Diablo Valley College to UC Berkeley
Computer Science Transfer Plan
Semester-by-semester courses, IGETC requirements, and major prerequisites — verified from real articulation data.
From
Diablo Valley College
To
UC Berkeley
Computer ScienceGPA Reality Check
The UC minimum is 3.0, but for CS at Berkeley, that number is basically irrelevant — admitted transfers across all Berkeley majors averaged a 3.61–3.96 GPA, and CS is one of the most competitive majors on campus with a reported admit rate around 4%. The grades that matter most are the ones in your CS and math courses: CS 161, CS 162, MATH 192, MATH 193, and MATH 291. A single B in one of those courses won't kill your application, but a pattern of B's in your technical prep almost certainly will.
UC Berkeley Transfer Alliance Project (TAP)
DVC is a partner school in UC Berkeley's Transfer Alliance Project (TAP), and the numbers behind it are real — historically, about 80% of TAP participants who applied to Berkeley were admitted. To get certified, you need to enroll in DVC's Honors Program and complete the required honors coursework. Talk to DVC's Transfer Center early — TAP certification takes planning across multiple semesters, and you can't rush it at the end.
Major Requirements
Computer Science (CDSS B.A.) Major Preparation
Computer Science (CDSS B.A.) at UC Berkeley
Courses at Diablo Valley College that satisfy UC Berkeley's Computer Science major preparation, verified via ASSIST.org.
UC Berkeley offers two CS paths that students frequently confuse: the CS B.A. in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), and the EECS B.S. in the College of Engineering. The EECS path is engineering-focused, requires more math and science, and has a separate application. Transfer students apply to one specific program — you cannot apply to CS B.A. and hedge into EECS. There is also a Data Science B.A. in CDSS, which shares some prep courses but is a distinct major.
| Course at Diablo Valley College | Satisfies at UC Berkeley | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CS 161 — Introduction to Computer Science I | COMPSCI 61A — Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs | 4 |
| CS 162 — Introduction to Computer Science II | COMPSCI 61B — Data Structures | 4 |
| No equivalent at Diablo Valley College | COMPSCI 61C — Machine Structures | — |
| No equivalent at Diablo Valley College | COMPSCI 70 — Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory | — |
| MATH 192 — Calculus | MATH 1A — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 193 — Calculus II | MATH 1B — Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 291 — Multivariable Calculus | MATH 53 — Multivariable Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 294 — Linear Algebra | MATH 54 (Linear Algebra portion) — Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYSICS 120 — Physics for Scientists and Engineers I | PHYSICS 7A — Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
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 Diablo Valley College
UC Berkeley's Computer Science (CDSS B.A.) program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Diablo Valley College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
ANTHR 115
Primate Evolution and Adaptation
CHEM 107
Integrated Inorganic, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
HIST 120
History of the United States before 1865
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Diablo Valley College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | ANTHR 115 — Primate Evolution and Adaptation | 3 |
Physical Science | CHEM 107 — Integrated Inorganic, Organic, and Biological Chemistry | 5 |
Humanities | HIST 120 — History of the United States before 1865 | 3 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
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 192 → MATH 193 → MATH 291
This three-course calculus chain is strictly sequential — each course is a prerequisite for the next — and it alone takes a minimum of three semesters to complete. Start MATH 192 in your very first semester at DVC or your entire transfer timeline shifts back by a year.
Preview
Your First Semester
A preview of what Pipeline generates — exact courses, in the right order, every semester.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
Start Calculus Semester One, No Exceptions
The math sequence at DVC runs MATH 192 → MATH 193 → MATH 291, which is three consecutive semesters before you even touch Multivariable Calculus. That's the longest math chain of any major prep pathway to Berkeley CS. If you delay MATH 192 by even one semester, you will not complete the full sequence in time to apply competitively — and you'll likely need a third year at DVC. Register for MATH 192 your very first semester, period.
DVC Has No Articulated Course for COMPSCI 61C or 70
This is a gap that's specific to DVC and catches students off guard: neither COMPSCI 61C (Machine Structures) nor COMPSCI 70 (Discrete Math and Probability) have articulated equivalents at Diablo Valley College. That means Berkeley strongly recommends — and for EECS B.S., requires — that you complete these through Berkeley Summer Sessions or Concurrent Enrollment before transferring. Plan and budget for this early, because concurrent enrollment spots fill up fast and carry Berkeley tuition costs.
TAP Certification Requires Honors Courses — Not Just Enrollment
Joining DVC's Honors Program and actually earning TAP certification are two different things. Certification requires completing a specified number of honors units through DVC's Honors Program, and it has to be done before you submit your UC application in November. Students who wait until junior year to think about honors end up ineligible. Start the Honors Program in your first semester so you have enough semesters to accumulate the required coursework.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What courses do I need to take at Diablo Valley College to transfer to UC Berkeley CS?
The core lower-division prep requires CS 161, CS 162, MATH 192, MATH 193, MATH 291, MATH 294, and PHYSICS 120 at DVC. Two critical Berkeley courses — COMPSCI 61C and COMPSCI 70 — have no articulated DVC equivalents, so you'll need to take those through Berkeley Summer Sessions or Concurrent Enrollment. All required prep courses must be completed with a letter grade before you transfer.
How hard is it to transfer from Diablo Valley College to UC Berkeley Computer Science?
Extremely competitive. The overall UC Berkeley transfer admit rate for Fall 2025 was about 24%, but the CS B.A. program in CDSS has a reported admit rate around 4% — among the lowest on campus. DVC is historically Berkeley's top community college feeder, which helps, but Berkeley CS is genuinely one of the hardest transfer targets in the country regardless of where you're coming from.
Does IGETC count for UC Berkeley Computer Science transfer?
No. UC Berkeley's CS B.A. program in CDSS does not accept IGETC to satisfy its breadth requirements. You'll need to satisfy Berkeley's College of Computing, Data Science, and Society breadth requirements separately. Don't waste a semester front-loading IGETC courses thinking they'll satisfy your Berkeley GE — focus your energy on completing the major prep sequence.
What is the UC Berkeley Transfer Alliance Project (TAP) and does DVC participate?
TAP is UC Berkeley's academic enrichment and advising program for community college students, and Diablo Valley College is a partner school. Historically, about 80% of certified TAP participants who applied to Berkeley were admitted. To get certified at DVC, you need to complete the required honors coursework through DVC's Honors Program — just enrolling in the honors program is not enough to earn certification.
What GPA do I need to transfer to UC Berkeley Computer Science from Diablo Valley College?
The UC system minimum is 3.0, but that won't get you into Berkeley CS. Admitted transfers across all Berkeley majors for Fall 2025 had a mid-50% GPA range of 3.61–3.96, and CS is far more competitive than the average major. Your grades in CS 161, CS 162, and the MATH 192–291 sequence will carry the most weight — those are the courses Berkeley is looking at hardest.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Planning to transfer from Diablo Valley College (DVC) to UC Berkeley for Computer Science is one of the most ambitious — and achievable — transfer paths in California, but it demands serious early planning. The CS B.A. program now lives in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS) at UC Berkeley, and it's one of the most selective transfer targets in the country, with a reported admit rate around 4% despite an overall Berkeley transfer admit rate of 24% for Fall 2025. Transfer planning for this pathway starts with understanding that IGETC is not accepted for the CDSS CS major — students must complete Berkeley-specific breadth requirements instead, which means every credit hour needs to count toward major prerequisites or those breadth courses. The lower-division major prep at DVC is substantial: students must complete CS 161, CS 162, MATH 192, MATH 193, MATH 291, MATH 294, and PHYSICS 120 — all of which articulate directly to UC Berkeley requirements via ASSIST.org. Two required Berkeley courses, COMPSCI 61C and COMPSCI 70, have no DVC equivalents and must be completed through Berkeley Summer Sessions or Concurrent Enrollment, which is a planning reality unique to Diablo Valley College students compared to some other feeder schools. The math sequence alone — MATH 192, MATH 193, MATH 291 — spans three consecutive semesters, making it the longest prerequisite chain in the entire transfer prep. DVC students also have access to the UC Berkeley Transfer Alliance Project (TAP), a partnership program through which roughly 80% of certified participants who applied to Berkeley were admitted. A tool like Pipeline helps DVC students map out their full semester-by-semester plan, accounting for prerequisite chains, no-equivalent course gaps, and TAP certification timelines, so nothing slips through the cracks on the road to Cal.
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