Double Majors
If you're an undergraduate student interested in declaring a double major, read below!
Double Major Change Pause
Due to the new Triton Student System (TSS) implementation, students cannot change their majors or minors in TSS until later in the Fall 2026 quarter. For more information, read the TSS Project Update. Double majors will be submitted throughTSS in the future. Do not begin this process by email.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.
- Graduate School: It is possible that a Masters or PhD might be more advantageous than double majoring. If a Masters program takes the same amount of time as your additional major, do a cost-benefit analysis of one versus the other.
- Employment: Consider how the second major would add value to your career goals (including your marketability and salary). Talk with faculty advisors and Career Center staff, or do an informational interview with alumni or employers for industry-specific guidance.
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 and complete all fields. The petition is currently unavailable until later in Fall 2026.
Step 2: List courses and Degree Audit categories
The petition is currently unavailable until later in Fall 2026.
List all required courses for both majors. For Upper-Division courses, you must also include the category (as shown on your degree audit) that the course is fulfilling. Use your uAchieve degree audit as you complete the double major petition form.
- 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.
- Courses in excess of the 10 unique upper-division courses in each major 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: Write statement of purpose
The petition is currently unavailable until later in Fall 2026.
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 4: 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 5: Submit form and plan through TSS
The petition is currently unavailable until later in Fall 2026. Routing via TSS will be available at that time.
Submit the Double Major Petition with the statement of purpose, and the Academic Planning Worksheet, through TSS. Additional guidance is forthcoming.
Your petition will route to your Current Major --> New Major --> College --> Registrar's Office.
Check the status of your request in TSS for notifications of where the petition is throughout the process. Advisors will notify you if revisions are needed and when the petition is approved or denied. This process will take many weeks for full review.
Read the FAQ below if your proposed double major includes a selective major.
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 or if approved overlap courses change 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 through TSS when it is available later in Fall 2026. See the Double Major Petition section above and follow the steps to again submit the petition.
FAQ
Can you show me an example of a completed petition form?
Here is an example of a double major petition form for a General Biology and History double major.
Does the order of my majors (Major 1, Major 2) matter?
Both majors will be listed on your transcript and on your diploma. They are listed in the order of: Major 1, Major 2.
Major 1 or Major 2 will allow you to enroll in courses that are major-restricted. (Ex: DSC-020 can only be taken by Data Science majors. It does not matter if DSC is major 1 or major 2.)
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 detailed on the Selective Major Guidance webpage.
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 already declared in one selective major intends to double major with another selective major, they must consult both their current department advisor and intended department advisor before taking action. If allowed by both departments, students must apply to and be selected to the intended second selective major through the annual process detailed on the Selective Major Guidance webpage.
CSE: 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.