FAQs

Who can I contact to ask questions about Data Science?

Data Science Major

How and when can I declare the L&S Data Science major?

• You can declare the Data Science major anytime by submitting an application at the end of the term when you will complete the 6 prerequisite courses. See more details on the Declaring the Major page.

Do you accept AP or IB credit for the major?

• The Data Science BA accepts Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and A-Level exam credit for the calculus requirements, per the UC Berkeley Math department guidelines.
• We do not accept AP or other high school exam credit toward any other requirements in the major besides calculus, including the Domain Emphasis.

Is the Data Science major a B.A. or B.S.? 

• Like all other majors in the College of Letters & Science, the Data Science degree awards a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). 

I've advanced beyond Data 8. Are there any other ways to meet the Data 8 requirement for the major?

• For students admitted prior to Fall 2018, we allow a "grandfathered" option to substitute for Data 8 if completed no later than Spring 2019:

  • Stat 20, 21, 131A, or 135 and

  • CS 61A or ENGIN 7

I'm interested in doing the EdX course, Data 8X, online. Will this satisfy the Data 8 requirement for the major?

• No, unfortunately Data 8X doesn't have all the content of Data 8, and does not transfer academic credit.

Will I be able to double major?

• Yes, in line with Cal’s usual double major policies, detailed here.

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

• In order to accommodate students who took major requirements P/NP prior to the approval of the major, we will accept grades of "Passed" for courses taken to satisfy the lower-division prerequisites needed to declare when completed in Summer 2018 or earlier. No petition process will be necessary, and a "Passed" grade will be considered a "C-" for GPA calculation for eligibility purposes. Students will still need to ensure they meet the 2.0 GPA in Data 8, Linear Algebra, and Data Structures to declare the major. Courses taken P/NP after Summer 2018 will not be accepted. 

• Per L&S policy, courses completed with a Pass in Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 are also acceptable for major requirements.

What kind of priority (if any) will Data Science majors receive for enrollment in EECS/CS or Statistics classes?

• We are working with Computer Science and Statistics to determine whether Data Science majors will receive enrollment priority for particular classes. We are also working together to ensure that class sizes are appropriate to meet student demand from Data Science majors, and expect that students will be able to enroll in the classes required for the major before their expected graduation date. The major is constructed to allow students to take other options outside CS and Statistics to meet major requirements as well, and students are encouraged to explore them.

What kind of priority (if any) will Data Science majors receive for enrollment in classes for the domain emphases?

• We are working with the departments that host many of the popular courses on the Domain Emphasis lists to determine whether Data Science majors will receive enrollment priority for those classes. The domains are designed to draw from several courses so students should have multiple opportunities to complete two upper division courses.

Can I change my Domain Emphasis after I declare?

• Yes, students may request to change their Domain Emphasis through the same application form that they used to apply to declare the major, by submitting an updated Data Science BA worksheet.