Getting into CS Classes
The tables below contain enrollment guidelines for Computer Science classes.
- For more information about these enrollment guidelines, please view this Frequently Asked Questions page.
- You can also find detailed, class-specific enrollment information at classes.berkeley.edu. Be sure to read the CLASS NOTES section for the class to see semester-specific details.
- To see semester-specific enrollment information and FAQs, sign up for FREE to the EECS 101 section of the EDStem Discussion Dashboard.
- If you have questions regarding getting into CS classes, please email: cs-enrollments@eecs.berkeley.edu
To learn about declaring the CS major, visit our page, Computer Science Bachelor of Arts.
Enrollment Guidelines
Lower Division Classes
| CS 10 | ||||
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| ALL undergrad UC Berkeley students Visiting & Exchange Students | No restrictions. Can enroll or waitlist. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | ||
| Graduate UC Berkeley students | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. |
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| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. |
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| Concurrent Enrollment | NA | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
| CS 61A | ||||
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| ALL undergrad UC Berkeley students Visiting & Exchange Students | Most seats are reserved for specific student populations. Eligible students will be enrolled if reserved seats are available. Otherwise they will be waitlisted. | All waitlisted students are eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | |
| Unreserved are available to any UC Berkeley undergraduate student. Once the unreserved seats are filled, students will be placed on the waitlist. |
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| Graduate UC Berkeley students | Can waitlist for this class. | Eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | Contact your GSAO for assistance. | |
| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | |||
| Concurrent Enrollment | NA | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
| CS 61B | ||||
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| ALL undergrad UC Berkeley Students Visiting & Exchange Students | Most seats are reserved for specific student populations. Eligible students will be enrolled if reserved seats are available. Otherwise they will be waitlisted. | All waitlisted students are eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | |
| Unreserved are available to any UC Berkeley undergraduate or visiting & exchange student. Once the unreserved seats are filled, students will be placed on the waitlist. | ||||
| Graduate UC Berkeley students | Can waitlist for this class | Eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | Contact your GSAO for assistance. | |
| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | |||
| Concurrent Enrollment | N/A | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
| CS 61C | ||||
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| Declared EECS & CompSci Major | No restrictions. Can enroll or waitlist. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | ||
| Declared EECS Joint Major | ||||
| Non-EECS COE Major | ||||
| L&S Undeclared Other Declared Major | This group can waitlist for this class during phases 1 and 2. | All waitlisted students are eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. |
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| Graduate UC Berkeley students | This group can waitlist for this class. | All waitlisted students are eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | Contact your GSAO for assistance. | |
| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | |||
| Concurrent Enrollment | N/A | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
How to enroll in Bridge Classes
Bridge Classes in EECS
Courses such as EECS 47D, COMPSCI 47B, or COMPSCI 47C are referred to as bridge courses. They are not actual courses, but are an option for students who have completed some, but not all, of the material in the actual course (e.g., EECS 16A, COMPSCI 61B or COMPSCI 61C). If you enroll in a bridge course you will complete specific portions of the regular course to cover concepts not covered by your previous coursework. The instructor of the regular course will determine how much of the course you will need to complete via the bridge course in order to satisfy that course requirement. By enrolling in a bridge course you are able to receive units (usually 1-2 units) and a grade for the work that you are completing. Bridge courses must be completed for a letter grade.
All COE students
- If you are interested in enrolling into CS 47B, please contact Olivia Chan in ESS.
- If you are interested in enrolling into any other EECS bridge course (CS47A, CS47C, or EECS 47DEF), please contact your ESS Adviser.
All non-COE students
- If you are interested in enrolling into a CompSci bridge course (CS47ABC), please contact cs-advising@cs.berkeley.edu.
- If you are interested in enrolling into an EECS bridge course (EECS 47DEF), please contact eecs-advising@eecs.berkeley.edu.
| CS 70 | ||||
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| EECS/EECS joint majors OR ENG Undeclared | No restrictions. Can enroll or waitlist. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | ||
| CompSci Majors | ||||
| Non-EECS COE Majors | ||||
| L&S undeclared, terms 3-4 | ||||
| All Other full time UC Berkeley Students Including: | Can waitlist only | No restrictions. Can enroll or waitlist. System automatically processes waitlists based solely on waitlist position as seats become available. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | |
| Other Declared Majors | ||||
| L&S udeclared other than terms 3-4 | ||||
| Visiting & Exchange students | ||||
| Graduate UC Berkeley students | Can waitlist for this class. | Eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | Contact your GSAO for assistance. | |
| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | |||
| Concurrent Enrollment | NA | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
Upper Division Classes
Open Upper Division Classes
These ONLY include:
- CS 168
- CS 188
- All other upper division CompSci classes are restricted – see below for rules
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period prior to First Day of Class | First day of class | Post-Adjustment Period |
| All undergrad UC Berkeley students Visiting & Exchange Students | All seats are reserved for specific student populations until the FIRST DAY of class. Eligible students will be enrolled if reserved seats are available. Otherwise they will be waitlisted Any UC Berkeley undergraduate or visiting & exchange student can join the waitlist. | All waitlisted students are eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | ||
| System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | |||||
| Graduate UC Berkeley students | Can waitlist for this class. | Eligible to enroll in any remaining seats. System automatically fills seats based on waitlist position only. | Contact your GSAO for assistance | ||
| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | ||||
| Concurrent Enrollment | N/A | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed | |
Restricted Upper Division Classes
Only CS 168 and CS 188 are considered ‘open’ classes, all other upper division CompSci classes adhere to the following enrollment policies.
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| Declared EECS & CompSci Major | No restrictions. Can enroll or waitlist. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | ||
| Declared EECS Joint Major | ||||
| Non-EECS COE Major | ||||
| Data Science Major | Enrollment ability restricted to a set number of seats in specific classes negotiated between Data Science and Computer Science - check with Data Science advising to find out which classes have reserved seats each term. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. |
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| L&S Undeclared | Cannot enroll or waitlist during the academic year. If the class is offered during summer session, consider enrolling then. | |||
| Other Declared Major |
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| EECS Graduate students | Can waitlist | Once reserve caps end, will be enrolled if seats are available | Consult with your GSAO for assistance. | |
| non-EECS Graduate UC Berkeley students | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | |||
| All MEng students (including EECS MEng) | Cannot enroll or waitlist in undergraduate classes during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session or self-study with past semester’s class website. | |||
| Concurrent Enrollment | N/A | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
| Visiting & Exchange Students | Cannot enroll or waitlist during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session. | |||
Graduate Level Classes
| You Are: | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Adjustment Period | Post-Adjustment Period |
| EECS Graduate Students (including MEng) | No restrictions. Can enroll or waitlist. | Consult with a Graduate Student Advisor | ||
| EECS MEng Students | Enrollment ability restricted to a few classes (identified each semester) | Consult with EECS MEng Program Manager | ||
| Non-EECS Graduate Students | Ability to waitlist but enrollment not guaranteed - instructor preference. Refer to CLASS NOTES for each class for details. | For MOST graduate classes: once reserve caps end, the system will automatically enroll non-EECS Graduate students if seats are available | Consult with a Graduate Student Advisor | |
| Non-EECS MEng Students | Non-EECS MEng students are prevented from waitlisting or enrolling. | |||
| Any UC Berkeley Undergraduate | System automatically blocks undergrads from enrolling in or waitlisting for grad classes. | No further enrollment or drops without following the student’s college’s late change process. | ||
| No permission codes distributed | Enrollment permitted only by permission of the instructor. Permission codes given to professors to distribute August 1st. Undergrads with permission codes can enroll. | Undergrads with permission codes can enroll. | ||
| Concurrent Enrollment | NA | Applications accepted once UC Extension opens but not processed | Applications processed starting week 2 of classes. Note: The term ‘processing’ does not imply approval. | No applications accepted or processed |
| Visiting & Exchange Students | Cannot enroll or waitlist during the academic year. Consider enrolling in the class over summer session. | |||
Time Conflict Policy
Some classes may permit time conflicts with lectures/labs/discussion sections. However, these classes will NOT offer alternate exams unless explicitly confirmed by the instructor or the class staff. Class notes for CompSci classes will indicate whether a class permits time-conflict enrollment or not.
It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to ensure they can take both final exams (e.g., by confirming there will be no final exam or an alternate exam for the other class) even if there is a time conflict with the lectures/labs/discussion sections.
If students cannot avoid a final exam conflict, students should not enroll into both classes, even if the system allows time conflicts.
Prerequisite Policy
Students can find the prerequisites for CS classes on our website. Generally, prerequisites for CS classes are strongly recommended and not formally enforced. The specific prerequisite policy for a class can be found in the “Class Notes” section of the scheduled class on classes.berkeley.edu. Unless stated otherwise, students can assume that prerequisites are strongly recommended.
Formally Enforced Prerequisites: Some CS classes have formally enforced prerequisites. This means that the system won’t allow students to enroll unless they have completed the prerequisites with a passing grade (C- or higher). If you have completed a prerequisite at your community college and the system won’t let you enroll, please contact cs-enrollments@berkeley.edu for assistance. The only CS courses with formally enforced prerequisites are CS 169A, 169L, and 186.
Informally Enforced Prerequisites: Other CS classes have informally enforced prerequisites. Students will be allowed to enroll regardless if they’ve completed the prerequisites. Shortly before classes begin, the instructor will provide a report to staff showing who has/hasn’t completed the prerequisites. Students who haven’t completed the prerequisites will be dropped. Students who want an exception should contact the instructor.
Co-requisites: If you are taking prerequisites concurrently for a class that has formally or informally enforced prerequisites, please note that you may be dropped at the instructor’s request.