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Choosing a Major

Sometimes the process for choosing a major can be confusing. If you are unsure of your major, this is the time to do some serious research! Make an appointment with an adviser; meet with a pre-health coach.

Get Started:

     1. Learn what types of positions are related to each major and what you can do to ensure you are qualified for that position by exploring: "What Can I Do With This Major?" "PLEASE NOTE: UCSC does not offer all of the majors listed on this site, and some of the majors may differ slightly. However, the information is valuable and we encourage you to explore the site while referencing the Fields of Study we offer in our General Catalog."

    2. Tips on Researching a Major:

Further Education and STEM Students

  • If you are interested in a science or engineering major, start on the prerequisites in your first year.  These majors require extensive sequential coursework and lower division prerequisite courses.
  • Meet with major adviser and STEM/health profession coach to map out coursework and career development to best prepare and be compettive for graduate/professional school or industry.
  • Meet with pre-health coaches to hone in on which engineer or science profession you would like to pursue and map out your courses to finish on time
  • Considering graduate or professional school? Meet with a career coach ASAP to find out if there are certain course requirements for entry and which major may best prepare you.
  • Look at alumni profiles in the LinkedIn UCSC Alumni Group.
  • Take a career assessment to explore which majors may be a good match for you and meet with a career coach to discuss the results. 
  • Review the General Catalog Programs information to see a list of majors offered at UC Santa Cruz. 
  • Research major information for new students and cluster information posted on the advising website.
  • Visit the websites for the majors you're considering, and learn more about the department and the opportunities available to students. 
  • Talk with the department adviser for majors that are of interest to you. Discuss the major's curriculum, requirements, and opportunities. 
  • Talk with faculty during major department orientations and/or during their office hours about opportunities within a major.
  • Visit the bookstore and look at the books required by professors for majors that you are considering. 

     3. When you've completed some research and you've come up with some strong possibilities, be sure to talk with a department adviser for that major (or majors) to be sure you're taking courses that will allow you to make progress and declare on time.

For more information and a complete handout to help you navigating choosing a major, click here