What are the most popular majors at UC Berkeley?
I'm a current high school junior starting to look at colleges in California, and UC Berkeley is at the top of my list (especially since my older sister went there). I'm trying to get a sense of what academic areas seem to be the most popular at Cal.
I know it's a really big school and famous for STEM, but I'm also interested in business, social sciences, or maybe even something like environmental studies. Do certain departments consistently have way more students? Are there any majors that are known for being super impacted or really hard to get into compared to others? I'd appreciate any input from current students or applicants who recently did research on this.
I'm just trying to see if my interests line up with what Berkeley is best known for, or if there are other cool programs students flock to.
I know it's a really big school and famous for STEM, but I'm also interested in business, social sciences, or maybe even something like environmental studies. Do certain departments consistently have way more students? Are there any majors that are known for being super impacted or really hard to get into compared to others? I'd appreciate any input from current students or applicants who recently did research on this.
I'm just trying to see if my interests line up with what Berkeley is best known for, or if there are other cool programs students flock to.
3 weeks ago
•
47 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 3 weeks ago
Advisor
UC Berkeley is well-known for having a wide range of popular and highly ranked majors, but you’re absolutely right that some departments are especially large or sought-after.
Some of the most popular majors at Berkeley include:
1. Computer Science: CS in both the College of Letters & Science (L&S) and the College of Engineering (as EECS) draws huge numbers of students. The L&S CS major is especially impacted, meaning admission is very competitive within the major.
2. Economics: Consistently one of the most popular choices across campus. It’s a large department with lots of flexibility and diverse topics. Econ is often paired with minors like data science or business.
3. Business Administration: Offered through the Haas School of Business, this is one of Cal’s most competitive and prestigious undergraduate programs. Students usually apply as pre-Haas for the first two years, then apply to the major sophomore year. Admission is extremely selective.
4. Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB): For students interested in life sciences, MCB is a major hub, especially for pre-med and biotech pathways.
5. Political Science and other Social Sciences: Political science is big, as are majors like Sociology and Psychology. These departments have a lot of students, seminar options, and research opportunities.
6. Environmental Science, Policy, and Management: Berkeley is a leader here too, especially under the College of Natural Resources. The Environmental Science major is popular among those interested in sustainability, policy, and scientific research on climate issues.
Other notable, highly subscribed majors include Data Science (which has exploded in popularity), Electrical Engineering, and Media Studies. Data Science in particular has seen a huge jump since its official launch—last year, it was among the top three majors by number of declared students.
To give a sense of impact: Computer Science (particularly L&S), Business (Haas), and Data Science are among the most impacted majors on campus, meaning that it can be harder to declare or get classes due to demand. For example, to declare L&S CS, you need very strong grades in the prerequisite courses.
If you’re leaning toward business, environmental studies, or social sciences, you’re definitely aligned with popular paths at Cal. Don’t overlook interdisciplinary majors like Cognitive Science or Society and Environment, which attract students who want a bit of everything.
A quick tip: If you end up applying to Berkeley, pay attention to the specific college within the university (L&S, College of Engineering, Haas, etc.), as different majors have different admission processes and requirements. Sometimes students choose a slightly less impacted major to make it easier to get started, with the option to transfer or add a second major later if there’s room.
If you want to see how your interests fit in, try browsing the Berkeley Academic Guide—it has detailed descriptions and stats for each major. But rest assured, you're likely to find a thriving community no matter which of these popular programs you choose!
Some of the most popular majors at Berkeley include:
1. Computer Science: CS in both the College of Letters & Science (L&S) and the College of Engineering (as EECS) draws huge numbers of students. The L&S CS major is especially impacted, meaning admission is very competitive within the major.
2. Economics: Consistently one of the most popular choices across campus. It’s a large department with lots of flexibility and diverse topics. Econ is often paired with minors like data science or business.
3. Business Administration: Offered through the Haas School of Business, this is one of Cal’s most competitive and prestigious undergraduate programs. Students usually apply as pre-Haas for the first two years, then apply to the major sophomore year. Admission is extremely selective.
4. Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB): For students interested in life sciences, MCB is a major hub, especially for pre-med and biotech pathways.
5. Political Science and other Social Sciences: Political science is big, as are majors like Sociology and Psychology. These departments have a lot of students, seminar options, and research opportunities.
6. Environmental Science, Policy, and Management: Berkeley is a leader here too, especially under the College of Natural Resources. The Environmental Science major is popular among those interested in sustainability, policy, and scientific research on climate issues.
Other notable, highly subscribed majors include Data Science (which has exploded in popularity), Electrical Engineering, and Media Studies. Data Science in particular has seen a huge jump since its official launch—last year, it was among the top three majors by number of declared students.
To give a sense of impact: Computer Science (particularly L&S), Business (Haas), and Data Science are among the most impacted majors on campus, meaning that it can be harder to declare or get classes due to demand. For example, to declare L&S CS, you need very strong grades in the prerequisite courses.
If you’re leaning toward business, environmental studies, or social sciences, you’re definitely aligned with popular paths at Cal. Don’t overlook interdisciplinary majors like Cognitive Science or Society and Environment, which attract students who want a bit of everything.
A quick tip: If you end up applying to Berkeley, pay attention to the specific college within the university (L&S, College of Engineering, Haas, etc.), as different majors have different admission processes and requirements. Sometimes students choose a slightly less impacted major to make it easier to get started, with the option to transfer or add a second major later if there’s room.
If you want to see how your interests fit in, try browsing the Berkeley Academic Guide—it has detailed descriptions and stats for each major. But rest assured, you're likely to find a thriving community no matter which of these popular programs you choose!
Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
Experience
5 years