About L&S First Year Program – L&S: First-Year Pathways

In Fall 2023, the College of Letters & Science launched the L&S First-Year Pathways program. L&S First-Year Pathways helps incoming first year undergraduate students successfully transition into academic and social life at UC Berkeley by combining course clusters with a small cohort experience.

New Friendships
Pathways provides students with the opportunity to share personal interests and enriching learning environments both inside and outside the classroom.

Small Class Experience
Students learn alongside a cohort of 20-25 students, forming relationships with top-notch faculty and creating memorable experiences.

Early Class Enrollment
Students receive priority enrollment into three courses as part of the L&S First-Year Pathways program.

Degree Progress
Each cluster satisfies various major prerequisites and/or L&S breadth requirements, enabling more efficient degree progress.

Student Testimonials

As a first-semester student, it’s a very good introduction to Berkeley as a whole. It reminds you that keeping an open mind and learning from a multitude of perspectives is very important and part of the reason why you’re here.

Caitlyn L

Fall 23 First-Year Pathways Student

I applied to the Pathways Program so I would have an easier time meeting people and so that I wouldn’t have to stress about signing up for classes. Signing up for classes was made a breeze. It was definitely easier to make connections with classmates because we were in multiple smaller classes together.

First-Year Pathways Student

Fall 2023

I hoped to have a fun first semester with classes I was interested in, as well as smaller class sizes. This was fulfilled! I really love the program and am very appreciative that I got to be a part of it.

First-Year Pathways Student

Fall 2023