Seven-Course Breadth
Arts & Literature | Biological Science | Historical Studies | International Studies | Philosophy & Values | Physical Science | Social & Behavioral
The College faculty believe that students should obtain a liberal arts education. One way they have ensured that students will achieve this is through the Seven-Course Breadth requirement. This requirement specifies that you take courses in several different departments or fields.
Note for transfer students: This requirement may be met by Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or UC Reciprocity.
You must take one course from each of the following seven categories:
- Arts and Literature (language instruction excluded)
- Biological Science
- Historical Studies
- International Studies (may also be satisfied by participation in the UC Education Abroad Program or a recognized equivalent program)
- Philosophy and Values
- Physical Science
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Guidelines for Seven-Course Breadth
- You must meet this requirement through course work, not Advanced Placement credit, since the aim is for you to enrich your education by taking the seven breadth courses in conjunction with your other studies at Berkeley.
- You may take these courses on either a letter-graded or a Passed/Not Passed basis, earning at least a C- or a P.
- These courses must be a minimum of 2 units each.
- You may not use courses numbered 98, 99, or above 190 for breadth credit.
- You may use courses from your major department.
- You may not use more than two courses offered by any one department (L&S Discovery courses exempt). Further courses from that department, even if you take them in their cross-listed form in another department, cannot be counted toward the seven-course breadth.
- Courses may not also be used to meet QR, FL, or R&C requirements with the exception of a few R&C courses which also satisfy seven-course breadth.
- If you complete a second semester course in a foreign language other than the one that fulfilled your L&S foreign language requirement, you may be eligible for International Studies credit. Please check with a college adviser.
- While some courses are listed under more than one breadth category, no single course may be used to satisfy more than one category.