Develop the big ideas and learning skills needed for tomorrow’s technology.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society deals with computer theory and methods of information processing, hardware and software design, and applications. The major combines a rigorous technical program with background in the liberal arts and sciences. Computer Science students dive deep into programming, algorithms, data structures, artificial intelligence, and software engineering. Our goal is to prepare students for both a possible research career and long-term technical leadership in the industry. If you are passionate about designing apps, building scalable systems, or developing new algorithms, Computer Science is the major for you.
Highlights
- Get involved with one of the many EECS student organizations.
- Find support and community in the CS Scholars Program and CS Mentors.
- Participate in undergraduate research in Computer Science.
Curriculum
At UC 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.
Students in the CS program are required to complete core technical classes during their first few semesters. They then have the opportunity to explore various topics from computer science theory to networking and physical systems through upper division requirements and electives.
Learn more at eecs.berkeley.edu/resources/undergrads/cs
One Department, Three Programs
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences offers three different undergraduate degrees from two different colleges: the BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, both offered by the College of Engineering, and the BA in Computer Science from the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society. The CS major offers greater flexibility to explore other fields with breadth coursework. If you are more interested in engineering, the EECS or ECE majors may better suit you.
Declaring the Major
Students who are accepted for Fall 2023 or later to UC Berkeley and who selected Computer Science on their undergraduate admissions application will be admitted directly to the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society and the CS major (no declaration required).
Students who are accepted for Fall 2023 or later to UC Berkeley and who did not select Computer Science on their undergraduate admissions application may apply to the major via comprehensive review. This includes students adding CS as a single major, double major, or simultaneous degree. For more information, visit eecs.berkeley.edu/resources/undergrads/cs/how-to-declare-cs/#comprehensive-review.
A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science will prepare you for a variety of jobs, including software engineering, web development, data analytics, and consulting. Students also pursue research careers, building experimental systems to advance the state of the art, rather than systems for immediate commercial use. Preparation for a research career generally includes pursuing a PhD. Graduate school can also provide a more specific intellectual background in a particular area in preparation for more advanced technical careers.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Computer Science. The College of Computing, Data Science, and Society Industry Nexus features tailored career workshops, networking events, and small group and individual support to help students achieve their career goals. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Educator
- Engineer
- Full Stack Engineer
- Product Manager
- Quantitative Trader
- Software Developer
- Software Engineer
- Solutions Engineer
- Technology Analyst
- Teaching Assistant
- UX Designer
- Wireless Systems Engineer
- Web Applications Developer
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Applied Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Financial Engineering
- Linguistics
- Neuroscience
- Medicine
- Physics
- Robotics
- Statistics
Corten, class of 2017
Corten Singer graduated with bachelor degrees in Cognitive Science and Computer Science. During his time at UC Berkeley, Corten realized the limitations of current assistive technologies and has since co-founded assistive technologies company Augmental, which debuted its tongue-controlled touchpad, MouthPad^, at the Consumer Electronics Show.
“My time at Berkeley and working on MouthPad^ have taught me how important it is to iterate the design process based on feedback from real users. It’s the best way to ensure that I don’t just design a cool engineering solution, but something that is truly useful to people.”
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Familiarize yourself with the CS major; check out sample program plans and getting into CS classes.
- Determine your math starting point and begin lower division requirements such as MATH 51 + 52, COMPSCI 10 or DATA C8, and COMPSCI 61A.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Gateway, the campus home for CDSS.
- Get involved with an EECS student group or other student organization.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Take advantage of EECS tutoring resources.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Share your voice in a CDSS student advisory group.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the CDSS website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Complete lower division requirements including MATH 54 or 56, COMPSCI 61B, and COMPSCI 70.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see guidelines from the department and options for CS abroad.
- Interested in STEM teaching and learning? Enroll in CalTeach.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as Science, Technology, and Society.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend CDSS and EECS events such as the EECS Colloquium.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS and EECS websites; apply to URAP or Bakar Ignite Scholars to work on a faculty research project.
- Mentor local youth through Bridging Berkeley, Expanding Your Horizons, or SENDforC.
- Check out the Supernode maker space and campus hackathons.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; check out the EECS Internship Fair.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, EECS, and BCE; look into the Goldwater Scholarship and UC LEADS.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Complete COMPSCI 61C and begin taking upper division requirements, including upper division CS courses.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Consider applying to the EECS Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as an EECS Peer Advisor.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Address real-world problems in the Data Discovery Program, Fung Fellowship, or Big Ideas Contest.
- Interested in entrepreneurship? Check out the Sutardja Center, Accel Scholars, and Berkeley SkyDeck.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the US Digital Corps, John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives, including upper division CS/EE/EECS courses, and technical electives.
- Enroll in COMPSCI H196 if doing the honors thesis in the EECS Honors Program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course
- Get involved with Science at Cal or the Lawrence Hall of Science.
- Get published! Submit your work to the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Connect with alumni groups such as EECS and EECS Alumni.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs such as the 5th Year MS program.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs such as the EECS Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services; check out info for EECS alumni.
Summer
- Sign up for Hello World, a mentorship program for new CDSS students.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like COMPSCI 61C.
- Engage in mentored research through EECS, the National Science Foundation or Department of Energy.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Look into a summer internship with UC Berkeley Career Engagement Recruitment events and Handshake.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Global Digital Infrastructure and Cognitive Science and the Future of Tech.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with the CDSS 198 Transfer Student Seminar.
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- See info for transfer students; complete lower division requirements (if necessary) and begin taking upper division requirements.
- Explore new interests in a Berkeley Changemaker or DeCal course.
- Interested in STEM teaching and learning? Enroll in CalTeach.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Gateway, the campus home for CDSS.
- Get involved with an EECS student group or other student organization.
- Connect with the Transfer Student Center and CDSS Transfer Empowerment Program.
- Take advantage of EECS tutoring resources.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Share your voice in a CDSS student advisory group.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the CDSS website.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Focus on upper division requirements, including upper division CS courses.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see guidelines from the department and options for CS abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as Science, Technology, and Society.
- Consider applying to the EECS Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend CDSS and EECS events such as the EECS Colloquium.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Check out the Supernode maker space and campus hackathons.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS and EECS websites; apply to URAP or Bakar Ignite Scholars to work on a faculty research project.
- Interested in entrepreneurship? Check out the Sutardja Center, Accel Scholars, and Berkeley SkyDeck.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; check out the EECS Internship Fair.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, CS, and BCE; look into the Goldwater Scholarship and UC LEADS.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Keep working on upper division requirements, including an upper division CS design course and technical electives.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as an EECS Peer Advisor, Transfer Peer Advocate, or CDSS Transfer Program mentor.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Address real-world problems in the Data Discovery Program, Fung Fellowship, or Big Ideas Contest.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Mentor local youth through Bridging Berkeley, Expanding Your Horizons, or SENDforC.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the US Digital Corps, John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs such as the 5th Year MS program.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives, including any remaining CS/EE/EECS courses.
- Enroll in COMPSCI H196 if doing the honors thesis in the EECS Honors Program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Get involved with Science at Cal or the Lawrence Hall of Science.
- Get published! Submit your work to the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs such as the EECS Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Connect with alumni groups such as EECS and EECS Alumni.
- Learn about alumni career services; check out info for EECS alumni.
Summer
- Sign up for Hello World, a mentorship program for new CDSS students.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like COMPSCI 160 or 184.
- Engage in mentored research through EECS, the National Science Foundation or Department of Energy.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Look into a summer internship with UC Berkeley Career Engagement Recruitment events and Handshake.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Global Digital Infrastructure and Cognitive Science and the Future of Tech.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Computer Science or the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society?
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences offers undergraduate advising for CS and EECS majors. CS Advisors are available on a drop-in and appointment basis for help with program planning, undergraduate research, internship guidance, CS enrollment and waitlists, and the EECS Honors Program. CS Peer Advisors help with course planning, academic decisions, and discovering CS. Students can also meet with a Faculty Advisor about course recommendations, undergraduate research, and how to prepare for graduate school or a job in industry. For advising hours and contacts, visit eecs.berkeley.edu or email cs-advising@berkeley.edu.
The College of Computing, Data Science, and Society helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including University and college degree requirements, academic progress, and college policies majors. You may meet with a CDSS College Advisor through drop-in advising or by booking an appointment. For advising contacts and hours, visit cdss.berkeley.edu/advising.
Related Programs
Looking for programs similar to Computer Science? UC Berkeley also offers the following major, minor, and certificate programs:
