Changing Your Major

As a Junior-level Transfer, you are typically admitted to campus in a proposed major. Many majors in fact require specific coursework and/or GPA levels for acceptance. Furthermore as a Junior Transfer, you are required to declare your major no later than the major declaration deadline in your second quarter of enrollment, and you have a limited number of quarters to complete your degree. These factors make it very challenging to change majors as a Junior Transfer, so if you are interested in changing majors, we highly recommend that you reach out to Cowell Advising.

UCSC screens for major preparation for the following majors:

  • Applied Physics

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

  • Bioengineering

  • Bioinformatics

  • Biology, BA

  • Biology, BS

  • Business Management Economics

  • Chemistry

  • Computer Engineering

  • Computer Science

  • Computer Science: Computer Game Design

  • Ecology and Evolution

  • Economics

  • Economics/Mathematics Combined Major

  • Electrical Engineering

  • Global Economics

  • Human Biology

  • Marine Biology

  • Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

  • Network and Digital Technology

  • Neuroscience

  • Plant Sciences

  • Physics

  • Physics(Astrophysics)

  • Physics Education

  • Psychology

  • Robotics Engineering

  • Sociology

  • Technology and Information Management


If your current proposed major is on the above list or you want to change to the major on the above list, changing your major will be difficult as all of these majors require specific lower division coursework at the community college. Please schedule an appointment with a Cowell Adviser or come see us during drop-in advising if you are a Junior Transfer interested in changing majors so we can determine your next steps together!