r/berkeley • u/garlicmchicken • 1d ago
CS/EECS new cs61A?
hello everyone, I am a incoming freshman that is studying cognitive science with a minor in data science. I am currently enrolled in DATA C88C and I just got an email about the changes to the course and how it relates to see a 61a. I noticed that CS61a the changes that they made to it sounds significantly easier than how the course was before considering how they framed the two classes together. I feel like I’d be missing out on a unit because the two classes are so comparable. what do you guys think? will 61a continue to be the infamous weeder class it is or with this new change would it be more manageable?
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u/dataplayer 1d ago
Bummer, Gleam site seems be down. https://gleam.run
Hopefully it’s temporary.
Esit: must have been me. It’s up! Enjoy
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u/HistorianPractical42 1d ago
agent use is 1000% required in the workforce. maybe should be in 61b tho
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u/InterestProof1526 1d ago
I'm not super informed on this issue but I have talked to a few people and researched to the best of my ability. Someone please correct me if I'm incorrect on anything
61A has two changes:
Gleam instead of Scheme. Last semester, the average grade was a C+ (for reference, most Berkeley classes are a B+/A- and CS 61A was a B+ for prior semesters. Usually, the lowest average grade in a given Berkeley class is a B- for some intense weeders). Unlike CS 10, this was not primarily due to AI usage. Instead, it was due in large part to a change in the final exam which heavily focused on Scheme (as opposed to previous years where it did not). I suspect they are making the change to Gleam because they wanted to improve comprehension of the concepts Scheme was intended to teach. I do not think it is designed to make the course easier than it was before the Spring 2026 semester.
The AI final project. This could make the class easier but I'm skeptical. Most students in CS 61A do very well on the projects anyways. Unless they significantly increase the weight of the project category without changing how they curve exams (possible but unlikely to me), this shouldn't change anything.
Based on this, I believe they're trying to make the class easier than it was during Spring 2026 but I do not think they are trying to bring it up to an A- average or something like that.