A

MATH 10A or 

MATH 16A
Calculus II MATH 1B
*Linear Algebra

MATH 54 or

STAT 89A

PHYSICS 89 or

EL ENG 16A+16B (both required)
Program Structures

COMPSCI 88 or 

COMPSCI 61A

 ENGIN 7
*Data Structures COMPSCI 61B
*Data 8, Linear Algebra, and Data Structures must be completed with an average GPA of 2.0 to declare the major.

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 2021-22

Fall 2021: Sept 13 - Jan 2, 2022

  • First day to apply with prerequisites in progress in Fall 2021: Nov 29, 2021.

Spring 2022: Feb 7 - May 21, 2022

  • First day to apply with prerequisites in progress in Spring 2022: Apr 25, 2022.

How do I apply?

To Declare Data Science as a Single Major:

  1. Complete the Data Science BA worksheet and L&S Program Planning Sheet (no signatures required).
  2. Upload your completed forms via the application link below.
  3. Once your application has been approved, the change will be reflected on CalCentral. 

To Add a Double Major or Simultaneous Degree:

  1. Complete the Data Science BA worksheet and either the L&S Double Major Application or Simultaneous Degrees Application (you may obtain advisor signatures from your other major first, but this is not required).
  2. Upload your completed forms via the application link below.
  3. Once your application has been approved, a Data Science Advisor will email you back with your signed forms.

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.

Apply Here

The Data Science major application is currently closed.

Need advising?

Data Science advisors are available to help! Email us at ds-advising@berkeley.edu, or find out about our other advising services.