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Learn more about the Data Science minor

This brief video covers the minor requirements, including key differences between the 2 upper-division pathways. 

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 (except those pursuing a BA in Data Science).

Minor Requirements

Lower Division Requirements
1. Foundations

Data C8 (CompSci/Stat/Info C8)

Stat 20 may substitute for Data C8 if combined with CS/Data C88C or CS 61A for the Programming requirement; this option is not available for students who take Engin 7 for their Programming requirement.
2. Programming CompSci/Data C88C (formerly CompSci 88) or CompSci 61A or ENGIN 7
3. Probability

Stat/Data C88S (formerly 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

Note that both pathways require the same total number of courses.
   

1-Course Core Pathway

The 1-course core pathway expects background of at least 2 semesters of calculus and 1 semester of linear algebra. In its current implementation, Data 100 uses Python.

2-Course Core Pathway

The 2-course core pathway expects background of 1 semester of calculus. In its current implementation, Stat 131A and 133 use R.
1. Gateway

Data C100 (CS/Stat C100) - Principles & Techniques of Data Science

(Enforced Prerequisites: Data C8; CS 61A or Data C88C or Engin 7. Enforced Corequisite: Math 54 or 56 or EE/EECS 16A.)

Data/Stat C131A* - Statistical Methods for Data Science and

Stat 133 - Concepts in Computing with Data

(*Note that Data/Stat C131A may be offered only in Fall semester.)
2. Human Contexts & Ethics

Choose ONE from: AMERST/AFRICAM 134 or C134, CY PLAN 101, DATA C104/HIST C184D/STS C104, DIGHUM 100, ESPM C167/PBHLTH C160, INFO 188, ISF 100J, NWMEDIA 151AC, PHILOS 121, POLECON 159

(BIOENG 100 was removed from this list effective Fall 2025. Students who completed BIOENG 100 prior to Fall 2025 may continue to count it toward the Human Contexts & Ethics requirement.) 

Choose ONE from: AMERST/AFRICAM 134 or C134, CY PLAN 101, DATA C104/HIST C184D/STS C104, DIGHUM 100, ESPM C167/PBHLTH C160, INFO 188, ISF 100J, NWMEDIA 151AC, PHILOS 121, POLECON 159

(BIOENG 100 was removed from this list effective Fall 2025. Students who completed BIOENG 100 prior to Fall 2025 may continue to count it toward the Human Contexts & Ethics requirement.) 
 

Elective(s)

Choose TWO from the approved electives list

 Choose ONE from the approved electives list

Based on changes to L&S policy, courses completed at UC Berkeley with a grade of Pass in FALL 2022 will count toward Data Science minor requirements, including prerequisites to declare the minor. See the L&S Fall 2022 Late Grading Option Change Modification for more information.

Additionally, 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 minor requirements, including prerequisites to declare the minor. Please see the L&S P/NP policy modifications for more information.

Grading Rules

  1. All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade (except for the specific exceptions in Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021 and Fall 2022 listed above).
  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*

Please note that the Data Science minor is offered by the College of Computing, Data Science and Society and overlap policies differ from minors offered by other Schools or Colleges. Please read this section carefully.

*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.

Courses counting toward your major:

  • 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 DATA/COMPSCI/STAT C100 toward both their major and the Data Science minor.

Courses offered by the department of your major:

  • 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. Please pay attention to any course which may be cross-listed (e.g. Data C100 is cross-listed with CS and Stat).
  • For example, if a Computer Science major takes DATA/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.

Additional policies on overlap 

  • 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.
  • There is no restriction on overlap with another minor.
  • Students may not earn both a BA in Data Science and a minor in Data Science. 

Step 1: Declaring the Minor

Criteria to declare:

  • Data 8, or Stat 20, completed with a C- or better, and 
  • 2 additional courses toward the minor completed or in progress in the current term

Process to declare:

The application form to declare the Data Science minor will be open 3 times per year. Once you have met the criteria to declare, submit your application during the next open application period:

  • August 15 - September 30
  • January 1 - February 28
  • May 15 - June 30

Students with a Summer 2025 Expected Graduation Term must plan to apply before the first day of instruction in summer session, May 27, in order to meet the minor declaration deadline.

Minor declarations will be processed as a batch approximately 2-4 weeks after each application period ends.

Apply Here

Deadline to declare: 

You must submit your application to declare the Data Science minor prior to the first day of classes of your Expected Graduation Term. For Summer graduates, the deadline to declare a minor is anytime prior to the first day of classes for Summer Session A. If you have missed the deadline but are enrolled in all required courses to complete the minor, please consult with a Data Science Advisor about your options.

Step 2: Verifying Completion

Requirements to complete minor:

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

Process to verify completion:

In your final semester, fill out the Data Science Minor Completion form and obtain a signature from your major advisor to verify any overlapping classes. 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 for final approval from a Data Science advisor.

Data Science advisors will review your Completion form after final grades are available. If approved, the Data Science minor will appear on your UC Berkeley transcript and diploma.

Deadline to verify completion: 

You must submit your Data Science Minor Completion form by the last day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term in order to ensure processing before degrees are awarded.

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.

FAQs

How do I determine which pathway is right for me?

While both pathways entail taking the same number of upper-division courses, Data C100 has a Linear Algebra corequisite (typically Math 54 or Math 56 if taken at UC Berkeley). Therefore, Data C100 does require a year of Calculus (Math 51 and Math 52) and Linear Algebra, whereas STAT C131A has a Math 51 prerequisite.

Data C100 is taught using Python, while Stat C131A and 133 are taught using R in their current iteration. Python and R are powerful programming languages that have evolved to serve different purposes and are used across many industries and sectors. Depending on your goals and the skills you wish to develop, you may find that one is a better fit over the other. 

To help you decide, consider:

Your math background and comfort level - Are you prepared for the additional math requirements in the Data C100 pathway? Do you have time to fit these prerequisites in?
Your career interests - Do you seek to learn more about a general-purpose language that can handle many types of projects (Python), or a specialized tool designed specifically for statistical computing (R)?
Talk to professionals - Connect with people working in fields that interest you to learn which tools they use most.

 

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.

Linear algebra is an enforced requisite to enroll in Data C100 but is not required for the Data Science minor, so a letter grade is not required.

Students must declare the minor a semester before their expected graduation term (EGT). If you miss the deadline, you can consult with your College Advisor about changing you EGT to a later term. If this is not possible, you can contact a Data Science Advisor to discuss the appeal process.

  • 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).

Seats are reserved in impacted classes at the discretion of the department offering the course. Generally, most courses will not have seats reserved for Data Science minors, as a minor is not required to graduate.

 

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.

 

  • 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 and diploma.

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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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