L&S First-Year Pathways – University California, Berkeley

Find Your People, Your Place & Your Passions

L&S First-Year Pathways is designed for first-year undergraduate students in the College of Letters & Science. Students get to choose a cluster of three courses and learn alongside the same small group of peers throughout the first semester. Dive into interesting topics, jumpstart your academic journey, and build meaningful connections with L&S First-Year Pathways!

Early Class Enrollment

Pathways provides priority enrollment into 3-4 courses for incoming first-year students

New Friendships

A chance to make friends with other new students through shared personal interests

Small Cohort Experience

Learn alongside a cohort of 20-25 students, forming relationships with peers and faculty

Degree Progress

Each cluster satisfies major prerequisites and/or L&S breadth requirements

Clusters for Fall 2025

Biological Science breadth

Nature of Mind: EA Lang & Cultures, Neuroscience & Writing (11 Units)

May satisfy: Biological Science, Philosophy & Values breadth requirements and either first OR second half of Reading & Composition.

Person wearing lab coat studies medical screens on a wall

Biological Science breadth

Exploring the Sciences: Math, Chemistry & Neuroscience (12 Units)

May fulfill breadth requirements for Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences.

Person holding yellow sign that says The People Have Spoken

American Cultures requirement

Delving into Democracy: Philosophy, History & Literature (12 Units)

May fulfill breadth requirements in Historical Studies, Philosophy & Values, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts & Literature, as well as American Cultures and American History requirements.

No more posts to show

We know that the campus can sometimes feel a little intimidating…so we’ve tried to design the Pathways program to give students a home, both socially and intellectually.

Shannon Steen

Associate Dean, Letters & Science