FAQs

When will there be a Data Science major?

• The Letters & Science Data Science major has been approved! The L&S Data Science major is available for students to declare as of Fall 2018.

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

• Students can declare the Data Science major anytime once they have completed the prerequisite courses (Data 8, CS 61A/88, CS 61B, Math 54/Stat 89A, and Calculus I & II). See more details on the Declaring the Major page.

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.

I may want to major in Data Science, but I’ve already declared (or I’m on the pathway to declaring) another major. What should I do?

• Talk to a Data Science advisor about the possibility of adding a double major or changing your major. 

Will I be able to double major?

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

Will there be a GPA threshold? Will this be a capped major?

• We hope to meet as much student demand as we can. 

• All of the lower-division prerequisites to declare must be completed with a grade earned of 'C-' or higher, and students will need to achieve a 2.0 Grade Point Average in Data 8, Linear Algebra, and Data Structures to be eligible to declare.

• See more details on the major requirements page.

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. 

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.

Are there Data Science major and minor advisors? How can I get my questions answered?

• In Spring 2019, academic advising for the L&S Data Science BA is open to all students. Interested students may schedule advising appointments through CalCentral, or attend the drop-in advising sessions (weekly schedule available on our Student Services page).

• Data Science Peer Advisors are also available to advise students on a drop-in basis in Moffitt Library. The schedule is available on our Peer Advising page.

• For questions about enrollment in classes in existing departments (prerequisites, pathways, etc.), please contact an advisor in the department offering the course.

• Students are also encouraged to join our online Q&A forum, the Data Science Support Piazza (DATA 001). Many questions may have previously been answered there, and we hope it will continue to be a resource for everyone to consult.

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.

Can I apply to the major if the Domain Emphasis I want is on the "Still Under Review" list?

• If you are flexible in which Domain Emphasis you plan to pursue, you can apply to the major with a currently approved Domain Emphasis, and will have the option of changing your DE once additional options are approved.

• If you are only interested in pursuing a single Domain Emphasis that is not yet approved, we encourage you to wait until your DE is approved before declaring.