Declaring the Major | Department of Statistics (2024)

Eligibility to Declare

  • Admitted Prior to Fall 2024
  • Admitted Fall 2024 and Later

Students admitted prior to Fall 2024 must earn

  • A minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average in the following courses:
    • Math 1A Calculus (or the Summer version Math N1A)
    • Math 1B Calculus II (or the Summer version Math N1B)
    • Math 53 Multivariable Calculus (or the Summer version Math N53, or web-based version Math W53)
    • Math 54 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (or the Summer version Math N54)
    • Stat 20 or Data C8
  • And a minimum C grade in Math 53, Math 54, and Stat 20 / Data C8.

If you have completed any of the math prerequisites at another institution, please look at Frequently Asked Questions below.

For students admitted to UC Berkeley Fall 2024 or later:

  • Students admitted to CDSS in Fall 2024 or later will be automatically enrolled in their selected major and do not need to follow declaration procedures outlined on this page.
  • Students admitted in Fall 2024 or later who did not select Statistics on their admission application may apply to the major via comprehensive review (see drop-down below).

Prerequisites and Comprehensive Review

Prerequisites

Requirement

UC Berkeley Course

Alternative

Calculus I

Math 1A

  • Equivalent Advanced Placement, IB, or A-Levels perMath Department; or equivalent CA Community College course work per Assist.org;or equivalent course work from another 4-year college or out-of-state community college as evaluated by the Math Department.

  • Math 56may be taken in lieu of Math 54. Math 91 "Linear Algebra" from Fall 2022 is also acceptable.

Calculus II

Math 1B

Multivariable Calculus

Math 53

Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

Math 54

Lower Division Statistics

Stat 20 or
Data/Stat/CS/Info C8

Comprehensive Review

More details to come

When can I apply?

Updates coming soon

How do I apply?

Updates coming soon

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the move of the Statistics Major and Minor to the newly established College of Computing, Data Science and Society (CDSS) mean for me?

Please refer toFAQs: Undergraduate Students in Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics. Theinterview with CDSS Associate Dean of Students, Prof. Deborah Nolan,may also answer some of your questions.

What are the Statistics Department grading policies for semesters during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Please see the Statistics Department grading policies for the SP20, FA20, SP21, and SUM21 semesterslinked here.

If I took the AP Exam, A-Levels, IB, or courses at another college, can I waive out of the pre-major Math requirements?

The Statistics Department defers to theMathematics Department’s evaluationof course equivalence to the pre-major requirements. Here are currently established standards:

AP Credit

If you received a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus AB Exam, or a score of 3 or 4 on the AP Calculus BC Exam, then Math 1A requirement is waived. If you received a 5 on the AP Calculus BC Exam, both the Math 1A and Math 1B requirements are waived.

Transfer Credit, A-Levels, and IB

Students who took courses at a California community college can determine whether those courses are equivalent to UC Berkeley courses using the Assist.org tool. Courses taken at another 4-year institution or a community college outside of California need to beevaluated by theMathematics Department. Upload the completed evaluation(s) with you when you are ready to declare the major.

If you have A-Level Math exam credits or an International Baccalaureate (IB) Math Exam Credit, you can waive out of Math 1A and/or Math 1B. We abide by what the Math Department deems as equivalent, which is subject to change:

  • A-Level Math (grade of ''B'' or better) = Math 1A Equivalency
  • A-Level Further Math (grade of ''B'' or better) = Math 1A & Math 1B Equivalency
  • Singapore A-Level ExamsH1 Math = Math 16A, H2 Math = Math 1A, and H2 Further Math = Math 1A and Math 1B Equivalency
  • Refer to Math Department for IB Exam Credit

Students lacking partial material of any of the lower division prerequisites should see the Mathematics Department to discuss completing Mathematics 49. For example, students lacking the material on linear algebra in Mathematics 54 may learn this material by enrolling in Mathematics 49 and attending the portion of Math 54 on Linear Algebra. See information from the Mathematics Department on their Course Equivalency page.

What if I took the Math 16A-B series at UC Berkeley? Math 10A-10B at UC Berkeley? XMath 1A-1B through Fall Program for First Semester (FPF)?

If you have only completed Math 16A, you must still complete Math 1A or equivalent (at another college is fine as long as it is equivalent according to assist.org or the Math Department). If you took both Math 16A and Math 16B, you can waive out of Math 1A, but must take Math 1B or equivalent. Students can no longer take Math 49 to learn the Math 1B material lacking in Math 16B.

Students who have completed the Math 10A-10B series should see the Head Undergraduate Faculty Advisor. Senda copy of your transcript.

Per the Math Department website, XMath 1A and XMath 1B offered through the Fall Program for First Semester ARE equivalent to UC Berkeley's Math 1A and 1B (see https://math.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/major/frequently-asked-questions#faqs2) so they can be used to satisfy Statistics major prerequisites.

Does taking the online Math X11 or Math X12through UC Berkeley Extension fulfill Math 1A-B at UC Berkeley?

Generally, NO. The Statistics Department defers to the evaluation of the UC Extension courses by the UC Berkeley Math Department. In Spring 2012, the Math Department faculty reviewed the X11 and X12 (formerly known as Math X1A and Math X1B) curriculum and deemed the online X11 and X12 courses not equivalent to Math 1A-B at UC Berkeley. Students who have not yet taken X11 or X12should NOT take them to satisfy Statistics major requirements. Students who have already taken X11-X12may request an evaluation from the Math Department to determine if Math 1A or 1B needs to be taken. Grades in other math courses like Math 53 and Math 54 are factored into whether or not a student would need to take 1A or 1B.

Please note: XMATH 1A and XMATH 1B (offered through the Fall Program for First Semester) ARE equivalent to Math 1A and 1B and are accepted as prerequisites for the Statistics major. These courses are different from the online Math X11 and X12 offered through UC Extension.

Does Math N1A, Math N1B, Math W53, Math N54 and Math W54 satisfy the math prerequisites?

Yes, Math N1A, N1B, N53 and N54 taught at UC Berkeley are summer versions of Math 1A, 1B, 53, and 54; and Math W53 and W54 are the web-versions of Math 53 and 54. The format of these courses are different than those offered in Fall and Spring but the content is the same so they can be used to satisfy Statistics major math prerequisites.

I took a prerequisite and earned a P. Can I declare?

No, you must take all major prerequisites for a letter grade and earn at least a C in Math 53, Math 54, and Stat 20 / Data C8 before you can declare and meet the minimum 2.0 prerequisite GPA. To calculate the GPA, a letter grade is required. You will need to repeat the course or see the Head Undergraduate Faculty Advisor about alternatives. These kinds of exceptions are considered on an individual basis by the Head Undergraduate Faculty Advisor and are rare.

Due to the extenuating circumstances of Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, or Fall 2022 please see Response to P/NP Default Grading Option For Spring 2020, FA20 and SP21 Grading Policy for the Statistics Major, or FA22 Grading Policy for the Statistics Department which outline exceptions to the letter grade requirement. The FA20 and SP21 grading policy is applicable to Summer 2021 as well.

I received a C- in Math 53, Math 54, or Stat 20 / Data C8. Can I declare?

No, you must earn at least a C in Math 53, Math 54, and Stat 20 / Data C8 before you can declare as well as have at least a 2.0 GPA in the major prerequisite courses. Please see an advisor about your options to declare the major.

I am enrolled in my last prerequisite. Can I declare?

You can submit an application, but you will not be declared until all prerequisites are completed. We do not offer conditional declarations.

Is there a deadline to declare?

No, you may declare the Statistics major as long has you have completed the prerequisite requirements and your grades are verifiable. However, the College of Letters & Science has policies relating to units caps and may not approve Statistics as a second major if successful completion of the major is not feasible within the allowed timeframe. Students wishing to double/triple major must declare at least one semester prior to graduation. There are no exceptions.

It is advisable to declare as early as possible so we can track your progress and ensure that your applied cluster courses are approved before you take them. Additionally, declared students receive priority when registering for upper division Statistics courses. Students may generally submit their application during the semester in which they are finishing their last prerequisite(s), but applications are only processed at designated times.

Declaring the Major | Department of Statistics (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean when you declare your major? ›

When a student declares a major he/she is indicating which major he/she would like to pursue. In the College of Business students can declare Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management or Marketing. When a student is admitted into their major, that means he/she has met the admission requirements.

How hard is it to get into uw statistics? ›

Your overall UW record, the GPAs of the prerequisites, positive grade pattern and your personal statement are considered in the review. The major is competitive and acceptance rates are usually around 50%, very rarely dropping below 33%.

Is statistics a difficult major? ›

You won't have to deal with too many theoretical courses. Most of the courses are not very mathematical. Sure, you might have to calculate an odds ratio (don't worry it is easy) or multiply matrices. But all in all, there are no complicated things and most of the time it is common sense.

Is statistics a hard class? ›

It involves many mathematical concepts, so students who are not very good at maths may struggle. The formulas are also arithmetically complex, making them difficult to apply without errors.

Is it better to declare a major? ›

Declaring your intended major tells the college that you have definite academic goals and that you are applying to their specific school because their program helps you meet those goals. It sends a message to the admissions authorities that you are more likely to attend their college if your application is accepted.

Is it better to be undeclared or have a major? ›

Essentially, if you are truly unsure of what you want to study, you will likely want to check “undeclared.” However, you may not want to use this as a way into a college or university believing you can transfer into your preferred program later as there is no guarantee that will happen.

Is statistics harder than calculus? ›

Some students might find Calculus harder, while others might struggle more with Statistics. It's highly personal, so talk to your teachers and peers to help you make the best decision.

What is the hardest thing in statistics? ›

To determine if the two population means differ, the student must also know how to utilize the test statistic, compute the degrees of freedom, and evaluate the results of the hypothesis test. Overall, the toughest statistical idea to understand is hypothesis testing for two populations using dependent samples.

Is statistics a lot of math? ›

Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics that involves the collection, description, analysis, and inference of conclusions from quantitative data. The mathematical theories behind statistics rely heavily on differential and integral calculus, linear algebra, and probability theory.

How to pass statistics in college? ›

To pass your statistics class, you'll want to focus on these five things:
  1. Refreshing your knowledge of foundational concepts.
  2. Mastering statistics fundamentals.
  3. Using your time wisely.
  4. Getting help early if you need it.
  5. Not stressing about the course.

Why do people struggle with statistics? ›

However, many students struggle with learning statistics. This is due, in large part, to the fact that statistics is a broad field that encompasses many concepts, methods and techniques. Students can quickly become overwhelmed by statistics' many learning pitfalls.

Does declaring a major matter? ›

While simply being sure about what field you wish to major in does not necessarily mean that you should declare early, if that major requires a specific set of courses from freshman year on, then it is in your best interests to declare.

What happens if you don't declare a major? ›

Applying to college as an undeclared major, or as any major, won't impact your college experience once you arrive. You can typically change your major without any consequences until sophomore or junior year.

What happens when you get a major? ›

Key takeaways: A college major is the primary area of study students select when they earn an undergraduate degree. College majors are important because they provide direction and structure for students' education, typically to help them prepare for a career in their field of choice.

Does your major show up on your degree? ›

The diploma shows the title of the degree the student has earned, such as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, or Master of Science in Nursing; it does not include the student's major.

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