Academic Programs & Majors (2024)

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UC Berkeley is renowned for the rigorous academic standards of its undergraduate programs. Our more than 130 academic departments and 80 interdisciplinary research units divided into six colleges and one school.

For more information on majors, minors, and other special programs go to our interactive Berkeley Academic Guide.

View/Download the list of majors or review the list by college below.

View information on the Direct Admit to Major Pilot program for transfer applicants or the policy on high-demand majors for first-year applicants.

  • College of Letters and Science

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    The College of Letters and Science sets undergraduate students on the intellectual adventure of their lives with a vibrant, broad-based liberal arts education. You participate in projects at the forefront of science, solve pressing social problems, create art, explore diverse cultures, and seek answers to the biggest questions of our times.

    Majors

    Arts and Humanities

    • Ancient Greek and Roman Studies
    • Art, History of
    • Art, Practice of
    • Celtic Studies
    • Comparative Literature
    • Dutch Studies
    • East Asian Languages and Cultures
      • Chinese
      • Japanese
    • East Asian Religion, Thought, and Culture
    • English
    • Film and Media
    • French
    • German
    • Greek
    • Greek and Latin
    • Italian Studies
    • Latin
    • Middle Eastern Languages and Culture
    • Music
    • Near Eastern Civilizations
    • Philosophy
    • Rhetoric
    • Scandinavian
      • Danish
      • Finnish
      • Norwegian
      • Old Norse
      • Swedish
    • Slavic
      • Armenian
      • Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian
      • Czech
      • Hungarian
      • Polish
      • Russian
    • South and Southeast Asian Studies
    • Spanish and Portuguese
      • Languages, Literature, and Cultures in the Spanish-Speaking World
      • Languages, Literature, and Cultures in the Portuguese-Speaking World
      • Latin American Languages, Literature, and Cultures
      • Hispanic, Languages, Literature, and Bilingualism
    • Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
      • Dance and Performance Studies
      • Theater and Performance Studies
    • Undeclared - Arts and Humanities*

    Biological Sciences

    • Integrative Biology
    • Molecular and Cell Biology
      • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
      • Cell and Developmental Biology
      • Genetics, Genomics, and Development
      • Immunology and Pathogenesis
      • Neurobiology
    • Public Health
    • Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program
    • Undeclared - Biological Sciences*

    Interdisciplinary Studies

    • American Studies
    • Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Legal Studies
    • Media Studies
    • Undeclared - Interdisciplinary Studies*

    Mathematical and Physical Sciences

    • Astrophysics (including Astronomy)
    • Chemistry also offered in the College of Chemistry
    • Earth and Planetary Science
      • Atmospheric Science
      • Environmental Earth Science
      • Geology
      • Geophysics
      • Marine Science
      • Planetary Science
    • Mathematics
      • Applied Mathematics
      • Mathematics
        • Mathematics with Teaching Concentration
    • Operations Research and Management Sciences
    • Physics
    • Undeclared - Mathematical and Physical Sciences*

    Social Sciences

    • African American Studies
    • Anthropology
    • Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies
    • Chicano/Latino Studies
    • Cognitive Science
    • Economics
    • Educational Sciences
    • Ethnic Studies
    • Gender and Women's Studies
    • Geography
    • Global Studies
      • Asian Area Studies I - China
      • Asian Area Studies II - Japan
      • Developmental Studies
      • Latin American Studies
      • Middle Eastern Studies
      • Peace and Conflict Studies
    • History
    • Linguistics
    • Native American Studies
    • Political Economy
    • Political Science
    • Psychology
    • Social Welfare
    • Sociology
    • Undeclared - Social Sciences*

    *Majors marked with an asterisk are only available to first-year applicants.

    Students can also consider a dual degree program by attending their first two years at France's leading university in the social sciences, Sciences Po, or at the University of Hong Kong for students interested in humanities or social sciences, before returning to Berkeley for their final two years. Students will receive two degrees from two renowned institutions.

  • College of Computing, Data Science, and Society

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    The College of Computing, Data Science and Society (CDSS) is Berkeley's newest college.

    Majors
    • Computer Science
    • Data Science
    • Statistics
  • The College of Chemistry offers fundamental knowledge of all fields of chemistry. There are lecture courses in the general areas of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, plus many more specialized courses including analytical, nuclear, and biophysical chemistry and chemical biology.

    Majors
    • Chemical Biology
    • Chemical Engineering
    • Chemistry also offered in the College of Letters and Science
  • College of Engineering

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    Berkeley Engineering is a national leader in engineering education, with students and researchers from around the world drawn to our department by its outstanding reputation, internationally recognized faculty, and tradition of impact in research and teaching. The College includes departments of Bioengineering; Civil & Environmental Engineering; Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences; Industrial Engineering & Operations Research; Materials Science & Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Nuclear Engineering.

    The is a new program for students interested in a major from both the College of Engineering and the Haas School of Business.

    Majors
    • Aerospace Engineering
    • Bioengineering
    • Civil Engineering
    • Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
    • Engineering Science Programs
      • Energy Engineering
      • Engineering Mathematics and Statistics
      • Engineering Physics
      • Environmental Engineering Science
    • Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
    • Materials Science and Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Nuclear Engineering
    • Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.)*
      • Aerospace Engineering & Business Administration
      • Bioengineering & Business Administration
      • Civil Engineering& Business Administration
      • Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences & Business Administration
      • Industrial Engineering and Operations Research& Business Administration
      • Materials Science and Engineering& Business Administration
      • Mechanical Engineering& Business Administration
      • Undeclared Engineering& Business Administration
    • Undeclared Engineering*

    *Majors marked with an asterisk are only available to first-year applicants.

  • College of Environmental Design

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    The College of Environmental Design undergraduate programs in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban studies combine general education with a broad introduction to the environmental design professions and emphasize the value that what we build must be ethically, socially, and ecologically appropriate. These programs equip students for work in these and related fields, or graduate study, or both.

    Majors
    • Architecture
    • Landscape Architecture
    • Sustainable Environmental Design
    • Urban Studies
  • Rausser College of Natural Resources

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    The Rausser College of Natural Resources addresses biological, social, and economic challenges associated with protecting natural resources and the environment. Rausser College's undergraduate academic programs teach students how to ensure economic and ecological sustainability for future generations.

    Majors
    • Conservation and Resource Studies
    • Ecosystem Management and Forestry
      • Forestry
      • Natural Resource Management
    • Environmental Economics and Policy
    • Environmental Sciences (biological, physical, social)
    • Genetics and Plant Biology
    • Microbial Biology
    • Molecular Environmental Biology
    • Nutritional Sciences
      • Physiology and Metabolism
    • Society and Environment
    • Undeclared*

    *Majors marked with an asterisk are only available to first-year applicants.

  • Haas School of Business

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    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, to achieve the highest levels of success in their professional careers, and to prepare for subsequent graduate work.

    Majors
    • Spieker Undergraduate Business Program
    Special Programs
    • Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program*
    • Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.)*
    • Global Management Program*

    *Majors marked with an asterisk are only available to first-year applicants.

Academic Programs & Majors (2024)

FAQs

How to answer why did you apply to your first choice academic program? ›

Research your target school's academic and extracurricular programs. Pay attention to its mission statement and any special programs it offers students. Choose two to three classes offered by the department whose major you want to study and explain why you want to take them and what you hope to gain from those classes.

How do you answer what's your major? ›

"I am majoring in [your major]. Its a field that I am really passionate about and excited to pursue." 2. "I am currently studying [your major], which aligns perfectly with my interests and career goals."

Are academic programs and majors the same thing? ›

Major: A major is a field of study within an approved degree program, having its own curriculum. A degree program may have more than one major. Area of Emphasis: An area of emphasis is a specific subject area within an approved degree program and major.

How to write why major if undecided? ›

If you're still undecided, you can opt to write about 1-3 potential majors (depending on the word count), while detailing how the school can help you choose one, as well as meet your broader academic goals.

How to answer why did you choose this program? ›

Include information about your skills and natural talents in your answer. Consider mentioning how your skills align with the subject matter. Focus on your unique strengths that could contribute to your success in the course. Discuss the skills you hope to further develop through the course.

What are your major examples? ›

A major is the field of study you choose to pursue when completing your general education requirements in college. Examples of common majors include business administration, computer science, and psychology.

What is my major and degree? ›

The short answer is that a degree is conferred to you upon completion of all the requirements for graduation, and your major is the more specific area of study you focused on while completing your degree.

Does it matter what my major is? ›

So if you're questioning whether or not your major will really matter in the long run, the answer is probably not as much as you think. What employers really care about is whether or not you have the skills and experience to do the job.

Why is it important to have an academic major? ›

Having a major helps you determine what classes you need to take and encourages you to set goals for your education. Enhances your knowledge of a specific subject or industry: By declaring a major in college, you gain an in-depth understanding of the subject you choose to study.

Why do you want to participate in this program? ›

Growth opportunity: Describe how you believe this program will challenge you, help you grow, and provide the necessary resources to achieve your goals. Mention any personal qualities, experiences, or skills that make you a good fit for the program and how you plan to make the most of what it offers.

Why choose your major in college? ›

The major you choose will have an impact on the jobs you'll qualify for after graduation, so it's important to use your college experience to determine your long-term career interests. That way, you can pick a major that will help land you a job you love.

What are considered academic programs? ›

An academic program is a combination of courses and related activities organized for the achievement of specific learning outcomes as defined by the University.

What is a major in academics? ›

A Major is that part of a Degree Program of Study which consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline(s) or field(s). The name of the Major is consistent with the Degree Subject Area on the institutions Course Reference (and Degree) Inventory (or CRIN).

Do colleges look at majors? ›

Declaring a Major

For freshmen applying to a major in the College, your choice of major will neither help nor hurt your prospects for admission. In fact, a large number of freshman applicants apply as undeclared.

What is the best answer for why did you choose this study? ›

Talk about your interests and how they influence your decisions. If you can give a specific instance or experience that led you to that decision, relay that experience. A personal story always creates a memorable impression. “I chose my course because the subject matter genuinely interests me.

Why are you applying for this particular program? ›

I am confident that the programme will provide me with the resources and guidance needed to reach my goals and build a successful career. I am particularly interested in the programme because of its emphasis on interdisciplinary research, which I believe will be invaluable in my future endeavors.

Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first choice major essay? ›

I am drawn to my first-choice major because it resonates with my passions, skills, and long-term career aspirations. This field of study allows me to delve deeper into subjects that genuinely excite and engage me, creating a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment in my academic journey.

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