How to Declare

Declaring Neuroscience

Students may declare the Neuroscience major when they have fulfilled the following requirements:

  • Completed both Chem 1A and Chem 1AL
  • Completed both Math 10A and Math 10B or Math 51 and Math 52 (or completed an approved sequence, see NEU Math Options for options)
  • Enrolled in or completed Bio 1A*
  • Enrolled in or completed Physics 8A*
  • Have a GPA of 2.000 or higher combined across all lower- and upper-division courses taken for the major at UC Berkeley
  • Have a GPA of 2.000 or higher combined across all upper division courses taken for the major at UC Berkeley** 
  • For students admitted Fall 2026 and beyond, a minimum grade of C- is required in all lower division requirements.

*If enrolled in a second attempt after a D, F, or NP grade, then a C grade or higher on the first midterm is required to declare while enrolled.

**This only applies if a student has completed any upper division requirements, including the pre-approved Tier 3 Electives and/or Outside Perspectives course regardless of whether the course is offered by the NEU department or not.

Deadline to declare the major

For students admitted Fall 2025 and beyond: students must declare the Neuroscience major before the end of their 5th semester. This does not include summer terms. Transfer students must declare before the end of their first semester. This includes adding Neuroscience as a double major or simultaneous degree. Declaration applications are accepted when the semester begins, until the Friday morning before RRR week during the Fall and Spring semesters only. Declaration applications are not accepted during winter break or summer. Declaring the major by sophomore year is recommended.

For students admitted prior to Fall 2025 who have made progress to declare: these students can declare the Neuroscience major so long as they finish the major within the term limit and unit ceiling regulated by L&S and do so with an advisable schedule (e.g., two major requirements per term remaining).

Steps to declaring the major:

  1. The first step is to fill out the NEU online declaration formwith your academic history and plan. The form will reopen when the Fall semester begins. You must be logged in to the campus network via eduroam or the bSecure VPN (Library Access). The form must be submitted in one session, i.e., you cannot close the window and come back to it or leave it so long that your CalNet authentication times out.
  2. Within 2-3 business days after your submission, an advisor will contact you via email with a confirmation and next steps.
  3. Make an appointment with a staff advisor. They will have the information you submitted online and will help planning your remaining courses for the major. They will email you a declaration form after your meeting.
  4. Students with below a C grade in Biology 1A or below a 2.500 major or upper division major GPA will be required to meet with a faculty advisor. We strongly recommend that all new NEU students meet with a faculty advisor to discuss their course, research, and career goals.
  5. Sign and return your declaration form to your staff advisor. If Neuroscience is your only major, CalCentral should be updated in 3-5 business days.

Neuroscience Major GPA Policy

A Neuroscience major must maintain a 2.000 grade point average (GPA) in a) in the complete set of all lower- and upper-division courses taken for the major at UC Berkeley and b) all upper-division courses taken for the major at UC Berkeley. Upper-division or graduate level Neuroscience courses that are not used to satisfy major requirements are excluded from this calculation. 

Students for whom either GPA calculation falls below 2.000 will receive additional advising support through our Student Success Program. Students who do not raise their GPA above a 2.000 will be at risk of getting dismissed from the major and becoming ineligible for graduation. Progress will be reviewed after each semester and if satisfactory progress is not made, the Neuroscience Undergraduate Program Committee may decide to dismiss a student from the major. Their major will revert to undeclared and the student will need to work with an L&S advisor to pursue another major. 

Our Student Success Program is an advising program meant to support students facing academic difficulty. The program is designed to help students identify barriers that affected their academic progress in the major, connect students to relevant resources, and outline goals to progress towards successful completion of graduation requirements.   

Questions concerning this policy may be directed to the staff advisors in the Neuroscience Undergraduate Affairs Office.

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