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

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

A yellow wooden figure stands in foreground with blurred images of figures of different colors in the background

11 Units

Self and Society

With courses in Anthropology, Psychology, and Statistics, this cluster is ideal for intended majors in Anthropology, Psychology, Social Welfare, and Media Studies.

14 Units

Understanding the Universe (Year-long)

This cluster is ideal for intended majors in Physics, Astrophysics, and Earth & Planetary Science, who would benefit from enrolling in Math 51 (Calculus I) in their first semester.

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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