Declaring the Major

Declaring the Major

Eligibility to Declare

Students admitted prior to Fall 2024 must earn

  • A minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average in the following courses:
    • Math 1A Calculus (or the Summer version Math N1A)
    • Math 1B Calculus II (or the Summer version Math N1B)
    • Math 53 Multivariable Calculus (or the Summer version Math N53, or web-based version Math W53)
    • Math 54 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (or the Summer version Math N54 or web-based version W54) or Math 56 Linear Algebra
    • Stat 20 or Data C8
  • And a minimum C grade in Math 53, Math 54 / Math 56, and Stat 20 / Data C8.

If you have completed any of the math prerequisites at another institution, please look at Frequently Asked Questions below.

For students admitted to UC Berkeley Fall 2024 or later:

  • Students admitted to CDSS in Fall 2024 or later will be automatically enrolled in their selected major and do not need to follow declaration procedures outlined on this page.
  • Students admitted in Fall 2024 or later who did not select Statistics on their admission application may apply to the major via comprehensive review (see drop-down below). 

Prerequisites and Comprehensive Review

Depending on when you were admitted to UC Berkeley and your intended major at the time of admission, some students will declare based on completion of prerequisites, and some students will apply through Comprehensive Review. Please use the "Eligibility to Declare by Semester of Admission" tabs above to determine which section is relevant to you.

Prerequisites
  • A minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average in the following courses:

Requirement

UC Berkeley Course

Alternative

Calculus I

Math 1A

  • Equivalent Advanced Placement, IB, or A-Levels per Math Department; or equivalent CA Community College course work per Assist.org; or equivalent course work from another 4-year college or out-of-state community college as evaluated by the Math Department.

  • Math 56 may be taken in lieu of Math 54. Math 91 "Linear Algebra" from Fall 2022 is also acceptable.

Calculus II

Math 1B

Multivariable Calculus

Math 53

Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

Math 54

Lower Division Statistics

Stat 20 or
Data/Stat/CS/Info C8
  • And a minimum C grade in Math 53, Math 54, and Stat 20 / Data C8.
  • If you have completed any of the prerequisites at another institution, please look at Frequently Asked Questions below.
Comprehensive Review

More details to come

When can I apply?

In deciding when to apply, you must keep in mind both the open application window (when Statistics will accept your application) AND any relevant campus or College deadlines.

Students admitted prior to Fall 2024 and meet the major prerequisites can submit an application generally anytime during the semester and they will be reviewed on a rolling basis, including Summer. Students are encouraged to submit their application during the semester in which they will complete their last prerequisite(s). The application will be processed after final grades are available for that semester. 

Students admitted in Fall 2024 who are interested in declaring the Statistics major will apply to the major through a comprehensive review process. More details will be provided in the Fall 2024 semester about the comprehensive review process.
 

How do I apply?

Students who have completed all prerequisite courses or are currently enrolled in their last prerequisite(s) 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 Computing, Data Science, and Society. 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:

  •  Select your Statistics Major courses.
  •  Prepare a Program Plan or Double Major/Simultaneous Degree Packet. You may view first-year or transfer sample plans and course descriptions. 
  •  (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).
  •  Complete the Statistics Major Application
  •  (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).

More information will be provided soon about the deadlines for applying through comprehensive review.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the move of the Statistics Major and Minor to the newly established College of Computing, Data Science and Society (CDSS) mean for me?

Please refer to FAQs: Undergraduate Students in Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics. The interview with CDSS Associate Dean of Students, Prof. Deborah Nolan, may also answer some of your 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? XMath 1A-1B through Fall Program for First Semester (FPF)?

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. Send a copy of your transcript.

Per the Math Department website, XMath 1A and XMath 1B offered through the Fall Program for First Semester ARE equivalent to UC Berkeley's Math 1A and 1B (see https://math.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/major/frequently-asked-questions#faqs2) so they can be used to satisfy Statistics major prerequisites.

Does taking the online Math X11 or Math X12 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 X11 and X12 (formerly known as  Math X1A and Math X1B) curriculum and deemed the online X11 and X12 courses not equivalent to Math 1A-B at UC Berkeley. Students who have not yet taken X11 or X12 should NOT take them to satisfy Statistics major requirements. Students who have already taken X11-X12 may request an evaluation from the Math Department to determine if Math 1A or 1B needs 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: XMATH 1A and XMATH 1B (offered through the Fall Program for First Semester) ARE equivalent to Math 1A and 1B and are accepted as prerequisites for the Statistics major. These courses are different from the online Math X11 and X12 offered through UC Extension.

Does Math N1A, Math N1B, Math W53, Math N54 and Math W54 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 and W54 are the web-versions of Math 53 and 54. 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. Am I eligible to apply?

No, you must take all major prerequisites for a letter grade and earn at least a C in Math 53, Math 54 / Math 56, and Stat 20 / Data C8 before you can apply to 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, or Fall 2022 please see Response to P/NP Default Grading Option For Spring 2020,  FA20 and SP21 Grading Policy for the Statistics Major, or 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. Am I eligible to apply?

No, you must earn at least a C in Math 53, Math 54 / Math 56, and Stat 20 / Data C8 before you can apply 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.