Berkeley EECS and other majors

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

I am interested in applying to the University of California at Berkeley to the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major. However, I am also interested in pursuing physics. Would it be possible to earn a major or minor in physics while getting a BS in computer science?

2

A minor is certainly possible. A major may take you an extra year.

3

http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Programs/Handbook/section2.shtml#2.2
http://physics.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/_/PDF/phys_major_blltn_boggscrnt.pdf

EECS major requires (approximately):

  • 5 lower division math courses
  • 2 lower division physics courses
  • 1 option science (can be physics)
  • 5 lower division EE and CS courses
  • 6-7 upper division engineering courses (at least 5 have to be EE and/or CS)
  • 6 humanities and social studies breadth courses as required by the CoE
  • = total of 25-26 courses

Physics major requires:

  • 4 lower division math courses (overlap with EECS requirements)
  • 3 lower division physics courses (overlap with EECS requirements if you choose physics for the option science)
  • 8 upper division physics courses
  • 1-2 additional courses for L&S breadth
  • = 8 or more additional courses beyond EECS major

Physics minor requires:

  • 4 lower division math courses (overlap with EECS requirements)
  • 3 lower division physics courses (overlap with EECS requirements if you choose physics for the option science)
  • 5 upper division physics courses
  • = 5 additional courses beyond EECS major

Since a typical four year schedule includes about 32 courses, adding the physics minor should be doable if you choose courses carefully. Adding the physics major may require very careful scheduling, overload scheduling, and/or fulfillment of some frosh-level requirements with AP credit.

As an alternative, you can major in EECS and just take additional physics courses of interest in your elective space without worrying about getting an official major or minor in physics.

4

As an electrical engineering major, you will have a strong background in electrodynamics and circuits so the courses which could be of most value for you in physics are likely to be modern physics, statistical physics, and quantum mechanics. Classical mechanics, the other part of physics you will be missing, is probably not as important. This is likely no more than 4 courses additional.

5

Thank you all very much for the feedback! I appreciate it.