Transfer Prerequisites and Sample Programs

Welcome to the University of California at Berkeley's Computer Science Division!

You have been admitted to UC Berkeley as an intended major in Computer Science. You will be able to declare Computer Science as your major when you complete your remaining technical prerequisites with a Berkeley grade point average of at least 2.0 and complete the application and Declaration of Major forms required by the department.

Transfer students who are most competitive for the major have achieved an overall gpa from their community college of at least 3.5. To be minimally prepared for this major, you should have completed equivalents at least 3 of the following lower division technical prerequisites, including Math 1A, 1B at your community college. Those of you who are best prepared, and only need one semester at Berkeley to complete their tech courses, should have completed at least 4 out of these 6 prerequisites.

• Math 1A (calculus)
• Math 1B (calculus)
• Math 54 (linear algebra and differential equations)
• CS 70 (discrete mathematics and probability theory)
• CS 61B (data structures)
• EECS 42, 43 (introduction to electrical circuits)

You should assume that your first semester will be spent completing technical requirements that you were unable to take at your community college. In some cases, it will take 2 semesters to do this. Since admissions decisions for this major will be based on the technical prerequisites taken at Berkeley it is important that you maximize your potential for doing well. We recommend that you take only 2 technical courses a semester. However, since you need to complete lower division requirements as soon as possible, it may be necessary to take 3 technical courses your first semester of enrollment.

There are a number of technical courses (i.e., CS61A, CS61B, CS61C, Math 54) offered through UC Berkeley Summer Session. If possible, it is advantageous to take one of these courses prior to entering Berkeley as a degree candidate.

The CS Division offers a minor in CS. In order to qualify, you must have declared another major and have achieved a gpa of above a 2.6 for those lower division courses required for the minor.

Sample Programs for Incoming CS Transfer Students

These are sample programs for incoming transfer students to help guide your way through your years at Berkeley. Keep in mind that they are only suggested programs, used while planning your own schedule. Some courses can also be taken during Berkeley summer sessions to satisfy CS major prerequisites, thereby allowing you to apply to the major earlier. (See more information on Applying for the Major.)

Keep in mind:

1. EE42 could have been satisfied with an introduction to electrical circuits course and calculus based physics through electricity at your community college.
2. If you took any courses that gave you partial satisfaction for a prerequisite here, it means that you will likely have to take a .bridge course. here...CS47B,C or CS99* (for discrete math).
3. If you think you have waived any technical requirements based on work experience, self-knowledge, or courses taken at a 4 year college for which we have no standard equivalencies established, please contact Michael Clancy, clancy@cs.

*CS99 will become CS47D

Information for Prospective L&S CS Transfers