CalSo

<p>Is anyone familiar with CalSo? I applied to Berkeley as a sociology major and was curious about their social welfare program. In looking into the department’s website I noticed that it said you have to declare the major through attending CalSo - an orientation. Does anyone know anything about this?</p>

<p><a href="http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/NSS/Content/Welcome.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/NSS/Content/Welcome.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It also said this on the website, which I found confusing. Is it possible to change majors within the college of letters and science? </p>

<p>(this was under transfer students)</p>

<p>"If you were admitted to the College of Letters & Science, you officially enter the University as undeclared (regardless of what major you indicated on your application to Berkeley), and you’ll need to declare a major during your first semester. If the adviser in your intended major is not available for the CalSO program you signed up for, we will try to contact you beforehand so you have a chance to change your program date."</p>

<p>Hi laurenr,
I was in your position last year, I applied to Berkeley and was accepted as a sociology major. I went to CalSo and declared my major sociology after signing up for Soc 5 (evaluation of evidence) during CalSo, since most ccc do not offer it, they said that you can declare as long as you enroll in that class during CalSo. Yes you can change your major but they generally want you to go into the major intended as listed on your application. I have to be honest, Social Welfare is a very difficult major to declare because allot of the student athletes are in that major, especially the football team. The class times for those classes fit well within their practice schedule so they are always full. Even if you are accepted as a social welfare major, it is very difficult to get the classes you need because the athletes get priority registration at the beginning of each semester thus filling up the classes (except the sociology classes).
I don't want to discourage you, but you might want to consider sticking with Sociology and just taking alternate classes that fit your interests.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for taking the time to post. You are probably right. I read it is a competative and small department.</p>

<p>Hey, would you happen to know if psyc 5 fulfills the soc 5 requirement? Assist isn't very clear on that...just curious.</p>

<p>I don't think so, it might but Berkeley is very strict about that particular pre-req, so in the fall they usually offer it as a huge class, at least 250 student lecture hall so you shouldn't have any problems getting that class, actually they make sure you get into that class so that you can declare. The only problem is, if its a semester that they are only offering one class, then you have to work your schedule around it. I was working full time and had to re-work my entire work and class schedule around that one class.</p>