L&S First-Year Pathways
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
COLLEGE OF LETTERS & SCIENCE
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L&S First-Year Pathways

Find Your People, Your Place & Your Passions

Navigating a large university can feel overwhelming, so L&S First-Year Pathways simplifies your start at UC Berkeley. Get connected to a small cohort, preselected courses that fit your goals, and guaranteed enrollment! From pre-med tracks to humanities and social sciences, Pathways clusters provide a roadmap and community for your academic journey.

Early Class Enrollment

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

New Friendships

Build lasting friendships with a dedicated cohort through shared interests and engaging extracurricular activities

Small Cohort Experience

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

Degree Progress

Most clusters are aligned with specific majors, and each cluster satisfies major prerequisites and/or L&S breadth requirements

Clusters for Fall 2026

Vintage colored map of the United States in 1830
12 Units

American Politics and Culture

With courses in American Studies, History, and Political Science, this cluster is ideal for intended majors in Political Science, Legal Studies, and History.

Model of a hand with palm facing up below a pink model of a brain floating above, against a blue grey background
10 Units

Body and Mind

With courses in Molecular & Cell Biology, Psychology, and Data Science, this cluster is ideal for intended majors in Psychology, with a biological sciences emphasis.

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The L&S Pathways program is designed to help first-year students transition into academic and social life here at Berkeley.

Shannon Steen

Associate Dean, Letters & Science