Declaring a Double Major

Students in good academic standing may be permitted to have a double major consisting of majors from two departments within the College, provided it can be done within time-to-degree. You cannot apply for a double major until you have completed the following requirements:

• All preparation requirements for both majors
• 2 upper division courses for each major (preparation courses do not count toward this requirement)

With few exceptions, double majors in the same department are unacceptable. Students must designate one of the two majors as the primary major. No more than 20 upper division units may overlap between both majors.  Upper division units required for the preparation for the major are not subject to this 20 unit restriction.

Please consult your UCLA College counselor regarding the applicability of pre-major or major courses on GE.

If you will be exceeding time-to-degree, you may petition ahead of time to determine whether this will be approved.  Please be aware that exceeding time-to-degree without College approval is a violation of University regulations, which would render you ineligible for a degree.

If you are seeking to double major between a major under the College of Letters & Science with a program under another School (e.g. Engineering), please consult with the respective School about their policies and procedures.

How to Petition for Double Major

Step 1:

Download the Departmental Approval for Double Major/Minor form and Degree Plan Contract. Fill out the portions of the form that you are responsible for as the student:

• Departmental Approval for Double Major/Minor form : “Student Information” located at the top of the form.
• Degree Plan Contract : Outline your remaining program plan (quarter-by-quarter) to include your remaining University, College, and GE requirements – as well as the requirements for your intended majors, any minors, and remaining elective courses to fulfill the minimum unit requirements.

• Ask the department advisors for each major to complete the following steps:
  • Review your Degree Audit Report (DAR) with you and confirm the remaining requirements for each major.
  • Each department advisor should review and fill out the Departmental Approval for Double Major/Minor form . On this form, each advisor should:
    • Confirm your approval into the major/minor;
    • Indicate the number of courses remaining to be completed for the major (including prerequisites). If you find that you will exceed the unit maximum, see below for further instructions;
    • Note any substitutions/waivers of major requirements or prerequisites that have been approved but are not accurately reflected on the current DAR, as well as make corrections of any other errors, and;
    • Identify courses that will overlap between both majors – the advisors should confirm that you will not overlap by more than 20 upper division units between the two majors (your College advising unit will calculate all other requirements, e.g., GE, Upper Division, Academic Residence, Unit Maximum, etc).  Upper division units required for the preparation for the major are not limited to this 20 unit restriction.
  • Each department advisor should also review and sign your Degree Plan Contract . In addition to their signature, they should initial next to each course that applies toward their major/minor.
• Note: If a department advisor is unable to fill out the Departmental Approval for Double Major/Minor form or the Degree Plan Contract, they may provide approval and additional information via a Record of Interview (ROI) or send you an email with this information. Please attach a PDF or JPG of the email correspondence to your petition.

Step 2:

Complete and submit the Double Major Petition online via MyUCLA forms.

• Attach the completed and signed Departmental Approval for Double Major/Minor form and Degree Plan Contract to the online petition.

• Please select your College advising/counseling unit below to submit your petition. (Please note that you may check your Degree Audit to see your College advising/counseling unit. If you select the wrong unit, your petition will not be processed.)
  • College Academic Counseling
  • Academic Advancement Program
  • Honors Programs
  • Athletics

• If necessary, submit your request to petition to exceed time-to-degree.
  • If you will be exceeding time-to-degree [time-to-degree is defined as graduating within 4 years (12 consecutive quarters, excluding summers) as a first year admit and 7 consecutive quarters, excluding summers, as a transfer admit], you must submit an essay that addresses the following: (1) why are you interested in these academic programs and when did you develop this interest, (2) how do these majors and/or minors fit with your future plans and (3), how might your academic, professional and personal goals be impacted if your request is not approved?
  • As you are requesting an exception to the rule, you must provide an explanation justifying granting an exception. Please be aware that approval is NOT guaranteed. You may wish to make an appointment with a College Counselor in your College advising unit before submitting your request to help you determine remaining GE, Upper Division, and Senior Residence requirements.
  • If after conferring with your departmental and College advisors you determine that you will also exceed the 216 unit maximum, you will need to indicate the exact number of units you will have completed when you have finished all degree requirements (for example: “224 units”).

Please note that petitions are processed within 10-15 business days of submission. Students will be updated of the status of their petition via the “Academics” tab → “Petitions” on MyUCLA.

Change in Major/Minor (exceeding Time to Degree)

Students who wish to make changes to their program, such as changing their major or adding a minor, and will also be exceeding time-to-degree, are required to submit a petition.  Along with a petition, a student will be required to submit a Program Change Petition, Degree Plan Contract and statement, if applicable.  Please note that submitting this request does not guarantee approval.  If you are not changing your major or adding a minor but will exceed your time to degree, please submit a blue petition as instructed here.

Step 1:

Review the Program Change Petition and Degree Plan Contract (DPC). Fill out the portions of the form that you are responsible for as the student.

• Degree Plan Contract : Outline your program plan (quarter-by-quarter) to include your remaining University, College and GE requirements – as well as the requirements for your intended majors, any minors, and remaining elective courses to fulfill the minimum unit requirements.

Step 2:

Speak with the departmental advisor for the major/minor you wish to switch to or add, regarding requirements and qualifications.

• The department advisor must confirm approval that you may switch into their major or add a minor by completing and signing a Program Change Petition .
• The department advisor should also review and sign the Degree Plan Contract . In addition to their signature, they should initial next to each course that applies towards their major/minor.
  • Note: If a department advisor is unable to fill out the Program Change Petition or Degree Plan Contract, they may provide approval and additional information via a Record of Interview (ROI) or send you an email with this information. Please attach a PDF or JPG of the email correspondence to your petition.

Step 3:

Submit the Change of Program request on MyUCLA forms to your College advising unit at the links below.

• Attach the completed and signed Program Change Petition and the Degree Plan Contract  to the online petition.
• Submit your request to petition to exceed time-to-degree.
  • If you will be exceeding time-to-degree [time-to-degree is defined as graduating within 4 years (12 consecutive quarters, excluding summers) as a first year admit and 7 consecutive quarters, excluding summers, as a transfer admit], you must submit an essay that addresses the following: (1) why are you interested in this academic program and when did you develop this interest, (2) how does this major/minor fit with your future plans and (3), how might your academic, professional and personal goals be impacted if your request is not approved? Please be aware that approval is NOT guaranteed.
  • If you will also be exceeding the 216 unit maximum, you will need to indicate the exact number of units you will have completed when you have finished all degree requirements (for example: “224 units”).

Please select your College advising/counseling unit below to submit your petition. (Please note that you may check your Degree Audit to see your College advising/counseling unit. If you select the wrong unit, your petition will not be processed.)

• College Academic Counseling
• Academic Advancement Program
• Honors Programs
• Athletics

Please note that petitions are processed within 10-15 business days of submission. Students will be updated of the status of their petition via the “Academics” tab → “Petitions” on MyUCLA.

Change in Major/Minor (with 150 units or more)

Students who have completed 150+ units and wish to make changes to their academic plan (e.g. change of major or adding a minor) are required to obtain approval from the College.  If a student will be within time-to-degree:

• Speak with the departmental advisor for the major/minor you wish to switch to or add, regarding requirements and qualifications.
• If you have completed 150 units and can complete the major/minor within time-to-degree, the department advisor will submit a request for approval to the College.
• If the College has any concerns with the request, it will be encouraged that the student meet with a College Counselor.

Please note that these approval requests are processed within 10-15 business days of submission. Students will be updated of the status of their petition via the “Academics” tab → “Petitions” on MyUCLA .

If a student is unable to complete the major/minor within time-to-degree [time-to-degree is defined as graduating within 4 years (12 consecutive quarters, excluding summers) as a first year admit and 7 consecutive quarters, excluding summers, as a transfer admit], they must submit a petition – more information about this process can be found in the Change in Major/Minor (exceeding time-to-degree) tab .