Last updated: April 23, 2024
FAQs for High-Demand Majors are constantly being updated. For the latest information on HD Major policies and procedures, please refer back to this webpage regularly.
For Students Admitted to UC Berkeley in Fall 2023 & After as a First-Year Admit
There are two pathways to declare a high-demand major. This policy does not impact or apply to transfer students.
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Admission into L&S: Those who already know as high school students that they want a high-demand major should select that major on their UC Berkeley admissions application. If admitted to L&S, they will be guaranteed a spot in the major they selected, subject to completing the prerequisites, maintaining good academic standing in L&S, and filing a declaration form.
- Changing to a high-demand major after arriving at L&S*: For students who did not select a high-demand major on their UC Berkeley admissions application, the process for declaring a high-demand major will be through a comprehensive review, rather than a minimum GPA requirement only. Students will have one opportunity to apply for a high-demand major and will be required to have an alternate plan to declare a non-high-demand major as a back-up.
*The opportunities for being admitted to a high-demand major after enrollment are extremely limited, and applying via comprehensive review does not guarantee a spot in a high-demand major. If you have an interest in a high-demand major in L&S, we strongly encourage you to select that high-demand major on your UC Berkeley application. If you opt to change to a high-demand major in the College of Letters & Science after being admitted to Berkeley, you will be required to have an alternate plan to declare a non-high-demand major as a back-up.
What are the L&S high-demand (HD) majors?
L&S has eight high-demand (a.k.a. “capped” or “impacted”) majors**, where student demand exceeds teaching or facilities capacity. Admission to the following high-demand majors is limited.
Last updated: April 23, 2024 |
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Art Practice |
Psychology |
Media Studies | Public Health |
Operations Research & Management Science |
Social Welfare |
Political Economy |
**Please note the following majors are no longer L&S high-demand majors: computer science, data science, and statistics; economics (effective Summer 2024); global studies (effective Fall 2024). For more information about these majors, please see the section below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Majors that are no longer considered "L&S High-Demand Majors"
Computer science, data science, statistics
- Fall 2023 was the last class of students admitted to the College of Letters & Science for computer science, data science, and statistics, as the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) has been established. Please visit the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society FAQ for more information or email cdss-undergrad@berkeley.edu for support.
Economics (effective Summer 2024) and Global Studies (effective Fall 2024)
- If you were admitted in Fall 2023 and selected economics or global studies on your Admissions application: You have a guaranteed spot in that major, subject to completing prerequisites, maintaining good academic standing, and filing a declaration form.
- For more information on economics, please visit the economics department website, New Policy FAQ and/or email ugrad@econ.berkeley.edu for support.
- For more information on global studies, please visit the global studies department website, New Policy FAQ and/or email global_polecon@berkeley.edu.
Helpful Links
Admissions: L&S High Demand Majors
Academic Programs and Majors page
For Transfer Students: Direct Admission-to-Major Pilot for L&S
FAQs: Undergraduate Students in Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics
For more information, email LSHDMajors@berkeley.edu and please include your SID # in your email.