Ready to apply to Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS)?

CDSS admits students in their first year of study or in advanced standing at the junior level. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is your resource for information about the admissions process with resources to help you plan and fund your experience as a student at UC Berkeley. All admissions-related inquiries should be directed to Berkeley’s admissions team, including information about the application process and eligibility. Applicants must satisfy UC minimum eligibility requirements for admission to the university. See the Academic Guide for additional information. 

All applications are evaluated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Admissions into the CDSS majors is in tandem with admissions into the university. 

Prospective undergraduates interested in CDSS can apply for admission to one of these undergraduate major programs:

First-Year applicants:

Prospective students interested in applying to CDSS must choose one of the majors: Computer Science, Data Science, or Statistics. If you are admitted to CDSS, you are automatically enrolled in your major—no further steps are needed on your part.

Before applying to the university, take time to explore our programs and ensure that CDSS aligns with your academic and career goals. Choosing a major is an important decision. If you're unsure about what to study, you may prefer to apply to the College of Letters and Science as an undecided major, which offers the flexibility to explore various fields before settling on a major. If you are ready to commit to a path in computer, data science, or statistics, the College of CDSS is an excellent option.

Transfer applicants:

Transfer applicants must know in advance their major path prior to applying to the university and work towards completing major prerequisites and college breadths. 

Students may qualify for admissions to the university by maintaining a strong academic record at another community college or university. Transfer applicants are required to complete a minimum of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of UC-transferable coursework by the end of the spring term prior to their intended transfer to Berkeley. It's recommended that students explore the University-preparatory programs available at various community colleges across California. If accepted as a transfer student, a maximum of 70 UC-transferable semester units can be applied from a community college.

For students applying from a California Community College, assist.org can be used to check for major prerequisites. Additionally, the IGETC path can be followed to stay on track for college requirements. IGETC won’t include all of the CDSS college essential skills, so be prepared to complete those requirements during your time at Berkeley. 

Transfer students are encouraged to explore additional academic enrichment opportunities such as internships, research opportunities and study abroad to maximize their two years at Berkeley. We encourage prospective students to reach out to the Transfer Center to begin preparing for their journey at Berkeley. Along with exploring the Starting Point Mentorship Program and the Transfer Alliance Project. 

FAQ:

CDSS does not admit undeclared students; students admitted into CDSS are admitted into their major automatically. Therefore, it is important for students to have an understanding of the majors offered in CDSS, and what they are most interested in pursuing.
 

Students interested in changing college into CDSS or a simultaneous degree with a major in CDSS can explore the comprehensive review process for applying to a CDSS major. Please see additional information on comprehensive review. 

Due to the demanding nature of the computer science major, transfer students admitted to the university in Fall 2024 or later will not be permitted to pursue a double major or change their major to computer science.
 

Students can explore a change of major within CDSS, but they would follow the same comprehensive review process as a non-CDSS student applying to a major in the college. Students can only apply for a major in the Spring semester for admission in the following Fall semester. 

To maximize the opportunities for advanced coursework at UC Berkeley, it is recommended that transfer students complete breadth requirements, essential skills, and university requirements prior to enrolling at UC Berkeley. 

For California Community College applicants:

  • Although IGETC is not a requirement for admission to UC Berkeley, completing IGETC will automatically satisfy all CDSS breadth requirements, as well as some essential skills requirements. CDSS highly recommends transfer students complete their IGETC certification prior to admission to Berkeley for the purposes of completing graduation requirements. 
  • Students are able to apply up to 70 units of community college coursework toward the 120 unit minimum to graduate at UC Berkeley. Therefore, you should plan to take at least 50-60 units while attending Berkeley depending on the total of units you transfer with. 

For four-year or out-of-state transfer applicants:

  • Four-year applicants can reference the UC admissions webpage for information on other types of transfer application eligibility.
  • Please reference the out-of-state UC admissions webpage for information on application eligibility.
     

For university-related inquiries, please contact UC Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For CDSS questions, please visit college advising to connect with us!