Introduction to the Major
Data science combines computational and inferential reasoning to draw conclusions based on data about different aspects of the real world. Data scientists come from all walks of life, all areas of study, and all backgrounds. They share an appreciation for the practical use of mathematical and scientific thinking and the power of computing to understand and solve problems for business, research, and societal impact.
The Division offers a major(link is external) and minor(link is external) in Data Science, as well as coursework such as Data 8: Foundations of Data Science(link is external), its connector courses(link is external), and Data Science modules(link is external) that are broadly accessible to all students.
The Data Science Curriculum
Students will gain deep technical knowledge and an understanding of the social and human contexts and ethical implications of how data are collected, analyzed, and used. Students also gain expertise in applying knowledge in a chosen Domain Emphasis; a few examples include:
- Cognition
- Computational Biology
- Geospatial Information & Technology
- Human Behavior & Psychology
- Inequalities in Society
- Social Policy and Law
Amplify Your Major
- Help shape the Data Science program as part of a student team(link is external) working on data analytics, curriculum development, communications, human resources, etc.
- Apply to be a data discovery consultant(link is external).
- Make an impact with cutting-edge research and gain hands-on skills with the Data Science Discovery Program(link is external).
- Join a student organization(link is external) such as those in the Data Science Nexus(link is external).
The Data Science BA positions students to help inform and develop solutions for a range of pressing challenges, from adapting industry to a new world of data, to amplifying learning in education, to helping communities recover from disaster. Our alumni are employed in a wide variety of roles and industries.
Jobs and Employers
- Analytics Intern, Major League Baseball
- Applications Engineer, Accenture
- Data Analyst, Political Campaign
- Data Engineer, Atlassian
- Data Scientist, Uber
- Machine Learning Engineer, IBM
- Product Analyst, Hive
- Product Manager, Zynga
- Site Reliability Engineer, Adobe
- Software Engineer, Salesforce
- Technical Staff, Oracle
Graduate Programs
- Computer Science, Masters
- Earth and Environmental Science, PhD
- Information and Data Science, Masters
Examples gathered from LinkedIn and an internal survey of recent Berkeley graduates.
Connect With Us
Events
Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit data.berkeley.edu(link is external) for news and updates. Also check out events hosted by the Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS): events.berkeley.edu/BIDS(link is external).
Join our undergraduate email list-serve(link is external) and view past issues of our student newsletter at data.berkeley.edu/academics/data-science-undergraduate-studies/advising/advising-resources(link is external).
Look out for information about annual events including:
- Data & Tech for All Week
- Cal Water Data Hackathon
- Women in Data Science (WIDS)
- Hack for Social Good
- Career Connections for Data Science
Advising
Visit data.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/data-science-advising(link is external) for information about our advisors, advising hours and locations, and how to request an appointment.
For quick questions, email us at ds-advising@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or ds-peer-advising@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).
How to Use this Map
Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.
