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 2026

Colorful graphic illustration featuring six women of different shades, hair colors and types

12 Units

Gender, Ethnicity, and Society

With courses in Ethnic Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies (GWS), and Sociology, this cluster is ideal for intended majors in Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies.

11 Units

Ancient Worlds

With courses in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies, East Asian Languages and Cultures, and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, this cluster is ideal for intended majors in Arts & Humanities

Various medical tools on a tabletop: blood pressure cuff, latex gloves, stethoscope, pill case

11 Units

Futures in Healthcare (Year-long)

This cluster is ideal for pre-med and pre-health careers, and intended majors in Neuroscience, Molecular and Cell Biology, Integrative Biology, and Psychology.

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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