What Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Does the Berkeley Mathematics Department Offer?

Updated

The UC Berkeley Department of Mathematics (math.berkeley.edu) offers two undergraduate majors—Mathematics and Applied Mathematics—along with a teaching concentration, an honors program, and a minor. At the graduate level it offers a Ph.D. program and an M.A. in Mathematics. Prospective students should start with the admissions and FAQ pages linked from the department site, while current students use the advising and program-requirement pages for planning.

Undergraduate Programs

The department's undergraduate section lists these paths:

  • Major in Mathematics — the standard mathematics major.
  • Major in Applied Mathematics — mathematics oriented toward applications.
  • Major with a Teaching Concentration — a route for students aiming at mathematics teaching.
  • Honors Program — for students seeking a more intensive track.
  • Minor — a secondary field in mathematics.

The site also provides practical pages for undergraduates: Declaring the Major, Frequently Asked Questions, Advising, Course Offerings, Lower Division Course Outlines, Honors Courses, Course Equivalency, and Study Abroad. For students planning their first semesters, the Choosing Courses and Solid Foundations Project pages are relevant, and the Quantitative Reasoning Exam is listed under the department's academic offerings.

Choosing between the majors

The site distinguishes the Mathematics major from the Applied Mathematics major and separately lists the teaching concentration. Use the major pages and the FAQ to compare requirements; the department does not present a single comparison table on the homepage, so check each major page for its specific course list.

Graduate Programs

The graduate section describes:

  • Ph.D. Program — with a sequence that includes the Preliminary Examination, the Qualifying Examination, and Dissertation Filing.
  • M.A. in Mathematics — a separate master's program.
  • Admissions and Frequently Asked Questions pages for applicants.
  • New Graduate Students — orientation information for incoming students.
  • Funding, including Graduate Fellowships.

The graduate pages also cover Graduate Life and links to campus Student Support Resources.

Where to Find Admissions and Advising

Need Where to look on the site
Undergraduate admissions and major questions Undergraduate Admissions-related pages and Frequently Asked Questions
Declaring or changing a major Declaring the Major
Graduate application Graduate Admissions and Frequently Asked Questions
Exam and dissertation milestones Preliminary Examination, Qualifying Examination, Dissertation Filing
Course planning Course Offerings, Choosing Courses, Lower Division Course Outlines
Help resolving issues Advising and Resolving Problems & Complaints

A Practical Way to Use the Site

Start from the section that matches your status—Undergraduate Major or Graduate—then open the FAQ page for that section before emailing anyone. The FAQ pages are the department's own attempt to answer common questions, and the program pages list the required milestones (for example, the preliminary and qualifying exams in the Ph.D. path). For current course availability, check Course Offerings by term, since the site lists offerings for specific terms such as Spring 2027 and Fall 2026.