CS Major Declaration Appeal Process

Appeal To The CS Major Application Decision

Students who demonstrate extraordinary circumstances such as those involving health or mental health, injury, work obligations, family crisis, etc. are eligible to submit an appeal to the CS major application decision should they not be admitted.

CS Major Appeals are reviewed by the LSCS Vice Chair and Director of CS Student Affiars once a month. Appeals must be approved by the Vice Chair of LSCS, Professor Hilfinger. Decisions will be emailed to the requestor 3-4 weeks after review.

Please thoroughly review the following information about submitting an appeal to the CS Major Application Decision.

About the Personal Statement

The CS Major Appeal must include a personal statement that is no more than 3000 characters (or 1 page). The statement should include the following information:

  • Note how your academic performance has been affected by extenuating circumstances involving health or mental health, injury, work obligations, family crisis, etc.

  • Describe the challenges in your academic performance and how you are actively overcoming them.

  • Detail the activities and experiences you have/will use to supplement your learning such as an internship, research, CS-related employment, tutoring, mentoring, on-campus involvement/leadership, etc.

Supporting Documentation

Students must submit at least one strong letter of recommendation for their appeal.

Letters of recommendation may come from:

  • Supervisors from a CS-related internship

  • Supervisors/faculty mentors of a CS-related research center/research lab position or Academic Intern/UGSI position (from Berkeley or another institution including community college)

Only submit letters from professors that supervised your work on non-classroom related projects or research. 

Letters should NOT come from:

  • Professors whose class you took and with whom you have no outside classroom relationship

  • TA’s

Additionally, supporting evidence should be submitted with your appeal, if possible.  Additional supporting documentation can include, but is not limited to: proof of hospitalization, military service, family crisis, airline tickets, and any other supporting documentation that substantiates your appeal.

Steps to Submitting an Appeal

  1. Apply for the CS Major. Once a denial message has been received, the request for appeal can be submitted.

  2. Gather all documents needed including a personal statement and at least one letter of recommendation. All documents must be submitted together in the appeal - documents submitted separated will not be accepted.

  3. All appeals must be submitted online using the CS Major Appeals and Exceptions Request form.

Exceptions and Waivers to CS Major Requirements

Requests for exceptions and waivers to the CS Major Requirements are allowable under the discretion of a committee composed of the LSCS Vice Chair and Director of CS Student Affairs, and will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

What is an Exception or Waiver?

Students may submit a request for exception if it is believed that a requirement for the Computer Science major has been fulfilled through the completion of another course, some other experience, program, or test score. The grade and units for that course will be used toward fulfillment of degree requirements.

How to Request an Exception or Waiver to CS Major Requirements

All requests for exception or waiver to the Computer Science major requirements must be submitted online via the CS Major Appeals and Exceptions Request form. Please submit only one request at a time.

Request to Increase Semester Units

If you would like to request an increase in the number of units you have for a semester, please submit the Request to Increase Units form.  Note: Units will be increased at the discretion of the CS Advisors. We will begin to review and notify you during the 2nd week of the semester.

For Undergrads