Major Changes for Applicants and Newly Admitted Students

Applicants may request major changes from December 1 through December 31 for first-year/freshmen, and through January 31 for transfer applicants. Immediately following the release of admission decisions, applicants may request changes. Major change requests will be considered through the end of May for first-years and the end of June for transfers. After that time, students may request to discuss a major change with an advisor during their Orientation session “Schedule Lab.”

The Office of Admissions cannot process major changes at these times:

• During the months of October, November;
• After December 31 until admission decisions are released for first-year applicants;
• After January 31 until admission decisions are released for transfer applicants;
• While an applicant is on the waitlist or appealing their admission decision;
• Once a student registered for courses OR, a student's admission materials and final transcripts have been verified and the student's first degree audit has been prepared. Students are notified via email when the degree audit has been prepared and is available to view; Or, once the Fall quarter has begun.

Change of Major Video Overview for Newly Admitted Students

Admitted Students

After Admission decisions are released, admitted first-years may request a major change with Admissions through the end of May, admitted transfers through the end of June. Applicants on the waitlist or appealing their admission decision are not permitted to change majors. Any student admitted from the waitlist or on appeal may request major changes for 2 weeks from the date of their SIR.

Transfer student major changes are prohibited after the completion of the Admissions process into any Engineering, Mathematics, Biology, Economics or Physics majors.

Major changes into Dance or Music (B.M) require an audition and department approval. Major changes into the College of Creative Studies require a supplemental application and faculty support.

Enrolling Students (post-SIR)

Incoming new first-years can speak to an academic advisor from their college at the “Schedule Lab” portion of their Orientation session. If a student does not attend Orientation or if they want to make a major change after their Orientation session has passed, they will have one additional opportunity at “Advising Day,” and thereafter will need to make any major change request directly with the major department.

Once the fall quarter has started, students should contact the academic department they wish to switch to for assistance. Major changes are not guaranteed.

Change of Major Instructions

If you wish to change your major to an open major (listed below), send an email with your request to admissions@ucsb.edu.

Your email MUST include the following:

• The subject line should read "Major Change Request."
• Include your full legal name and Application I.D. number or UCSB Perm number.
• State your current major and the major into which you wish to change.
• If spring coursework is in progress, include a list of all fall grades and a list of courses in progress.
• If summer has begun, send the request with a copy of your final transcript.

Change of major requests may take up to two weeks to process. For College of Engineering majors, a change request may take more than two weeks (see below). If approved, major change requests will be reflected in your Applicant Portal.

Special Instructions for Majors that are Not Open

College of Letters and Science

College of Engineering

College of Creative Studies

Open Majors in the College of Letters and Science

* = Admitted to pre-major status until prerequisites are satisfied
^ = Contact department for available concentrations

All majors lead to a B.A. unless otherwise noted.