Frequently Asked Questions
Below you can find many of the frequently asked questions we receive from prospective graduate students. If you still have questions that are not answered below, please email macss@berkeley.edu.
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FAQs
Yes. As long as you have a bachelor's degree in social science you are eligible to be a student in the MaCSS program.
High paying jobs including Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Specialist, Product Analysis Specialist, People Data Analyst, Client Services Analyst, UX/UI Researcher and Marketing Strategy Specialist. Every industry and government agency needs employees who can work with large data sets to determine patterns, provide real-time analysis, and determine impactful solutions. With a MaCSS degree your income will increase significantly, with a multiplier effect that will span the length of your career.
Students in the MaCSS program learning coding (Python, etc.) and machine learning strategies, computational and data analysis and statistical modeling, and how to create and implement practical computational projects that all organization leaders need to be successful.
No previous experience with coding, statistical analysis, or high level mathematics is needed, but students will be expected to learn quickly so they can apply these skills to projects that have real-world impact.
Folks with a social science degree have researched some of society's most entrenched problems. With the computational skills taught in the MaCSS program, graduates can make a real-world impact and tackle a wide range of important issues that will lead to solutions. MaCSS graduates will benefit society by solving problems that are barriers to individual and collective success.
Yes! This is a STEM-designated program.
ETS to the institution code for UC Berkeley is 4833 for Graduate Organizations. No department code is needed unless specified by the specific program. There is no specific code for MaCSS.
The MaCSS program is specifically designed for students with a social science degree. If you have a degree in STEM, including data science or computer science, you do not qualify to apply. Instead, you should consider the MIDS or MIMS degree from the School of Information.
In order to be considered for the fellowship, students must apply by the December 2nd deadline. If you miss this deadline, there are still other funding options available through the university graduate division.
No, the MaCCS program is only available full-time and must be completed within the allocated year timeframe, with no possibility of extension.
All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. The only qualifications for exemption are the following:
- Have a basic degree from a recognized institution in a country where the official language is English.
- Have completed a basic or advanced degree at an institution, in the United States or a United States institution abroad, where the language of instruction is English and the institution is accredited by one of the United States’ regional accrediting agencies.
- Have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at a regionally accredited institution within the United States.*
- The following courses do not qualify for an exemption: courses in English as a Second Language, courses conducted in a language other than English, courses that will be completed after applicants submit their application, or courses of a non-academic nature.
Each year, we are able to accommodate only a limited number of application fee waivers. To be eligible for a fee waiver, you must be a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident who demonstrates financial need or participated in certain programs. We regret to share that we are unable to accommodate other requests at this time. To apply for a fee waiver, please visit Requesting an Application Fee Waiver.