Wondering what academic majors are at the University of California? Don’t be confused! We are here to help you.
The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is a public research university. Founded in 1868, the UCB offers 95 distinct undergraduate degrees, concentrated into 74 majors within 21 broad fields of study. Berkeley offers over 350-degree programs through its academic departments.
UC Berkeley has over 350-degree programs in 130 academic departments and 80 interdisciplinary research units. Berkeley’s academic enterprise is organized into 14 schools and colleges. UCB offers a number of Certificate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate – professional practice, and Doctorate – research/scholarship.
The most popular majors at University of California, Berkeley are as the following:
Table of Contents
Economics
Founded in 1903, the Economics Department is well-known for the excellence of its teaching and advising, with a strong reputation for producing innovative Ph.D. graduates, as well as rigorous and innovative economic research. They are consistently ranked among the world’s leading department. Berkeley Economics faculty and students have done ground-breaking work in economic theory, econometrics, macroeconomics, and all major fields of applied research, and have served as policymakers at the highest levels, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Social Sciences
At the University of California—Berkeley, the College of Letters and Science (L&S) is organized into five divisions: Arts and Humanities, Biological Science, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and the Undergraduate Division. Of the graduate divisions, Social Sciences is the most popular, followed by Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Biological Science.
The 12 departments that comprise the Social Sciences Division — African American Studies, Anthropology, Demography, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Gender and Women’s Studies, History, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology — are each among the most distinguished in the nation.
Engineering
If you’re considering coming to Berkeley Engineering — or if you’re already here — you know they offer numerous opportunities. Berkeley Engineering is ranked among the top three engineering schools in the world. The UCB offers many engineering programs at undergraduate and graduate level. At Berkeley Engineering, you gain research and teaching experience under the direction of some of the finest engineering minds in the world — faculty renowned for their innovation and discovery.
- Berkeley Engineering’s undergraduate programs: Bioengineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, Engineering Science, Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Undeclared.
- Berkeley Engineering’s graduate programs: Master of Science and Doctoral Programs- Applied Science & Technology, Bioengineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering. Master’s programs- Master of engineering (M.Eng.) program and Master of translational medicine (M.T.M.) program.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Biology and Cellular Biology)
Interested in attending UC Berkeley to study in the field of Biological & Biomedical Sciences? University of California – Berkeley offers 5 distinct undergraduate degree(s), concentrated into 5 major(s) within the field of Biological & Biomedical Sciences.
The Division of Biological Sciences encompasses a breadth of disciplines spanning all levels of the organization and encompassing diverse organisms. With about 112 full-time faculties in two departments, the division offers a variety of programs that allow students to prepare for future careers in professional fields such as health sciences, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, environmental science, and academia.
- Berkeley Department of Biology Undergraduate Majors: https://biology.berkeley.edu/undergrad/majors
- Berkeley Department of Biology Graduate Programs: https://biology.berkeley.edu/graduate
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
The ISF Major is one of the L&S Undergraduate Studies interdisciplinary majors. ISF offers highly-motivated students the unique opportunity to undertake a major research project. It offers motivated students the unique opportunity to develop an individualized cross-disciplinary Research Program that includes a Course of Study and a Senior Thesis.
The Interdisciplinary Studies Program is proud to host Berkeley Course Threads, developed by the Townsend Center for the Humanities, which give students the chance to connect their courses thematically to earn a certificate in interdisciplinary studies.
Mathematics
UC Berkeley one of the best places in the world for advanced research, graduate, and undergraduate study in mathematics. The Department of Mathematics offers an undergraduate major program in mathematics, leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Students majoring in Mathematics may choose to major with a teaching concentration. The teaching concentration is designed to increase the number and quality of math teachers.
Major programs within the department provide excellent preparation for advanced degrees in math, physical sciences, economics, and industrial engineering as well as graduate study in business, education, law, and medicine. They also prepare students for post-baccalaureate positions in business, technology, industry, teaching, government, and finance.
Statistics
The University of California’s Department of Statistics provides students with world-class resources for study and research, including access to the extensive computational resources maintained by the Statistical Computing Facility. The Statistics Major consists of 4 lower division math courses and 9 upper-division courses.
To satisfy the requirements of the major, all courses must be taken for a letter grade. A minimum 2.0 overall Grade Point Average is required in all 9 upper division major courses in order to be in good standing in the major. Students must complete all prerequisites prior to declaring.
Statisticians help to design data collection plans, analyze data appropriately and interpret and draw conclusions from those analyses. The department grants the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Statistics. Their undergraduate and graduate programs allow students to participate in a field that is growing in the breadth of application and importance.
Computer Science
At Berkeley, we construe computer science broadly to include the theory of computation, the design and analysis of algorithms, the architecture and logic design of computers, programming languages, compilers, operating systems, scientific computation, computer graphics, databases, artificial intelligence and natural language processing. Their goal is to prepare students both for a possible research career and long-term technical leadership in the industry. Choosing a Computer Science Path there are two ways to study CS at UC Berkeley:
- Be admitted to the EECS major in the COE as a freshman. Admission to the COE, however, is extremely competitive. This option leads to a BS degree. This path is appropriate for people who want an engineering education.
- Enter the L&S and, after successful completion of the courses required declaring with the minimum GPA, petition to be admitted to the L&S Computer Science major.
There is no difference between the CS course content between the BS and BA programs. Computer Science majors with an overall GPA of 3.70 or above are eligible to apply to the EECS honors degree program. A minor in Computer Science is available to all undergraduate students at Berkeley with a declared major, with the exception of EECS majors.
Political Science and Government
The Travers Department of Political Science has long been regarded as one of the finest places to study politics and government. The Department of Political Science was established in 1883 at UC Berkeley. There are approximately 45 faculties, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 125 Ph.D. students in the department. They offer an unusual combination of depth and breadth in the major subject areas of political science, covering not only the traditional subfields of American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.
The Department has also educated generations of undergraduates and graduate students, many of whom are now eminent scholars, public servants, and community leaders. Declared Political Science majors with a 3.5 grade-point average (GPA) in the major and a 3.3 overall GPA who have senior standing and have completed at least two letter-graded upper division political science courses at Berkeley are eligible to apply for the honors program.
Psychology
Psychology is a capped major at UC Berkeley. This means that they have such a high demand that they cannot accommodate every student who wishes to major in Psychology. As part of the terms of being a capped major, all students who apply to the major and meet the following criteria are guaranteed admission: Have a 3.2 grade-point average in all seven prerequisite courses. Students with a 3.5 GPA in their major and 3.3 GPA overall at the time of graduation may earn the honors distinction in Psychology.
The Psychology Department at Berkeley reflects the diversity of their discipline’s mission covering 6 key areas of research: Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Clinical Science, Cognition, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, and Social-Personality Psychology. The program is designed to ensure that all students gain broad exposure to the field of psychology. In addition, students are encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of at least one major content area in psychology.
Business Administration and Management
Majoring in Business Administration and Management is an excellent choice for students interested in math, business and leading others. As the second-oldest business school in the United States, the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley is one of the world’s leading producers of new ideas and knowledge in all areas of business. The school offers outstanding management education to about 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students each year who come from around the world to study in one of its six degree-granting programs.
The Business Administration – Management (BAM) program is designed for students whose goals include business management, human resource management, self-employment, entrepreneurial ventures, or a variety of different careers. This program helps develop skills as a management generalist, offering maximum flexibility in career choices. Students who earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program possess the knowledge and technical skills necessary to understand the modern business world.
English
The Department of English offers courses in literature, in language, and in writing. Our courses in literature have many different focuses: major authors, historical periods, genres, critical theories, and methods, as well as cultural and multicultural studies. Courses in language offer instruction in both the history and the structure of the English language. Writing courses offer training in both expository and creative writing.
The major in English is designed to introduce students to the history of literature written in English, to acquaint them with a variety of historical periods and geographical and cultural regions of English language and writing, to create an awareness of methods and theories of literary and cultural analysis, and to provide continued training in critical writing.
To be eligible to declare the major, students must have completed at least 30 units, the L&S Reading and Composition requirement, and two major requirements: English 45A or 45B, and one of the following: English 45A, 45B, 45C, or Shakespeare.
Cost of Education at the University of California—Berkeley:
At the University of California–Berkeley, 57 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $17,232.
- In-State Tuition & Fees $14,098 (2017-18)
- Out-Of-State Tuition & Fees $42,112 (2017-18)
- Room and Board $17,274 (2017-18)
- Total Enrollment $40,174
Admission:
To pass the UC Berkeley admissions requirements and be a Golden Bear, we recommend the following: A 3.85 Un-weighted GPA (or higher) A 4.39 Weighted GPA (or higher) A score of 2171 on the SAT or 33 on the ACT.
When applying to University of California–Berkeley, it’s important to note the application deadline is Nov. 30.
For more information, you can check UCB official Website