What is the Prerequisite Pathway for declaring Data Science?

The Prerequisite Pathway describes the process and criteria to declare the Data Science major for students admitted before the inception of Comprehensive Review. These students will be eligible to declare by completing the required prerequisite courses and meeting all criteria and deadlines listed below.

Who does this pathway apply to?

Your pathway to declaring Data Science is determined by your year of admission to UC Berkeley. Students who must follow the prerequisite pathway to declare Data Science:

  • All students admitted to UC Berkeley prior to Fall 2023
  • First-year students admitted to UC Berkeley in Fall 2023 with Data Science as your intended major on your admission application (currently listed as "HD Data Science" in CalCentral)
  • Transfer students admitted to UC Berkeley in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 who have not completed 2 semesters or more at UC Berkeley*

*Transfer students admitted to UC Berkeley in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 are not eligible to apply to the Data Science major after having completed 2 semesters at UC Berkeley.

If you are not in one of the groups listed above, please see the Comprehensive Review process to apply to Data Science.

Need Advising?

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

Prerequisites to Declare

  1. *Foundations of Data Science: Data C8 or Stat 20
  2. Calculus I: Math 51 or 1A or N1A or approved high school exam credit (Math 10A or 16A are also accepted)
  3. Calculus II: Math 52 or 1B or N1B or approved high school exam credit
  4. *Linear Algebra: Math 54/N54/W54 or Math 56 or EE/EECS 16A +16B (both required) or Physics 89 or Stat 89A (no longer offered)
  5. Program Structures: CompSci 61A or CompSci/Data C88C or Engin 7*
  6. *Data Structures: CompSci 61B or 61BL

*Foundations, Linear Algebra, and Data Structures must be completed with an average GPA of 2.0 to declare the major.

Transfer courses from other institutions will apply, if listed as equivalent on assist.org or approved as equivalent by UC Berkeley faculty, and if completed with a letter grade of C- or better. 

Eligibility to Declare: Prerequisite Pathway

All prerequisites to declare must be completed for a letter grade and passed with a 'C-' or higher.

  • Required GPA: 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.
  • Upper-division Courses: 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.
  • Repeating Courses: For the purpose of declaring the Data Science major, we follow 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.
    • We will not consider a grade in a second attempt in a course you have previously passed, and we will not consider a grade in a second repeat (third attempt) of the same course. 
    • Repeating a requirement outside of UC Berkeley counts toward the repeat limit, for the purpose of declaring the Data Science major.
    • Repeating a course that restricts earning credit due to overlap of course content (e.g. taking Math 56 after Math 54, or taking Data C88C after CS 61A) counts toward the repeat limit, for the purpose of declaring the Data Science major.

When can I apply?

Apply during the first open application window after you have completed all of the major prerequisites. Be sure to keep in mind any relevant campus or College deadlines.

For students following the prerequisite pathway, the Data Science major application form is open year-round. Please note that there may be delays in our processing time during peak periods (if you are applying at the end or beginning or a term).

All Students Admitted Prior to Fall 2023 

  • If applying to declare the Data Science major after Spring 2024, you will be applying for a Change of College or Simultaneous Degree in the College of CDSS and should plan to submit your application at least 2 semesters before your final term; please consult with a CDSS College Advisor with any questions about this deadline.

Transfer Students Admitted in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024

  • Declare major no later than the end of your 2nd semester in attendance at UC Berkeley.

How do I apply? (Choose your situation from the drop-downs below)

For students who wish to declare or change to Data Science as a single major (including change of major within CDSS, or change of college to CDSS):

  1. Complete the Data Science BA worksheet and Program Planning Sheet (no signatures required).
  2. Upload your completed, unsigned forms during the open application window.
  3. Once your application has been approved by both the Data Science major and the College of CDSS, the change will be reflected on CalCentral. 
Apply Here

Applications are typically processed within 10-15 business days after submission OR after your final prerequisite grades are available.

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.

​​​​​For students declared in a College outside CDSS who wish to add Data Science:

  1.  Complete the Data Science BA worksheet and Simultaneous Degree Application.
  2.  Obtain signatures from your home major and College on the Simultaneous Degree Application.
  3.  Upload your completed forms during the open application window. Once approved, a Data Science advisor will provide a signature and your request will be forwarded to the College of CDSS for final approval.

For students declared in Data Science who wish to add a major in a College outside CDSS

  1.  Complete the Data Science BA worksheet and Simultaneous Degree Application.
  2.  Upload your completed forms during the open application window. No signatures are required.
  3.  Once your application has been approved by both the major and the College of CDSS, an advisor will email your signed forms to you. You will need to obtain a signature from your new major advisor and submit your completed packet to your new College Advising office for final approval.

Apply Here

Applications are typically processed within 10 business days after submission OR after your final prerequisite grades are available.

*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.

Students who are declared in another CDSS major and wish to add Data Science:

  1.  Complete the CDSS Double Major Application. See an example of how to fill out the form correctly.
  2.  Upload your completed forms during the open application window.
  3.  Once your application has been approved, a Data Science Advisor will email you back with your signed forms. Obtain a signature from your other major advisor, and then submit your request to the CDSS College Advising office for final approval. 

For students who are declared in Data Science and wish to add another CDSS major:

  1.  Complete the CDSS Double Major Application. See an example of how to fill out the form correctly.
  2.  Obtain a signature from your new major advisor.
  3.  Upload your completed and signed forms during the open application window.  Once your application has been approved by both the Data Science major and the College of CDSS, the change will be reflected on CalCentral.

Apply Here

Applications are typically processed within 10 business days after submission.

Exceptions and Appeals

  • Based on changes authorized by L&S policy, courses completed at UC Berkeley with a grade of Pass in FALL 2022 will count toward Data Science major requirements, including prerequisites to declare the major. See the L&S Fall 2022 Late Grading Option Change Modification for more information. 
  • Based on changes authorized by 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.
  • Prerequisite courses taken on a P/NP basis before FALL 2018 will be accepted. Grades of ‘P’ earned will be evaluated as ‘C-’ for GPA calculation purposes. Courses taken on a P/NP basis after Summer 2018 will not be accepted.

Except for the specific cases listed above, courses completed with a grade of P or NP will not be counted toward satisfying eligibility criteria to declare the Data Science major. 

If you are concerned about your ability to meet the declaration criteria for the prerequisite pathway, and/or have extenuating circumstances that have affected your progress, please consult with a Data Science advisor about your options.