Transfer to EE/CS

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I applied to Berkeley undecided because I was unsure whether to pursue a career in computer science or medicine. Now I think i've made up my mind to study CS. But I read in the Berkeley EE/CS home page that "The computer science major under L&S is not accredited." ...***... So i want to transfer to CoE EE/CS. </p>

<p>I'm not familiar with the berkeley website, so could someone more knowledgeable provide me link or info on:
1) how to make an effective transition to the CoE EE/CS?
2) When should I apply to transfer?
3) Which classes should I take to make the majors (CS and EE/CS) as compatible as possible, so i could make the transfer?
4) general tips?
5) Anyone explain that quote from EE/CS homepage? Why would anyone get a diploma BA that's not accredited. </p>

<p>I know transferring is difficult, but I've spoken with several schoolmates who go to Berkeley and they confess the process isn't as bad as some people make it sound. And it would only be difficult if it's impossible; I know it can be done, but I don't know how. Thanks for the help.</p>

2

<p>If you’re only interested in CS, just stick in L&S.
ABET accreditation is useless for Computer Science.
Typically, it’s the engineers that would even care, since some engineers wants to be a government hired engineer, and they would need a “license”. But to get a license, they would need an ABET accredited degree.
This is not the case with CS.</p>

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<p>At this point, I’m not sure if I only want to do CS. I want to go into EE/CS so i could cover both bases and skip the breadth classes that L&S requires. But won’t CS not be accredited be a BIG impairment when looking for a job? </p>

<p>Thanks for shedding some light.</p>

4

<p>I’m in the EXACT same situation.
Just because it’s not accredited with an engineering place doesn’t mean it’s a bad degree.
It’s a really good option if you want to double major in physics or math! If I can’t switch into EECS then I’m totally doing a double major with CS and applied math.</p>

<p>But to answer your questions:

  1. Take all the EECS prereqs (i.e. math 53&54, CS 61 A/B/C and so on) and maintain a really strong GPA in those courses. Also, make sure your L&S breadth requirements are also accepted for the CoE humanities requirement.
  2. You can apply twice, in your freshman year and in your sophomore year. Once you switch there’s no going back, so be careful with your decision.
  3. My schedule is gonna be like this for the first year:
    first semester: math 53 (CS & EECS req), geo 70ac (humanities for CoE, History l&s breadth), japan 1a (satisfies part of the L&S intl studies breadth), CS 61a (CS & EECS req)</p>

<p>second: CS70 (CS & EECS req), CS61C (CS & EECS req), japan 1b (2nd half of intl studies in L&S), anthro r5b (covers the R&C B requirement, as CoE doesn’t take AP credit to cover that but L&S does)</p>

<p>third: math 54 (needed in both), physics 7b (needed for CoE, covers L&S physical sci req), ee20n (CoE req), nuctsx 10 (L&S bio req)</p>

<p>fourth: PEIS 101 (philosophy L&S req), econ 1 (social L&S req & humanities for CoE), gws c146 (L&S arts req & humanities for CoE) and then…</p>

<p>EE 40/42
EE 40 is for CoE students, EE 42 is for L&S. Although they cover the same material, they are still different classes, which is why I saved them for the 4th semester. If you successfully transfer then you could take the corresponding course.</p>

<p>The only requirement that I left out is the series requirement for CoE but I was planning on taking econ 100a or b junior year to cover it if needed. Also, I would be coming in with AP credit in Calc BC, Chem, CS AB, Physics C: Mech, AP US history (AH&AI credit), Spanish Lang (hence why I can use japan 1A&B for my intl studies credit, as I used Spanish as my 2nd language), and two of the other CoE humanities credits, so you may need to adjust things.</p>

<p>4) STUDY STUDY STUDY. The vicious grading curves are going to kill both of us haha</p>

<p>5) It’s not accredited by an engineering place but that doesn’t mean that it’s not accredited at all. Some people want to do a double major in two completely different subjects, so a B.A. would suit that. For others who are solely math and science focused, and do not wish to branch out into any other subject, EECS is much better. Don’t switch just because of the name of the degree! It doesn’t matter, really.</p>

5

<p>hey thanks killthefifi,</p>

<p>how did you figure out your classes? Could you provide me with the links to the required classes for CoE, L&S, or however you found out? </p>

<p>And where do APs come into play?</p>

6

<p>Switching into CoE to avoid breadth is one the stupidest things a Berkeley student could do.</p>

<p>CoE still has breadth, it is different in its requirements and that you can use some of your AP credit on some of it. CoE has a lot more technical courses that are useless for computer programming (taking the Physics 7 series does not help one become a better programmer).</p>

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<p>let me rephrase: L&S has a more broad approach toward education, and CoE is has an emphasis on math/science. I would rather focus on math/science.</p>

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<p>anyways, anyone can give their views on the 5 questions?</p>

<p>and, anyone can provide the links to the CoE, L&S pre-reqs?</p>

9

<p>You’re welcome =]</p>

<p>Uhm, well, L&S takes any AP for credit.
[Advanced</a> Placement Examinations](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/faq/ap.html]Advanced”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/faq/ap.html)</p>

<p>CoE AP equivalents:
[Undergraduate</a> Handbook — UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/advising07-08.pdf/view]Undergraduate”>http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/advising07-08.pdf/view)</p>

<p>CoE humanities requirements:
[Humanities</a> & Social Studies Requirement — UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/hssreq.pdf/view]Humanities”>http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/hssreq.pdf/view)</p>

<p>L&S humanities reqs:
[Degree</a> Requirement-L&S Requirements](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/requirements/lsreq.html]Degree”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/requirements/lsreq.html)</p>

<p>CoE lower division requirements:
[College</a> of Engineering Announcement — UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/students/college-of-engineering-announcement]College”>Undergraduate Guide - Berkeley Engineering)</p>

<p>and finally,
L&S CS lower division requirements:
[Undergraduate</a> L&S CS Students | EECS at UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/csugrad/index.shtml]Undergraduate”>http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/csugrad/index.shtml)</p>

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<p>If you cant use the AP scores to fulfill the breath courses, is there any point in taking the AP exams in may?</p>

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<p>YES! Actually, it’s even more of a reason to load up on exams.
They don’t get rid of breadth requirements, but they do get rid of electives you don’t want to take, so you could graduate early. For example, if you go in with ~45 credits, and just want a single degree in L&S, you could possibly graduate in only two years!
Or you could get higher class standing, which helps you register for classes.</p>

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<p>

The difference between general education between CoE and L&S is roughly 1-3 courses based on how much AP credit you can use for CoE. Also, your major generally swallows a few of your breadth requires, so it is plausible that you might have more breadth to do in CoE.</p>

<p>Also, CoE degrees require a lot more work for their majors. An L&S major is around 50 units, a CoE/CoC/CNR/Haas major is 80-90/+ units.</p>

<p>While, CoE mandate you to take all that extra math and science, with L&S CS you will still have tons of free time that you can spend of math and science courses. Taking them as a mandated part of your major also means they affect your major GPA, so if you start doing badly P/NP is not an option.</p>

<p>Also EECS’ “math and science focus” is limited to math and physics; if you are interested in chemistry, biology, geology, etc, on the side (instead of just math/physics on the size) EECS has nothing for you.</p>

13

<p>are there any room in the EE/CS program to let me take Chinese classes?
(chinese language-writing,speaking,listening)</p>

14

<p>EALC (East Asian Languages and Culture) recently just jumped the shark (that shark being a massive budget cut) due a large scale protests regarding said shark. </p>

<p>The original result of that shark was that EALC would no longer allow non-L&S students register for their classes. Because they jumped the shark, that never happened; however, the next time they get hit with a budget cut they are not going to be so lucky (especially with the ****ification of the economy) and it might just happen that non-L&S students will be barred from EALC courses.</p>

<p>Now as for how it schedules with the EECS curriculum, it will be hard. Most languages are five days a week. The Chinese track for non-ethnic speakers track and Y track (for speakers of other dialects; e.g. Cantonese) have classes five days a week.</p>

<p>Foreign languages are a ***** to schedule with lab courses. It is doable, but it is a ***** as it severely limits the possible lab times you can sign up for (e.g. I am taking Latin 2 this semester, which meets MTuWTh from 1-2, as a result the only Chem 3BL labs I could sign up for are Friday mornings)</p>

<p>In short, unless you are going to take 1AX (for people from Mandarin-speaking households) which meets three days a week for an hour at a time, you will have difficult scheduling EECS and Chinese. L&S CS + Chinese will be more doable because then you won’t have conflicts with Physics labs to deal with.</p>