De Anza College to UC Berkeley
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Quarter-by-quarter courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
De Anza College
To
UC Berkeley
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
UC Berkeley's minimum GPA is 3.0, but the College of Engineering reported an average GPA of 3.92 among admitted Fall 2025 transfers, and admitted students across the full campus fell in the 3.61–3.96 mid-50% range for Fall 2024. For the CS B.A., your quantitative GPA — meaning your grades in MATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 51, MATH 52, CIS 40, and CIS 22C — carries far more weight than your overall GPA. A single C in a math or CS prerequisite can sink an otherwise strong application, because Berkeley evaluates your readiness to start upper-division work from day one.
Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
UC Berkeley's Community College Transfer Services (CCTS) is open to all De Anza students targeting Berkeley and offers weekly Transfer to Success webinars, one-on-one advising with a Berkeley representative, and early access to admissions information. To get connected, complete the free CCTS Intake Form on Berkeley's website — there is no minimum GPA required to join, and you can sign up as early as your first quarter at De Anza. The earlier you get in, the more sessions and advising appointments you can stack before your application window opens in November.
Major Requirements
Computer Science (CDSS B.A.) Major Preparation
Computer Science (CDSS B.A.) at UC Berkeley
Courses at De Anza College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UC Berkeley has two distinct CS tracks that confuse a lot of applicants. The CS B.A. lives in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) — that's what most transfer students apply to. The EECS B.S. lives in the College of Engineering and requires significantly more electrical engineering and physics coursework, carries a 3.5+ GPA recommendation for admission, and is substantially harder to get into. They are not interchangeable — you must choose one when you apply, and the College of Engineering will not allow you to switch majors once admitted. Data Science is a third, separate major in CDSS that shares some lower-division courses with CS but has its own degree requirements.
| Course at De Anza College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1A — Calculus | MATH 1A — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 1B — Calculus | MATH 1B — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 51 — Linear Algebra | MATH 54 (Linear Algebra portion) — taken with MATH 52 | 5 |
| MATH 52 — Differential Equations | MATH 54 (Differential Equations portion) — taken with MATH 51 | 5 |
| CIS 40 — Python Programming | COMPSCI 61A — Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (Highly Recommended) | 4 |
| CIS 22C — Data Abstraction and Structures | COMPSCI 61B — Data Structures (Highly Recommended) | 4 |
| No equivalent at De Anza College | COMPSCI 61C — Machine Structures (Highly Recommended) | — |
| MATH 1C — Calculus | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus (Optional, Lower Division) | 5 |
| No equivalent at De Anza College | COMPSCI 70 — Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory (no CC transfer credit accepted) | — |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UC Berkeley after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at De Anza College
UC Berkeley's Computer Science (CDSS B.A.) program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five De Anza College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
BIOL 10
Introductory Biology
CHEM 10
Introductory Chemistry
HIST 17A
History of the United States to Early National Era
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at De Anza College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | BIOL 10 — Introductory Biology | 5 |
Physical Science | CHEM 10 — Introductory Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 17A — History of the United States to Early National Era | 4 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 5 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 5 |
UC Berkeley Computer Science (CDSS B.A.): full GE notes
UC Berkeley's College of Engineering does not accept IGETC/Cal-GETC as completion of breadth requirements. Engineering students fulfill Berkeley's own Humanities & Social Sciences breadth after transfer. Focus your CC time on major prep — math, physics, and CS courses — rather than chasing full IGETC certification.
MATH 1A → MATH 1B → MATH 51 → MATH 52
This four-course math chain must be started in your very first quarter at De Anza — each course is a hard prerequisite for the next. If you delay MATH 1A even one quarter, you push MATH 51 and MATH 52 (required to satisfy Berkeley's MATH 54) past your transfer application deadline, making you ineligible for admission.
De Anza runs on quarters — UC Berkeley runs on semesters
De Anza's quarter system gives you three academic terms per year instead of two, which means you can take more courses before your transfer deadline — but each course moves fast, so don't stack multiple heavy math or CS courses in the same quarter without a plan.
Preview
Your First Quarter
A preview of what Pipeline generates — exact courses, in the right order, every quarter.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
De Anza Has No 61C Equivalent — Plan Early
Berkeley's COMPSCI 61C (Machine Structures) is a highly recommended prerequisite, and De Anza College has no articulated course equivalent for it — this gap is unique to De Anza and won't show up in a generic transfer guide. Your best options are to take CS 61C through UC Berkeley Summer Session before you transfer, or enroll via concurrent enrollment if Berkeley permits it. Don't wait until after you're admitted to find out — arriving without 61C means your first semester at Berkeley is spent catching up on lower-division work instead of advancing.
MATH 51 and MATH 52 Are Both Required — Not Just One
Berkeley's MATH 54 (Linear Algebra and Differential Equations) is a single course, but at De Anza it splits into two separate courses: MATH 51 (Linear Algebra) and MATH 52 (Differential Equations). Berkeley has explicitly confirmed that both must be completed at De Anza to satisfy the MATH 54 requirement — partial credit is not given. Students who only take MATH 51 show up to Berkeley with an unfulfilled required course, which costs them a semester of progress after transfer.
IGETC Won't Help You — Use the 7-Course Pattern Instead
For the CS B.A. in CDSS, IGETC is not required for admission consideration and will not streamline your degree the way it does for some other majors. Berkeley recommends that your GE coursework align with approved Reading and Composition courses as published in ASSIST. Spend your elective credits on highly recommended major prep courses — particularly MATH 1C and data structures — rather than filling out a full IGETC certification that won't give you a meaningful advantage here.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does De Anza College have a course that counts for Berkeley's CS 61C?
No — De Anza College currently has no articulated equivalent for Berkeley's COMPSCI 61C (Machine Structures), and this is one of the most important gaps for De Anza students targeting the CS B.A. Your best path is to take CS 61C through UC Berkeley Summer Session before you transfer, since Berkeley's department notes that it very rarely accepts substitutes for 61A or 61C from other institutions.
What GPA do I need to transfer from De Anza College to UC Berkeley for Computer Science?
The official minimum is 3.0, but Berkeley Engineering reported that admitted Fall 2025 transfers had an average GPA of 3.92 — so treat 3.5 as your true floor and 3.7+ as your competitive target. Your GPA in quantitative courses like MATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 51, and CIS 40 is weighted more heavily than your overall GPA, because Berkeley is evaluating whether you're ready to jump into upper-division CS from day one.
Should I apply to CS or EECS at UC Berkeley from De Anza College?
These are two different programs in two different colleges — the CS B.A. is in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), while EECS B.S. is in the College of Engineering, which requires a 3.5+ GPA recommendation and additional physics and electrical engineering prep. The College of Engineering will not let you switch majors after admission, so choose deliberately. Most De Anza students targeting a software-focused career apply to the CS B.A.
Do I need to complete IGETC before transferring from De Anza College to UC Berkeley for CS?
No — and for CS specifically, IGETC is not required or recommended. Berkeley's College of Engineering explicitly states it does not accept IGETC, and for the CS B.A. in CDSS, completing IGETC offers no admissions advantage. Focus your course slots on the required and highly recommended major prep courses, including MATH 1A, MATH 1B, MATH 51, MATH 52, and CIS 40.
How many De Anza students transfer to UC Berkeley each year?
In 2023–24, 177 De Anza students enrolled at UC Berkeley — making Berkeley the single top UC destination for De Anza transfers. That number reflects all majors, not CS alone. CS is among the most competitive majors campus-wide, so the number of CS-specific admits from De Anza each year is a fraction of that total.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Students at De Anza College planning to transfer to UC Berkeley for Computer Science are navigating one of the most competitive pathways in the California community college system. UC Berkeley's College of Engineering reported a 13.9% transfer admit rate for Fall 2025 — well below Berkeley's campus-wide transfer rate of roughly 24% — and the Computer Science B.A., housed in the new College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), draws an intense applicant pool from across California. Transfer planning for this pathway centers almost entirely on major prerequisites: Berkeley's ASSIST agreement with De Anza College identifies MATH 1A, MATH 1B, and MATH 54 as required courses, with the CS 61A and 61C series and discrete math highly recommended. At De Anza, satisfying Berkeley's MATH 54 requires completing both MATH 51 (Linear Algebra) and MATH 52 (Differential Equations) — both courses, not just one. De Anza students also face a notable articulation gap: there is no De Anza course equivalent for Berkeley's COMPSCI 61C (Machine Structures), making a Berkeley Summer Session enrollment before transfer a near-necessity for the strongest applicants. Unlike many UC pathways, IGETC is not accepted for CS admission consideration at UC Berkeley — neither for CDSS nor the College of Engineering — so De Anza students should prioritize major prerequisites over general education breadth completion. Tools like Pipeline help students map out a quarter-by-quarter plan that accounts for prerequisite chains, the quarter-to-semester calendar difference, and Berkeley's November application deadline. De Anza College sends more transfers to UC Berkeley than any neighboring community college, with 177 students enrolling there in 2023–24 alone — and for CS-bound students who plan their coursework precisely and build a strong quantitative GPA in courses like CIS 40 (Python Programming) and the calculus sequence, the pathway is very real.
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