Analytics

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The Analytics major [formerly Operations Research and Management Science (ORMS)] is designed for students in the College of Letters & Science. In the Analytics major, students will develop solid quantitative and data-driven problem solving skills through core courses in computing, probability/statistics, optimization, and data analytics, and will learn how to apply these skills in solving problems in an area of their choice. It gives students the flexibility to learn more about a particular field of interest in which they can apply these skills.

The major is very math intensive and is appropriate for students who enjoy and are good at mathematics, computers, and solving practical, multidisciplinary problems. 

Declaring the Major

Analytics is a high-demand major in L&S.

First-year students applying to Berkeley Letters & Science will be guaranteed admission into the Analytics major if they selected Analytics as their primary major on their UC Berkeley admissions application. Students are guaranteed a spot in the Analytics major, subject to completing the major prerequisites, maintaining good academic standing in L&S, and filing a declaration form.

Newly admitted first year students who did not indicate Analytics as their first choice in their application should refer to the L&S High Demand major policy.

The opportunities for being admitted into the Analytics major after enrollment at UC Berkeley will be extremely limited, and applying to the Analytics major via the comprehensive review process does not guarantee a spot in the major. If you have an interest in the Analytics major, we strongly encourage you to select Analytics as your primary major during the UC application process. If you opt to change to the Analytics major after being admitted to Berkeley, you will be required to have an alternate plan to declare a non-high demand major as a back-up.

For more information on which majors are high-demand,  please visit the "Admissions" page for the College of Letters and Science on the Berkeley Academic Guide.

 

Prerequisite Coursework

All four prerequisite classes (MATH 53, MATH 54, UGBA 10X, and either ECON 1ECON 2 or ECON C3) must be completed prior to acceptance to the major and all must be taken for a letter grade. Students should declare the major during the semester in which they are enrolled in their final prerequisites but before their 5th semester.  

Many factors are considered in determining admission. The main criterion, however, is academic performance as measured by the Berkeley GPA in the prerequisite courses.  Since this major is capped, planning for an alternate major is recommended. There is an Operations Research concentration in the Math Department that might be a good choice if students are not admitted to the Analytics major.

Honors Program

Students with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 overall and 3.7 in the major upper division coursework should consider participating in the Analytics honors program. To graduate with honors, a student must find a faculty sponsor appropriate for an original research project that he or she wishes to do and enroll in two semesters (6 units) of the honors thesis courses IND ENG H196A and IND ENG H196B

Alternatively, a student may take two approved graduate courses in Operations Research or a related field, and achieve at least an A- in each course. Courses used for the honors program cannot be used to fulfill the requirements for the Analytics major or any IEOR graduate program. The student must also maintain a minimum 3.5 overall GPA and 3.7 in the major at the time of graduation.

Minor Program

There is no minor program in Analytics.  However, students interested in an Analytics minor may be interested in the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research minor.

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Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for a letter grade.
  2. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower Division Requirements

MATH 51/1ACalculus I (MATH 51 as of Fall 2025)4
MATH 52/1BCalculus II (MATH 52 as of Fall 2025)4
MATH 53Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 54Linear Algebra and Differential Equations4
or EECS 16A Foundations of Signals, Dynamical Systems, and Information Processing
ECON 1Introduction to Economics4
or ECON 2 Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format
or ECON C3 Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy
ENGIN 7Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers4
or COMPSCI 61A The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
or COMPSCI C8
C88C
Foundations of Data Science
and Computational Structures in Data Science
UGBA 10XFoundations of Business3

Upper Division Requirements

IND ENG 115Industrial and Commercial Data Systems3
IND ENG 172Probability and Risk Analysis for Engineers4
or STAT 134 Concepts of Probability
or STAT C140 Probability for Data Science
or DATA C140 Probability for Data Science
IND ENG 173Introduction to Stochastic Processes 13
IND ENG 160Nonlinear and Discrete Optimization3
IND ENG 162Linear Programming and Network Flows3
IND ENG 142AIntroduction to Machine Learning and Data Analytics4
Three clustered electives (see below for sample clusters):12
Analytics majors, with the signed advance approval of their faculty advisers, select a minimum of three upper division elective courses to form a coherent cluster, or concentration, in an area where Analysis is applied. Courses in other departments may count toward this requirement if they have substantial relevant content at an appropriately advanced level. These courses must be upper division and taken for a letter grade.
1

Students will receive no credit for  IND ENG 172 after taking STAT 134 or STAT C140.

Sample Clusters

Decision Making in Economic Systems
ECON 101AMicroeconomics (Math Intensive)4
ECON 101BMacroeconomics (Math Intensive)4
ECON 104Advanced Microeconomic Theory4
ECON 141Econometrics (Math Intensive)4
ECON C142Applied Econometrics and Public Policy4
ECON C110Game Theory in the Social Sciences4
or UGBA 143 Game Theory and Business Decisions
or STAT 155 Game Theory
IND ENG 120Principles of Engineering Economics3
IND ENG 165Engineering Statistics, Quality Control, and Forecasting4
IND ENG 174Simulation for Enterprise-Scale Systems3
ECON 131Public Economics4
ECON 136Financial Economics4
MATH 104Introduction to Analysis4
Decision Making in Industrial and Service Systems
DEMOG 180Social Networks4
ECON C110Game Theory in the Social Sciences3-4
or UGBA 143 Game Theory and Business Decisions
or STAT 155 Game Theory
IND ENG 130Methods of Manufacturing Improvement3
IND ENG 142BMachine Learning and Data Analytics II4
IND ENG 145Fundamentals of Revenue Management3
IND ENG 150Production Systems Analysis3
or UGBA 141 Production and Operations Management
IND ENG 151Service Operations Design and Analysis3
IND ENG 153Logistics Network Design and Supply Chain Management3
IND ENG 156Healthcare Analytics3
IND ENG 165Engineering Statistics, Quality Control, and Forecasting4
IND ENG 171Berkeley Changemaker: Ethical and Effective Entrepreneurship in High Tech3
IND ENG 174Simulation for Enterprise-Scale Systems3
IND ENG 166Decision Analytics3
IND ENG 170Industrial Design and Human Factors3
Decision Making in Societal Systems
DEMOG 180Social Networks4
ECON C110Game Theory in the Social Sciences4
or UGBA 143 Game Theory and Business Decisions
or STAT 155 Game Theory
IND ENG 156Healthcare Analytics3
IND ENG 171Berkeley Changemaker: Ethical and Effective Entrepreneurship in High Tech3
IND ENG 165Engineering Statistics, Quality Control, and Forecasting3
IND ENG 174Simulation for Enterprise-Scale Systems3
IND ENG 166Decision Analytics3
SOCIOL 101Sociological Theory I5
SOCIOL 105Research Design and Sociological Methods5
SOCIOL 106Quantitative Sociological Methods4
SOCIOL 130Social Inequalities4
SOCIOL 119SOrganizational Strategy and Design: A Sociological Perspective4
Algorithmic Decision Making 
COMPSCI 61BData Structures This is a prerequisite and does not count toward the four required upper division courses.4
COMPSCI 170Efficient Algorithms and Intractable Problems4
COMPSCI 172Computability and Complexity4
COMPSCI 174Combinatorics and Discrete Probability4
IND ENG 142BMachine Learning and Data Analytics II4
IND ENG 164Introduction to Optimization Modeling3
IND ENG 165Engineering Statistics, Quality Control, and Forecasting4
IND ENG 166Decision Analytics3
IND ENG 169Integer Optimization3
IND ENG 174Simulation for Enterprise-Scale Systems3
MATH 110Abstract Linear Algebra4
MATH 172Combinatorics4

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American Cultures

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth Requirements

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

  • 120 total units

  • Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

  • Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals for the Major

All Analytics graduates are expected to acquire the following general skills and knowledge:

  1. Ability to apply mathematics and science to the solution of societal problems.
  2. Ability to design and conduct experiments, analyze, and interpret data.
  3. Ability to design system and operating policies to meet desired needs.
  4. Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively.
  5. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve societal system problems.
  6. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
  7. Recognize the need for and ability to engage in life-long learning.
  8. Knowledge of contemporary issues.
  9. Ability to use techniques, skills, and modern tools in practice.

Skills

The Analytics major in the IEOR Department has four general objectives for the Bachelor of Arts degree program. The department aims for the BA degree graduates to become skilled in the following:

  1. Quantitative modeling and analysis of a broad array of systems-level decision problems concerned with economic efficiency, productivity, and quality.
  2. Development and creative use of analytical and computational methods for solving these problems.
  3. Collection and analysis of data and the use of database and decision-support tools.
  4. Comprehension and analysis of risk and uncertainty.

In addition, graduates will obtain the broader skills, background, and knowledge necessary to be effective life-long professionals who understand the impact of systems in a societal context in a rapidly changing global economy.

Specific outcomes of the BA degree program are as follows:

  1. Develop scientific, quantitative, model building, and problem solving skills through core courses in mathematics, statistics, operations research, and management sciences.
  2. Learn how to apply these skills and tools effectively for operational, tactical, and strategic decisions in an area of choice.
  3. Pursue graduate study in operations research and the management sciences.

Major Map

Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

View the Analytics Major Map.

Courses

Analytics

Contact Information

Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

4141 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-5484

Visit Department Website

Professor and Chair

Alper Atamturk

423 Sutardja Dai Hall

Phone: 510-642-4559

atamturk@berkeley.edu

Student Affairs Officer

Ginnie Sadil

ieor-student-services@berkeley.edu

Head Undergraduate Advisor

Dorit Hochbaum

4181 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-4998

hochbaum@berkeley.edu

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