Students who have completed all prerequisite courses or are currently enrolled in their last prerequisite(s) may submit an application are eligible to apply to declare the major. Students are encouraged to submit an application in the semester they are completing their last prerequisite(s). Applications are generally accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted within the applicable time frame expected by the College of Letters & Science. For example, students intending to double major must submit their applications prior to the first day of classes in the term in which they intend to graduate. Below are the steps to declare the major:

1.  Select your Statistics Major courses.

2.  Prepare a Program Plan or Double Major/Simultaneous Degree Packet. You may view first-year or transfer sample plans and course descriptions. 

   • Program Plan Worksheet (Single Majors) found on the L&S Forms & Petitions page 
   • Double Major Packet (Double/Multiple Majors all in L&S) found on the L&S Forms & Petitions page. Students trying to declare more than 2 majors should make an additional copy of Page 2 in the Double Major Packet.
   • Simultaneous Degree Packet (Double/Multiple Major with at least one in another college) found on the L&S Forms & Petitions page

3.  (If applicable) Collect and prepare to upload documentation verifying completion of prerequisites if they currently do not appear in CalCentral.

   For courses taken at another 4-year college or a community college outside of California, you will be expected to attach a signed evaluation form from the Math Department. An evaluation of equivalence is not necessary for California Community Colleges (these are verified through assist.org).

4.  Complete the Statistics Major Application

5.  (Optional) Schedule an appointment with a Statistics Advisor through CalCentral. Students who have already completed the prerequisites are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a Staff Advisor after submitting their application to confirm eligibility, go over their program plan, and expedite the declaration process.

Applications for students with prerequisites in progress are processed 2-3 weeks after finals end. With the exception of the first 3 weeks of Fall and Spring semesters, applications for students who have completed all prerequisites are processed within 2 weeks or during a scheduled advising appointment (which ever comes first).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Statistics Department grading policies for semesters during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Please see the Statistics Department grading policies for the SP20, FA20, SP21, and SUM21 semesters linked here. 

If I took the AP Exam, A-Levels, IB or courses at another college, can I waive out of the pre-major Math requirements?

The Statistics Department defers to the Mathematics Department’s evaluation of course equivalence to the pre-major requirements. Here are currently established standards:

AP Credit

If you received a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus AB Exam, or a score of 3 or 4 on the AP Calculus BC Exam, then Math 1A requirement is waived. If you received a 5 on the AP Calculus BC Exam, both the Math 1A and Math 1B requirements are waived. 

Transfer Credit, A-Levels, and IB

Students who took courses at a California community college can determine whether those courses are equivalent to UC Berkeley courses using the Assist.org tool. Courses taken at another 4-year institution or a community college outside of California need to be evaluated by the Mathematics Department. Upload the completed evaluation(s) with you when you are ready to declare the major.

If you have A-Level Math exam credits or an International Baccalaureate (IB) Math Exam Credit, you can waive out of Math 1A and/or Math 1B. We abide by what the Math Department deems as equivalent, which is subject to change:

• A-Level Math (grade of ''B'' or better) = Math 1A Equivalency      
• A-Level Further Math (grade of ''B'' or better) = Math 1A & Math 1B Equivalency
• Singapore A-Level Exams H1 Math = Math 16A, H2 Math = Math 1A, and H2 Further Math = Math 1A and Math 1B Equivalency
• Refer to Math Department for IB Exam Credit

Students lacking partial material of any of the lower division prerequisites should see the Mathematics Department to discuss completing Mathematics 49. For example, students lacking the material on linear algebra in Mathematics 54 may learn this material by enrolling in Mathematics 49 and attending the portion of Math 54 on Linear Algebra. See information from the Mathematics Department on their Course Equivalency page.

What if I took the Math 16A-B series at UC Berkeley? Math 10A-10B at UC Berkeley?

If you have only completed Math 16A, you must still complete Math 1A or equivalent (at another college is fine as long as it is equivalent according to assist.org or the Math Department). If you took both Math 16A and Math 16B, you can waive out of Math 1A, but must take Math 1B or equivalent. Students can no longer take Math 49 to learn the Math 1B material lacking in Math 16B.

Students who have completed the Math 10A-10B series should see the Head Undergraduate Faculty Advisor. Bring a copy of your transcript.

Does taking the online Math X1A-B through UC Berkeley Extension fulfill Math 1A-B at UC Berkeley?

Generally, NO. The Statistics Department defers to the evaluation of the UC Extension courses by the UC Berkeley Math Department. In Spring 2012, the Math Department faculty reviewed the X1A-B curriculum and deemed the online X1A and X1B courses not equivalent to Math 1A-B at UC Berkeley. Students who have not yet taken X1A or X1B should NOT take them to satisfy Statistics major requirements. Students who have already taken X1A-B may request an evaluation from the Math Department to determine if Math 1A or 1B need to be taken. Grades in other math courses like Math 53 and Math 54 are factored into whether or not a student would need to take 1A or 1B.

Please note: Math XB1A and XB1B (in-class courses offered through the Fall Program for Freshmen) ARE equivalent to Math 1A and 1B and are accepted as prerequisites for the Statistics major. These courses are different from the online Math X1A and X1B offered through UC Extension.

Do Math N1A, Math N1B, Math N53, Math W53, and Math N54 satisfy the Math Prerequisites?

Yes, Math N1A, N1B, N53 and N54 taught at UC Berkeley are summer versions of Math 1A, 1B, 53, and 54; and Math W53 is the web-version of Math 53. The format of these courses are different than those offered in Fall and Spring but the content is the same so they can be used to satisfy Statistics major math prerequisites.

I took a prerequisite and earned a P. Can I declare?

No, you must take all major prerequisites for a letter grade and earn at least a C in Math 53, Math 54, and Stat 20 / Data C8 before you can declare and meet the minimum 2.0 prerequisite GPA. To calculate the GPA, a letter grade is required. You will need to repeat the course or see the Head Undergraduate Faculty Advisor about alternatives. These kinds of exceptions are considered on an individual basis by the Head Undergraduate Faculty Advisor and are rare.

Due to the extenuating circumstances of Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021 and more recently Fall 2022, please see Response to P/NP Default Grading Option For Spring 2020, FA20 and SP21 Grading Policy for the Statistics Major, and the FA22 Grading Policy for the Statistics Department which outline exceptions to the letter grade requirement. The FA20 and SP21 grading policy is applicable to Summer 2021 as well.

I received a C- in Math 53, Math 54, or Stat 20 / Data C8. Can I declare?

No, you must earn at least a C in Math 53, Math 54, and Stat 20 / Data C8 before you can declare as well as have at least a 2.0 GPA in the major prerequisite courses. Please see an advisor about your options to declare the major.

However, please see FA22 Grading Policy for the Statistics Department which outlines an exception to the letter grade requirement for that semester.

I am enrolled in my last prerequisite. Can I declare?

You can submit an application, but you will not be declared until all prerequisites are completed. We do not offer conditional declarations.

Is there a deadline to declare?

The Statistics Department does not have any specific deadlines to declare. However, the College of Letters & Science has policies relating to units caps and may not approve Statistics as a second major if successful completion of the major is not feasible within the allowed timeframe. Students wishing to double/triple major must declare at least one semester prior to graduation. There are no exceptions.

It is advisable to declare as early as possible so we can track your progress and ensure that your applied cluster courses are approved before you take them. Additionally, declared students receive priority when registering for upper division Statistics courses. Students may generally submit their application during the semester in which they are finishing their last prerequisite(s), but applications are only processed at designated times.