Advisors may declare a student to their major and/or minor, so long as the student is able to graduate within their time to degree.

Time to Degree Definition:

First-year admits: enrollment through Spring or Summer of the fourth year.

Transfer admits: enrollment through Fall of the third year.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

When considering a student for a major or minor, please consider the following:

• What term/year was the student admitted to UCLA?
• What is their intended degree expected term?
• How many classes will the student need to complete the major or minor after the current term?
• In reviewing their Degree Audit Report, can the student finish ALL degree requirements, including any major and minor requirements, within Spring or Summer of their fourth year (as a first year admit) or Fall of their third year (as a transfer admit)?

By declaring a major or minor, students are expected to complete all requirements within their approved time to degree.  Requests to extend beyond their time to degree are not guaranteed and may require program adjustments or, in some cases, may result in the student becoming ineligible for a degree.

SUGGESTED APPROVAL MESSAGING

When declaring a student into your major or minor, please include the following message in your communication to Letters and Science students:

You have been approved to enter the major/minor based on the expectation that you will complete all degree requirements within your Time to Degree (TTD). The College expects that you prioritize your major requirements to ensure you can graduate on time. If your academic plans change or you encounter challenges completing your degree on time, consult with your assigned academic advising unit in the College to avoid becoming ineligible for a UCLA degree.

WHEN TO CONSULT WITH THE COLLEGE

If, based on a reasonable program plan and their past academic performance, a student is unlikely to complete their major and/or minor within their Time to Degree, please encourage a student to either meet with a College advisor or submit a Time to Degree petition.  More information regarding Time to Degree, including policy information and petition process can be found on this page.

If you need guidance on whether a student can complete their desired major or minor within their Time to Degree, please reach out by email to a Director within the College Advising Unit.  We encourage advisors to contact us only for students whose academic history or program plan raises concerns about timely degree completion (e.g., frequent course drops or repeats, difficulty passing pre-requisites or major courses, or unrealistic program plans).