Double Majors
If you're an undergraduate student interested in declaring a double major, read below!
Considerations - Should you double major?
- Explore the major first: Focus on your lower-division courses for your primary major and general education courses before you add a double major. Also, be sure you have taken some coursework in your second major of interest so you know what the major entails.
- Interest: If you are passionate about two fields, double majoring can be very rewarding. It lets you explore your interests deeply.
- Minors: If you have interests in multiple areas, consider a minor or two instead of a double major.
- Workload: Double majoring can be very demanding. Your unit load each quarter will be heavier than with only one major.
- Experiential Learning: A double major might leave you with less time for activities outside of your academics, such as research, internships, or student involvement. Consider if there are out-of-classroom experiences that would be more impactful for your graduate school or career preparation, versus taking additional courses.
- Graduation Timeline: Will your graduation be delayed if you double major? If students will exceed the Quarter Limit, they must receive permission from their major departments and their College after submitting a quarter by quarter plan.
- Financial Impacts: If adding a double major will extend your graduation, what are the financial impacts of this? Consider financial aid eligibility, additional tuition costs, and lost income from delayed employment.
About double majors
- Both departments/programs and your college must approve the petition.
- The two majors may not be within the School of Engineering, nor, except with the approval of the Undergraduate Council, within a single department.
- CSE majors cannot double major with Data Science, or with Mathematics-Computer Science.
- The Joint Major in Mathematics and Economics (MA33 or EN28) cannot double major with any other majors in Mathematics or Economics.
- Literary Arts (LT34 or LT42) can double major with another Literature major (LT33, LT36, or LT41).
- Theatre (TH26) is allowed with Dance (TH27).
- Urban Studies and Planning (US26) is allowed with Real Estate and Development (US27).
- Visual Arts - Art History/Criticism (VA26) is allowed with another Visual Arts major (VA27-30).
- Read the Academic Senate policy on double majors.
Timeline
- Only continuing students may declare a double major after they have a minimum 2.0 UC GPA and are in Good Standing.
- The full approval process can take several weeks. The petition should be submitted before your final quarter of enrollment.
Double Major Petition Process
Step 1: Obtain petition form
Download the Double Major Petition (PDF) and complete all fields.
- Major 1 should be the major you want listed first on your transcript and diploma.
- If a major has enrollment restrictions on some courses that only their declared majors can take, you should list that major as Major 1.
- International students intending to apply for CPT or OPT should choose major 1 as the field they are interested in pursuing employment.
- If you have any questions, ask the department advisor for that major.
Step 2: List courses
List all courses for both majors.
- Courses taken in fulfillment of lower-division requirements may overlap between both majors.
- Students must satisfy all requirements for BOTH majors, including 10 upper-division courses (40 units) unique to each major.
- Two upper division courses can overlap. Review Upper Division Course Overlap.
- Be as specific as possible. If you need to list an option (e.g., LTWR 100-199) make a clear note for what major requirement that will fulfill (e.g., LTWR 100-199 for Workshop).
Step 3: Create quarter by quarter plan
Prepare an Academic Planning Worksheet (Link to copy a Google Sheet).
- List all requirements for both majors as well as College and university requirements.
- List all courses, including those you have completed, in progress, and planned for future quarters.
- Use plans.ucsd.edu and your Degree Audit to help plan remaining courses in your current major, general education courses, and university requirements.
- Use the General Catalog, the department website, and plans.ucsd.edu for your proposed double major to find all courses you will need.
- Many academic departments post their course offerings for the next academic year. Examples: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Global Health, History, Math, Psychology.
Step 4: Write statement of purpose
Your statement should be 100-300 words and address why you want to double major, and why you've selected the specific majors you have chosen. In your statement, please discuss how these specific majors address your interests and career goals.
Step 5: Contact current major
- Submit the Double Major Petition, Academic Planning Worksheet, and Statement of Purpose to the department/program advisor for your currently-declared major first. [Where do I send it?]
- Check your VAC messages (vac.ucsd.edu) for notifications from your currently declared major. They will notify you if revisions are needed and will notify you via VAC once they approve the form.
Step 6: Contact future major
- Once your current major approves the petition and notifies you via VAC, download it and send all documents (signed petition form, statement, quarter-by-quarter plan) to the department/program advisor for your to-be-added major. [Where do I send it?]
- Check your VAC messages (vac.ucsd.edu) for notifications from your to-be-added major. They will notify you if revisions are needed and will notify you via VAC once they approve the form.
Step 7: Contact College
- Once your to-be-added major approves the petition, they will notify you via the VAC. Download the form (now signed by both major advisors) and email it with all documents (including statement of purpose and quarter by quarter plan) to your college academic advising office for final review.
- Check your VAC messages (vac.ucsd.edu) for notification from your College advisors. They will notify you if revisions are needed.
- After the College approves the petition, they will submit the form officially to the Office of the Registrar for processing.
- One week later, view your Academic History to confirm that both majors appear online.
Revising your petition
If your quarter-by-quarter plan changes from what you submitted with your original double major petition, you need to notify your academic advisors. You may need to submit a revised petition based on what has changed.
If the quarter of graduation changes but all requirements are still met - no revised petition is needed, but send your College a VAC message. The College will need to review your plan to see if your Quarter Limit hold (QTR) needs moved. (Example: you need to re-order your courses based on course availability, and you will need to enroll longer than you had originally planned.)
If a major or specialization changes - you must submit a revised double major petition for review by both majors and Colleges. Submit a revised double major petition form and updated Academic Planning Worksheet. See the Double Major Petition section above and follow the steps to again submit the petition. (Example: if you are changing from General Biology to Molecular and Cell Biology, and keeping the declared double major in Psychology).
If only the approved overlap courses change, you must submit a revised double major petition (to be reviewed by both major advisors) to ensure your degree audit is accurately updated. Submit a revised double major petition form to Major 1 advisors, and then Major 2 advisors. Your Major 2 advisors will work with the uAchieve degree audit team to update your degree audit.
FAQ
Does the order of my majors (Major 1, Major 2) matter?
Major 1 should be the major you want listed first on your transcript and diploma.
If a major has enrollment restrictions on some courses that only their declared majors can take, you should list that major as Major 1.
International students intending to apply for CPT or OPT should choose major 1 as the field they are interested in pursuing employment.
If you have any questions, ask the department advisor for that major.
Can I double major with one selective major?
Yes. However, you must apply to and be selected to the selective major through the annual process. If you are selected, your primary major on record (Major 1) will then be changed to the selective major. You must then follow the Double Major Petition Process steps above to add the second, non-selective major.
Can students double major with two selective majors?
We strongly discourage students from double majoring in two selective majors. However, whether it is allowed depends on the two majors a student wants to pursue.
Per Senate policy, students cannot double major in two majors within the Jacobs School of Engineering. Students cannot double major within a single department (e.g., can’t pursue two Public Health majors). Also, students cannot double major in Data Science with Computer Science and Engineering.
If a student intends to double major in two selective majors, they must consult their current department/School advisor before taking action.
If a student wants to double major with Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and another selective major, CSE must be listed as the primary major (Major 1). The student must apply to and be selected into CSE through the selective major process. If the student accepts the offer, their primary major on record will then be changed to CSE, and their previous major will be removed. The student must then follow the Double Major Petition Process steps above to add the second selective major back to their record.
Does my double major show on my diploma? My transcript?
Both majors will be listed on your transcript and on your diploma. They are listed in the order of: Major 1, Major 2.