About the Program
The Designated Emphasis (DE) in Computational Science and Engineering Program (CSE) at the University of California, Berkeley trains students to use and manage scientific data, whether it is in analyzing complex physical systems or in using statistics and machine learning, along with data visualization to extract useful information from the massive amount of data that can be collected from sensors today. The CSE program is committed to the development of new curricula and expanded programs aimed at development and propagation of the use of numerical and computational tools to further research across multiple disciplines. To that end, the CSE program will actively support the training and multidisciplinary education of scientists, engineers and technical specialists who are experts in relevant areas.
The CSE program crosses numerous disciplines, and participating departments include Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Astronomy, Neuroscience and Political Science, among many others. Upon graduation, the student receives a “PhD in X with a Designated Emphasis in Computational Science and Engineering” on their transcript and diploma. This designation certifies that he or she has participated in, and successfully completed, a Designated Emphasis in addition to the departmental requirements for the PhD, and completion of the DE-CSE will also be posted to the student’s transcript.
Some of the CSE activities include:
- Identifying existing and encouraging the development of new courses that best serve to educate computational science and engineering students
- Encouraging involvement in CSE research activities by undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and, potentially, by experienced professionals seeking to develop new skills that can benefit their careers
- Supporting formal short “boot-camp” education programs involving both live and web-based course offerings, with certificates if completed
- Supporting summer schools, seminar series, and tutorials
- Integration of these activities with LBNL
Admissions
Applicants must already be students within a PhD program at UC Berkeley.
Students must be accepted into the program and petition to add the DE-CSE before taking their qualifying exam.
Applicants for the DE-CSE program are required to submit an online application; for access to the application, please see the program's website . With this form, the student must specify their proposed area of CSE study and list which three courses they will take to fulfill the requirements. They also will upload a completed and signed Graduate Petition for change of Major or Degree Goal; a recommendation letter from their advisor; transcripts; a CV; and a one-page statement about why they are applying to the program.
For further information regarding admission to graduate programs at UC Berkeley, please see the Graduate Division's Admissions website .
Designated Emphasis Requirements
Coursework/Curriculum
The student must take one course from each of the categories below; all courses taken to fulfill the DE requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
| Category 1: Mathematical Tools | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Advanced Matrix Computations | ||
| Numerical Solution of Differential Equations | ||
| Numerical Solution of Differential Equations | ||
| Probability for Applications | ||
| Theoretical Statistics | ||
| Theoretical Statistics | ||
| Statistical Models: Theory and Application | ||
| Statistical Models: Theory and Application | ||
| Experimental Design | ||
| The Statistics of Causal Inference in the Social Science | ||
| Nonparametric and Robust Methods | ||
| Statistical Learning Theory | ||
| Advanced Topics in Learning and Decision Making | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Computing | ||
| Statistical Computing | ||
| Analysis of Time Series | ||
A course not listed, by petition to the program director | ||
| Category 2: High Performance Computing | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
COMPSCI 267 | Course Not Available | |
| Special Topics (Software Engineering for Scientific Computing) | ||
A course not listed, by petition to the program director | ||
| Category 3: Application area | ||
| Application area courses that utilize the above tools in a significant manner 1 | ||
| 1 | The student proposes this course, including a detailed syllabus documenting the use of mathematics and computation in an application area. |
Qualifying Exam
Students must have a DE-CSE component in their qualifying exam, with a DE-CSE faculty member on the exam committee.
Dissertation
At least one member of the DE-CSE faculty be on the dissertation committee.
Contact Information
Graduate Group in Computational Science and Engineering
6117 Etcheverry Hall
Phone: 510-642-9172
Department Chair/Head Graduate Adviser
Tarek I. Zohdi, PhD
6117 Etcheverry Hall
Phone: 510-642-9172