Have you ever wondered what the most popular subjects are at UC Berkeley? You know, the stuff students choose to spend their time studying? If you’re a high school student trying to select what to study in college, the University of California-Berkeley majors might provide excellent options. There is something for everyone at Cal, including renowned instructors and cutting-edge research possibilities.
But which fields of study are most in demand? Which are the most sought-after? We’ll explore which subjects are most popular with Berkeley students, giving you a sense of the academic energy on campus.
We can see what students choose most often and what knowledge they’re hungriest for! So, read to see the most sought-after majors at UC Berkeley!
Table of contents
- About the University of California Berkeley (UCB)
- Is the University of California-Berkeley prestigious?
- What does it take to be admitted to the University of California-Berkeley?
- What is an Impacted Major?
- What are the Impacted Majors at the University of California-Berkeley?
- UC Berkeley Majors and Minors: More Information
- Recommendations for Alternate Majors/Degrees
- Transfer Students Intending to Change Majors
- How Much Does the University of California-Berkeley Cost?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- References
About the University of California Berkeley (UCB)
Berkeley, California is home to the prestigious public research university known as the University of California at Berkeley.
Cal is one of the ten campuses comprising the University of California system. It was founded in 1868. Berkeley is one of the most prominent universities in the University of California (UC) system, with a student body of over 45,000.
Berkeley is regularly listed as one of the top public universities in the United States. It has a reputation for being one of the most renowned and selective universities in the world.
Berkeley receives many applicants due to its reputation (over 85,000 for the class of 2024! ), thus not everyone who applies will be admitted.
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Is the University of California-Berkeley prestigious?
Yes, UC Berkeley is a prestigious university, per numerous college rankings. According to U.S. News, UC Berkeley is ranked as the nation’s top public school and twenty-first among national universities.
The best students in the nation also frequently major at the University of California, Berkeley. As a result, many students decide to pursue their undergraduate degrees there.
Admissions to UC Berkeley are highly selective as being quite selective. According to UC Berkeley enrollment numbers, UC Berkeley Admissions looks for applicants above the minimum GPA criteria while assessing applications. High achievers and well-rounded students are what UC Berkeley Admissions seeks.
Furthermore, its all-encompassing review procedure considers academic and non-academic aspects, such as grades and character traits.
UC Berkeley is a prestigious institution for undergraduate study and the location of several highly regarded graduate institutions. According to U.S. News, several of Berkeley’s graduate programs were in the top 10 in the nation.
The Goldman School of Public Policy at Berkeley is one of the nation’s top four public affairs and public policy schools. Berkeley Law is ranked #9, and the Haas School of Business is ranked #7.
What does it take to be admitted to the University of California-Berkeley?
UC Berkeley seeks students who are engaged in and dedicated to their academics and extracurricular activities and those who have achieved high test and grade point averages.
The admissions committee also considers each applicant’s personal history and experiences to guarantee a varied and well-rounded student body.
You’ll need to choose a major once you’ve been accepted to Berkeley. With over 350 undergraduate majors and minors available, this might be overwhelming. Hence, understanding the impacted majors at UC Berkeley can be challenging.
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What is an Impacted Major?
Having a major that will impact college admissions is one thing that can make the process more stressful.
A major is said to be impacted when there are more applications than openings. You’ll see a pattern when you look at the impacted majors at the University of California-Berkeley, especially in how similar they are to the impacted majors at UCLA.
This could imply stricter entrance requirements for students wishing to major in that field and increased competition for available course spaces after enrollment.
If you want to pursue one of these degrees, you need to do your study and be ready for the admissions process, even if it’s not impossible to get into a college major that impacts you.
What are the Impacted Majors at the University of California-Berkeley?
The following majors at the University of California-Berkeley (UCB) are regarded as impacted or capped:
- Art Practice
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Global Studies
- Media Studies
- Operations Research & Management Science
- Political Economy
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Social Welfare
- Statistics
UC Berkeley Majors and Minors: More Information
Let’s discuss the specifics of picking a major or minor at the University of California-Berkeley. Although choosing a major is an important decision, you are not required to declare that major to UC Berkeley Admissions.
Keep your list of potential college majors if you’ve already made one after submitting your application. Then, feel free to seek major-related courses during your first couple of Berkeley semesters.
Have you decided which major at the University of California-Berkeley to list on your application? If yes, use Berkeley’s Career Library and Career Center to further investigate your list of potential college majors. These tools help you narrow your list of the University of California-Berkeley majors and select a major.
New students should review Berkeley’s academic policies and learn about the majors and minors offered by UC Berkeley.
These regulations apply to all University of California-Berkeley majors and the courses you will take. They provide data on grades, midterm and final results, degree advancement, and graduation.
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Declaring your major
You are not required to declare your major when applying to UC Berkeley, but you will do so later. By the end of their second year, students are urged to declare their majors and minors at UC Berkeley. However, the requirements will vary depending on the University of California-Berkeley major and minor.
Additionally, timescales may vary per college or school. For instance, L&S majors at UC Berkeley must declare their majors after they have completed 90 units.
High-demand the University of California-Berkeley majors could also have distinct requirements for expressing. Check the website for each department to see any specific deadlines.
Satisfying degree requirements
Additionally, students pursuing the University of California-Berkeley majors must meet their institution’s or school’s specific degree requirements.
All University of California-Berkeley majors must also complete the following courses: Entry Level Writing, American History, and American Institutions. Above all, remember that you can alter your major at any time.
In conclusion, extensively investigate the prerequisites for each at the University of California Berkeley degree on your list of potential majors. After that, you can confidently decide what to major in on your UC Berkeley application.
In this manner, as soon as it’s time to enrol at UC Berkeley, you’ll be sure of your decision as you begin your first year.
Recommendations for Alternate Majors/Degrees
Suppose you applied at the University of California-Berkeley with one of the most sought-after majors. Due to the stress of not being accepted into your initial primary designation, it may be prudent to consider alternative significant possibilities.
At UC Berkeley, students who want to major in a highly sought-after field will choose an alternate major. They will consider you for the alternative major if you still need to meet the criteria for admission for the first significant designation.
If accepted for the alternative major, remember that it represents a complete switch from the initial major you indicated.
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- Art Practice: History of Art & Interdisciplinary Studies
- Computer Science: Data Science, Cognitive Science, Applied Mathematics
- Economics: Political Economy, American Studies, Global Studies, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science
- Global Studies: Legal Studies, Political Economy, and Environmental Economics & Policy
- Media Studies: Rhetoric, Film, American Studies, Sociology, Ethnic Studies
- Operations Research & Management Science: Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Sociology, Political Science
- Political Economy: Political Science, Legal Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Sociology
- Psychology: Anthropology, Sociology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Ethnic Studies, American Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Integrative Biology
- Public Health: American Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Welfare, Ethnic Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Sociology, Molecular & Cell Biology or Integrative Biology
- Social Welfare: Sociology, Legal Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies
- Statistics: Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Economics
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Transfer Students Intending to Change Majors
You could be considering changing your major as a transfer student. Consider all your possibilities when starting over at a new school. However, there are a few considerations you should examine before moving forward.
First of all, transferring can be challenging academically, and if you enrol in subjects outside of your comfort zone, you might find it challenging to keep up.
Furthermore, there is no assurance that all of your credits will transfer if you change majors because every school has its transfer credit policies.
Finally, it’s crucial to remember that switching majors can lengthen the time it takes to graduate, which may not be ideal if you want to save money on tuition or start working right away.
Considering this, it’s crucial to carefully consider your options before switching majors as a transfer student. To be sure that a significant move is the best option, transfer students should do their studies and consult an advisor before making any selections.
If you attended a California community college, you would be more competitive at institutions you wouldn’t have been able to get into in high school.
- Twenty-one (21) were transfer students, while 79 were first-year students.
- Nineteen (19) students failed to graduate within four years, while 81 did.
- Forty (40) people received no financial aid, compared to 60 who did.
- Five people were over 25, while 95 were under 25.
How Much Does the University of California-Berkeley Cost?
The average out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at the University of California–Berkeley in 2024–2025 is $43,980. California residents receive a discount and must only pay $14,226 annually.
Remember that many students are eligible for scholarships and financial aid, which will reduce their out-of-pocket expenses.
The average annual cost of tuition and fees for out-of-state students is $19,933. Compared to other universities in the nation, the University of California – Berkeley is relatively pricey, with out-of-state undergrads paying an average of $43,980 in tuition and fees annually.
Undergraduates who study in their home state pay about $16,784 in tuition and fees per year. Compared to the national average, UC Berkeley’s undergraduate tuition is comparatively affordable at only $14,226 per year.
Over the previous five years, in-state at the University of California-Berkeley tuition and fees increased at an average yearly rate of 0.10%. California citizens could pay an estimated $14,254 in tuition this school year.
If in-state tuition and fees continue to increase at the same rate, the expected price for two years at UC Berkeley would be $28,523, and the estimated expense for four years would be $57,103.
Out-of-state students’ tuition and fees have increased by 0.62% within the same time frame. If costs continue to rise at the same rate, out-of-state students must pay about $44,528 this academic year.
This translates to an anticipated out-of-state tuition and fee cost of $89,333 for two years at UC Berkeley and $179,779 for four years, respectively.
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Frequently Asked Questions
At UC Berkeley, you can alter your major. Even if it can be challenging to pinpoint precisely what you want out of your college experience, options are still open to you. At UC Berkeley, advisors can help you choose a degree and career path, supporting your academic performance and social well-being.
The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Space Sciences Laboratory are just two of the illustrious research centres that call Berkeley, one of the 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities, home.
Although no minimum GPA is required to apply to the major, those who succeed in their applications typically have a prerequisite GPA of at least 2.75.
The most sought-after majors at the University of California, Irvine are in the following categories: health-related knowledge and skills; psychology; business, management, marketing, and related support services; engineering; computer and information sciences and support services; biological and biomedical sciences; and business, management, and related support services.
Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology (M.E.T.) has an acceptance rate of less than 3% and is the most selective major at the University of California-Berkeley. The undergraduate programs at the Haas Business School and electrical engineering/computer science are also quite competitive.
Conclusion
What are the most sought-after and well-liked majors at UC Berkeley, then? Hopefully, after reading our blog post, you can respond to this query.
Although many of these majors were exclusive to the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University C Berkeley, the data point paints a more comprehensive picture. The University of California Berkeley (UCB)’s (UCB) most affected and in-demand degrees are these 11 majors.
Consider declaring one of these majors, do you? If so, we wish you the best of luck as you start your collegiate career.
References
- transferca.org – University of California, Berkeley degrees
- collegefactual.com – University of California, Berkeley degrees information
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