Navigating Major Changes at UCLA: A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing a major is a significant decision for incoming students, but passions and interests can evolve during college. Fortunately, UCLA provides a structured process for students to change their major. This article provides a detailed guide to the requirements and procedures for changing majors at UCLA.
Understanding the Possibility of Changing Majors
Many students feel pressured to choose the "right" major immediately. However, gaining experience and exposure throughout college can lead to discovering new passions that don't align with their initial choice. About 30% of UCLA students switch their majors from admissions, a figure on par with the national average. This underscores the commonality of changing academic paths and highlights the importance of understanding the process.
Initial Exploration and Resources
UCLA encourages students to explore various subjects aligning with their interests, academic strengths, and personal goals. The university offers diverse fields of study and opportunities for undergraduate research. Students can also add a minor to complement their academic experience, declared after enrollment. For students who are undecided, UCLA welcomes "undeclared" majors in all divisions of the College along with the School of Engineering.
Requirements for Changing Majors
Students in good academic standing can petition to change their major, provided they can complete the new major within the 216-unit limit. Admission to certain majors may be closed or restricted, so consulting with the department offering the desired major is crucial. Changes to an undergraduate program are generally not permitted if the student is on academic notice or have begun the last term.
Step-by-Step Application Process
The application process consists of three mandatory steps:
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Step 1: Completing the MyUCLA Forms Survey
This online questionnaire is only active during the designated Application Period. Students must complete it after receiving their final grades from the previous term. The survey includes questions about prerequisite courses and the grades received in those courses.
Step 2: Completing the Undergraduate Program Change Petition
The Undergraduate Program Change Petition is an editable PDF form that must be completed accurately. Students should only fill in the sections designated for them, leaving the "OFFICE USE ONLY" sections blank. Once completed, the file should be saved as a PDF using the student's 9-digit UCLA ID as the file name (e.g., 123456789.pdf).
Step 3: Submitting the Petition and Reason for Applying
The final step involves submitting the completed Undergraduate Program Change Petition along with a statement explaining the reason for the major change. This submission is made through the Office’s Change of Major Submissions Queue within the Message Center. The PDF file created in Step 2 should be attached to the submission. The subject line should clearly state the major the student is applying for.
Important Considerations
- Application Period: The MyUCLA Forms Survey and the Change of Major Queue are only active during specific application periods. It is vital to adhere to these deadlines.
- Prerequisite Courses: Some departments, particularly impacted ones like economics and psychology, require students to complete specific prerequisite courses before officially admitting them to the program.
- Unit Limits: Students should be aware of any unit limits imposed by the major department and ensure they can complete the major within the 216-unit limit.
- Consultation: It is advisable to consult with the department offering the desired major to understand any specific requirements or restrictions.
- Academic Standing: Students on academic notice or in their last term may not be permitted to change their major.
- Submission Procedures: Program change petition submission varies by College/school. Consult the College or school academic advising office for instructions on how to submit the petition.
Insights from Student Experiences
Kristie Lim, a computer science student, successfully switched from linguistics and computer science to computer science in the School of Engineering. Her experience highlights the importance of taking prerequisite courses and planning early. Furn Techalertumpai, a current student, transferred from mathematics/economics to Computer Science. Their advice is to pursue what you are passionate about.
Data on Major Switching at UCLA
Data from 2013 to 2018 reveals that approximately 30% of UCLA students change their majors. The major with the highest rate of switches out was business economics, with roughly 75% of students switching out. Computer science and engineering had the next highest rate of switches out of the major at about 73%, but most of these switches are intradepartmental into computer science. The five majors with the highest total number of students switching in are economics, sociology, psychobiology, political science and psychology. While 76% of economics degrees were awarded to students who switched into the major, the majority come from business economics at 50%. Life sciences and physical sciences have roughly 20% of its students switching to other fields, while the humanities and social sciences have less than 5% of switches out of the field.
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Additional Resources
The UCLA General Catalog is published annually in PDF and HTML formats. It provides information on courses, course descriptions, instructor designations, curricular degree requirements, and fees. Students should consult the Catalog for the most current, officially approved courses and curricula. Other information about UCLA may be found in materials produced by the schools of Arts and Architecture; Dentistry; Education and Information Studies; Engineering and Applied Science; Law; Management; Medicine; Music; Nursing; Public Affairs; Public Health; and Theater, Film, and Television.
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