Guidelines for Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in mathematics, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.
Passing Grade
C- or better
Grading Option
Letter graded only
Deadline
All students must complete Quantitative Reasoning before graduation.
How to Satisfy Quantitative Reasoning
High School Exam Score
Use the following table to determine if you have received a score on an exam that satisfies quantitative reasoning.
Exam |
Minimum Score Required to Satisfy Quantitative Reasoning |
| SAT Math Section on exams administered January 2016 and PRIOR | 600 |
| SAT Math Section on exams administered March 2016 and BEYOND | 620 |
| SAT Subject Test, Math Level 2 | 520 |
| ACT - Math Portion | 28 |
| Advanced Placement Exams in Calculus AB or BC | 3, 4, or 5 |
| Advanced Placement Exam in Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3, 4, or 5 |
| Advanced Placement Exam in Computer Science Principles | 3, 4, or 5 |
| Advanced Placement Exam in Statistics | 3, 4, or 5 |
| International Baccalaureate Higher Level (HL) Exam in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Analysis and Approaches, or Applications and Interpretation | 5, 6 or 7 |
| International Baccalaureate High Level (HL) Exam in Computer Science | 5, 6 or 7 |
| GCE A-level Mathematics Exam | A, B, or C (or 1, 2, or 3) |
| Quantitative Reasoning exam offered by the Department of Mathematics administered at the beginning of each semester on the Berkeley campus. | 20 |
Berkeley Courses
Berkeley offers several courses through which you may satisfy the QR requirement, which must be completed with a letter grade of C- or higher. These courses focus on distinctive sets of quantitative skills, so you may want to think about which might be most important or interesting based on your potential future major or even potential career trajectories.
These skill sets vary by the department offering the course, and can be broken down roughly in the following ways:
| Department | Course Options |
|---|---|
| Computer Science |
COMPSCI C8, 10, W10, 61A, 61B, 61C, 70 The Computer Science courses enable you to understand the quantitative basis for computer programs, giving you the skills to use that reasoning as the basis for sound programming. |
| Data Science |
DATA, COMPSCI, INFO or STAT C8 The Data Science courses enable you to analyze and interpret large scale datasets which describe many real world scenarios. |
| Mathematics |
MATH 1A, N1A, 1B, N1B, 3, 10A, N10A, 10B, N10B, X11, X12, 16A, N16A, 16B, N16B, 32, N32, 51, 52, 53, H53, N53, W53, 54, H54, N54, W54, 55, N55, 74 The Mathematics courses enable you to work with fundamental tools – such as derivatives and integrals, vectors and matrices – used throughout science and engineering, and also sharpen your logic and problem-solving skills. Math 55 and 74 focus on reading and writing proofs. Note: Beginning Fall 2025, the following MATH course numbers will change: MATH 32 becomes MATH 3, MATH 1A becomes MATH 51, and MATH 1B becomes MATH 52. The content for the courses does not change with the course numbers. Students may satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning requirement with either the new or the old course number as long as the course appears on the list above. |
| Statistics |
STAT 2, X10, C8, 20, 21, W21 The Statistics courses enable you to use probability, statistical reasoning, and methods of data analysis to draw reliable conclusions from real-world data in the face of uncertainty. |
Be sure to review the course descriptions and prerequisites in the Berkeley Undergraduate Catalog to ensure adequate preparation before enrolling. The Department of Mathematics also offers an on-line placement exam to help students choose between MATH 32, 16A and 51 (formerly 1A).
Most students who have not fulfilled this requirement prior to admission enroll in MATH 32 (Pre-Calculus), STAT 2 (Introduction to Statistics) or COMPSCI/INFO/STAT C8 (Foundations of Data Science).
Those students prepared to complete an upper division (courses numbered 100-199) course in lieu of an approved lower-division course (courses numbered 1-99), should contact L&S advising (asklns@berkeley.edu) to confirm approval prior to enrollment. Only courses valued at 3 units or higher, and with a prerequisite of one of the approved lower-division courses will be considered.
Transfer Courses
All transfer courses pursued for Quantitative Reasoning must be completed with a C- or higher.
| Students admitted with Full UC IGETC Certification, Cal-GETC, or UC Reciprocity | Quantitative Reasoning is satisfied. No additional course work is required. |
| Effective for students admitted Fall 2025 or later: Students admitted with UC-systemwide 7-Course Pattern | Quantitative Reasoning is satisfied through completion of the UC-Mathematics (UC-M) requirement. No additional course work is required. |
| Students who started Berkeley as freshmen | Berkeley students may pursue a pre-approved course for Quantitative Reasoning at a California Community College during the summer or while not enrolled at Berkeley during a Fall or Spring semester. To identify pre-approved courses for Quantitative Reasoning, see our Transfer Credit: California Community College page for step-by-step instructions. |
| Non-California Community College | Transfer courses from accredited higher education institutions (i.e. 2-year or 4-year campus in the U.S. or non-UCEAP courses from abroad), must be reviewed and approved by L&S to satisfy Quantitative Reasoning. See our Transfer Credit: Other Higher Education Institution page for step-by-step instructions. |