Understanding UC Berkeley’s Colleges and Schools

​For international students researching universities in the United States, the "college vs university" terminology can sometimes be confusing. A university may have several “colleges” or “schools” within it, but that doesn’t mean they are separate universities. 

It's easiest to think of a university as the umbrella. Under that umbrella are specialized academic communities focused on topics from chemistry and engineering to business, environmental design, law, education, and public health.

One good example is the University of California, Berkeley, a university with its academic programs organized across 15 schools and colleges. UC Berkeley through these different colleges offers more than 300 degree programs. 

For international students, understanding this structure can make it much easier to explore Berkeley programs and choose the right academic experience.

​UC Berkeley's Major Colleges

​Schools and colleges allow a large university like Berkeley to organize programs around related academic disciplines. For example, a student interested in chemistry may study within the College of Chemistry, while someone focused on architecture would find their academic home in the College of Environmental Design.

​These colleges can maintain their own academic requirements, advising systems, content, and communities while remaining part of UC Berkeley. 

Berkeley currently reports 15 schools and colleges university-wide, although not all 15 primarily serve undergraduate students. Some, such as Berkeley Law and the Graduate School of Journalism, focus on graduate or professional education.

​For undergraduate students, these are the major colleges and schools to know.

​College of Letters & Science

​The College of Letters & Science is Berkeley’s largest college and its broadest academically. Around 75% of Berkeley undergraduates are L&S students, and the college offers dozens of majors across the arts and humanities, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences. This makes L&S particularly appealing to students who want room to explore different subjects or combine interests. Fields range from economics and psychology to physics, history, molecular and cell biology, and languages and literature.

Relevant SAF program: UC Berkeley Academic Program in Humanities & Social Science

Relevant SAF program: UC Berkeley Academic Program in Physics

​College of Engineering

​For students interested in technology and engineering, the College of Engineering is one of Berkeley’s best-known academic destinations. 

Its departments include:

• Bioengineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
• Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering

Students should expect a challenging, highly technical academic experience with opportunities to study and conduct research in one of the world’s major centers of technology and innovation.

Relevant SAF Program: UC Berkeley Academic Program in Engineering

​College of Chemistry

The UC Berkeley College of Chemistry includes the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. 

Its undergraduate degree options include Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Chemical Engineering. The Chemistry Bachelor of Science program provides intensive preparation in the chemical sciences, while Chemical Biology connects chemistry with areas such as biology, medicine, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. Chemical Engineering combines chemistry with engineering and applications across biotechnology, materials, environmental technology, and chemical processing.

Relevant SAF Program: UC Berkeley Academic Program in Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

College of Computing, Data Science, and Society

​One of the most significant updates as of late is UC Berkeley's College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS). 

Launched in 2023, CDSS was Berkeley’s first new college in more than 50 years. Its undergraduate programs include Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics, bringing together disciplines that are increasingly central to artificial intelligence, machine learning, research, business, and technology.

​For visiting international students, Berkeley also offers opportunities such as the Berkeley Global Computing and Data Science Program, which allows visiting undergraduate students from the United States and abroad to pursue academic study through CDSS.

Relevant SAF Program: UC Berkeley Academic Program in Global Computing & Data Science

​Rausser College of Natural Resources

​The Rausser College of Natural Resources focuses on some of the world's most significant environmental, biological, and economic challenges. Undergraduate options include Environmental Sciences, Environmental Economics and Policy, Conservation and Resource Studies, Genetics and Plant Biology, Microbial Biology, Molecular Environmental Biology, Nutrition and Metabolic Biology, and Society and Environment.

​For students interested in sustainability, climate change, conservation, food systems, biology, or environmental policy, Rausser offers an interdisciplinary approach to connecting science with real-world problems.

Relevant SAF Program: UC Berkeley Summer Academic Program in Sustainable Urban Design

​College of Environmental Design

​Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design (CED) is centered on the places and communities people create. Its undergraduate majors include Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Sustainable Environmental Design, and Urban Studies. Students can combine classroom learning with design studios, fieldwork, digital tools, model building, sustainability studies, and analysis of cities and communities.

​This makes CED particularly relevant for students interested in architecture, urban development, sustainability, climate resilience, and the future of cities.

Relevant SAF Program: UC Berkeley Summer Academic Program in Environmental Design

​Haas School of Business

​The Haas School of Business is Berkeley’s home for business education, offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs. ​For internationally minded students interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, business, innovation, or the global economy, Haas provides the opportunity to study those subjects within the wider Berkeley ecosystem.

Relevant SAF Program: UC Berkeley Academic Program in Haas Business

Berkeley School of Education

In addition to its graduate programs, teacher preparation, and minors, the school now offers an undergraduate major in Educational Sciences. The interdisciplinary program examines areas such as teaching and learning, educational research, global educational contexts, and education and social transformation.

One interesting detail is that Berkeley currently doesn't directly admit students to the School of Education, rather students interested in Educational Sciences enter Berkeley through the College of Letters & Science and later declare the major.

What About Berkeley’s Other Schools?

The remaining schools within Berkeley’s 15-school-and-college structure include specialized graduate and professional schools in fields such as Information, Journalism, Law, Optometry, Public Health, Public Policy, and Social Welfare.

That distinction is helpful for international students: seeing “15 schools and colleges” does not mean an undergraduate applicant needs to choose between 15 separate universities or even 15 undergraduate colleges. They are all part of UC Berkeley.

Finding Your Place at UC Berkeley

For international students, Berkeley’s structure can initially make a large university seem even more complicated. In practice, however, its schools and colleges help students find a smaller academic community within a major research university.

A chemistry student can become part of Berkeley’s highly specialized College of Chemistry. A future architect can find a studio-centered community in Environmental Design. A student interested in data can explore CDSS, while someone who wants broad academic flexibility may find their place in Letters & Science. 

And international students do not necessarily need to pursue a full Berkeley degree to experience that environment. If you are considering UC Berkeley for a study abroad program, contact an SAF counselor today to learn about your options!

SAF even offers multidisciplinary studies at UC Berkeley for study abroad so undecided students can benefit from the United States' leading public university!