Undergraduate Advising
The Psychology Advising Office is located in the Social Sciences 2 Building, Room 150. Advising is available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. In the summer, we provide drop-in advising and appointments through Zoom only. For the most recent updates from your advising team, check out our latest newsletter.
How to get advising support
Email psyadv@ucsc.edu
Emailing psyadv@ucsc.edu is the fastest way to get answers, complete petitions, and get signatures from advisors.
Please allow one to three business days for an email response. We will complete any signature requests within five business days. If you would like to petition to have study abroad courses fulfill major requirements, begin the process at least two weeks before your study abroad deadline.
Drop-in advising
Most questions about major requirements, enrollment, and the major declaration process can be answered through drop-in advising with our A-list Peer Advising Team.
Hours for in-person and virtual drop-in advising are available via our advising calendar. Note that there might be a wait, so be patient. An advisor will assist you as soon as they are able.
Advising appointments
Only after attempting to get your questions answered by email and/or drop-in advising may you schedule a 15-minute appointment with a peer advisor or undergraduate advisor through SlugSuccess.
Appointment slots become available 14 days in advance and are offered on a first-come/first-serve basis. They fill up quickly, so they also go through a vetting process. If you do not provide a detailed explanation of your reason for making the appointment, it will be canceled or addressed by email.
Newsletter
🍃 Welcome to Fall 2025! 🍃 Whether you’re returning, starting fresh as a first-year, or joining us as a transfer—welcome to the Psychology community at UCSC! 🌟
We hope you’re ready for a quarter full of growth, learning, and connection. 📚🎓
Visit Us
Our office is located in:
Hours
9:00am–4:00pm, Mon–Thu
Closed 12–1pm for lunch
Come by for your advising needs—we look forward to supporting you!
Need advising support?
- 📅 Check the Advising Calendar for Drop-in hours.
- 🗓 Tips for scheduling an appointment in Navigate.
- ✉️ Email Advisors: psyadv@ucsc.edu
- 👥 Email Peer Advisors: psypeer@ucsc.edu
Please Note! ⚠️
Reading messages from psyadv@ucsc.edu is essential for enrollment, surveys, and other vital communications.
Check your UCSC email regularly and make sure we’re not going to Spam.
Major Declaration
Fall 2025 deadline: Friday, October 24, 2025
- Returning students (6th quarter): declare by Oct 24 to avoid holds.
- To be processed before Winter appointments: submit by Oct 24.
- Upper-division prerequisite: many PSYC UD courses require declared status.
- If eligible: declare early for more Winter options.
Winter Planning
Enrollment Prep Week begins: Nov 6
Priority enrollment starts: Nov 13
Read your emails
Important Winter 2026 enrollment info is coming to your inbox. 📧
Course Menus
Use our Course Menu tool to find electives aligned with your goals.
Senior Seminar Survey
Eligibility: Declared PSYC/CogSci students with ≥135 units will receive a survey to request Winter Senior Seminar permission codes.
Survey distribution: Check your email on Oct 20
How to Perform Your Own Grad Check!
Events:
- Wed, Oct 1 (1:00–3:00pm) • Social Sciences 2, Room 150
- Nov 5 (9:30–10:30am) • Social Sciences 2, Room 150
- Nov 5 (1:30–2:30pm) • Social Sciences 2, Room 150
Permanent online resource: “How to Perform Your Grad Check!”
Field Study (PSYC 193)
Are you a Junior or Senior interested in exploring a career path in Psychology while also helping out our Santa Cruz community? If you’ve completed PSYC 100 and are in good academic standing, we invite you to discover the Psychology Field Study Program and the various types of internships available for the Winter/Spring 2026 cohort!!
Must attend one info session:
- Mon, Oct 20 • 2:40–3:40pm
- Tue, Oct 21 • 1:30–2:30pm
- Wed, Oct 22 • 10:45–11:45am
Application deadline: Wed, Oct 29 • 8:00am
Undergraduate Research (PSYC 194)
Have you ever dreamed of contributing to cutting-edge research? Here’s your chance! By participating in an Undergraduate Research (PSYC 194) opportunity, you can immerse yourself in real-world research projects, collaborate with experts, and discover new horizons in Psychology.
Watch Our “What’s My Lab Do?!” Series
Curious about research in Psychology at UCSC? Our “What’s My Lab Do?!” video series lets you hear directly from faculty about their projects and how you can get involved. Watch and discover exciting opportunities to expand your academic experience!
To start your research journey
Explore Our Research Postings: Our regularly updated listings offer fresh and engaging research projects that cater to various interests and specializations.
Take Action! Found a placement that fuels your curiosity? Follow the instructions on the posted opportunity and don’t hesitate to reach out to the associated faculty or grad student via email.
Don’t just learn from books; create knowledge! Your involvement in research could be the stepping stone to a thriving career or further studies in Psychology.
Global Learning Event
When: Wed, Apr 8 (2:00–3:00pm) • Where: Join on Zoom
Are you considering studying abroad, or do you already have plans to do so? Psychology Advising will be hosting this event in collaboration with Global Learning Advising. We will explore topics such as how to get started with the Global Learning process, financial planning, satisfying major and GE requirements abroad, popular programs for Psychology and Cognitive Science majors, and more!
Major Exploration Workshops
Major Exploration for First Years (Led by Sean Malone)
Wed, Sep 24 (1–2pm) — Join on Zoom
Wed, Sep 24 (3–4pm) — Join on Zoom
Mon, Oct 13 (10–11am) — Join on Zoom
Thu, Nov 6 (12–1pm) — Join on Zoom
Fri, Dec 5 (9–10am) — Join on Zoom
This workshop assists exploratory/undecided students in their process of choosing a major. The workshop provides context for being “undecided” and includes reflective activities. Further, the workshop provides resources for students to further their exploration and planning at UCSC. The intended audience is first-year students.
Major Exploration for Second Years (Led by Erica Bellis)
Thu, Nov 6 (12–1pm) — Join on Zoom
Wed, Nov 12 (2–3pm) — Join on Zoom
This workshop teaches students tools to help them choose (or transition to) a new major/backup major that aligns with their goals and values and can also be qualified for on a truncated timeline. We welcome any student who needs to identify an alternate or new major because they must appeal for or were denied from their first choice major. This workshop is also helpful for second-year students who have not yet identified a major they intend to declare.
Career Resources
Shape Your Future with Career Resources! 🚀
Thinking about what comes next after graduation? Pondering potential career paths or considering graduate school? We’ve got you covered!
Career Advice Tailored for You: Whether you’re exploring job opportunities or polishing your resume, our Career Resources webpage is filled with guidance specifically curated for Cognitive Science and Psychology majors. Get the inside track on landing that dream job or internship!
Got Graduate School Questions? Navigating the graduate school application process can be tricky, but we’re here to help. Our Graduate School FAQs are packed with answers to your most pressing questions.
Personalized Career Coaching: Ready to level up your career planning? Check out Career Success’ Website for one-on-one coaching, workshops, and resources designed to help you shine. It’s time to take the next big step toward your future!
Social Media 📣
Follow our Undergraduate Advising Instagram for weekly mental health tips, updates, and deadline reminders.
PSYFWD Email Group
Get cross-department updates, CA grad school connections, jobs/scholarships/internships.
Important Dates
Bookmark the University’s 2025–26 Academic Calendar (PDF)
Events & deadlines
Drop-in calendar
Advising team
Peer advisors
Peer advisors are current undergraduates who are trained to assist students with academic plans, graduation checks, enrollment advice, declaring cognitive science or psychology majors, studying abroad, and questions about majors, courses, and opportunities. Meet your peer advisors >>
Staff undergraduate advisors
Our undergraduate advising staff members are available to assist students with transfer courses, study abroad courses, substitution options, declaration and graduation petitions or appeals, veterans benefits, verification, course recommendations, approaching faculty for research assistant opportunities, graduate school preparation, and signing academic plans.
To better maintain consistency in advising, we’ve assigned each of our undergraduate advisors to focus on a particular group of students, organized alphabetically by last name. If your schedule allows, we recommend trying to schedule your appointments with the advisor assigned to your group.
Advisor for students with last names starting with A-Fa
Appointments available on Thursdays
Advisor for students with last names starting with Fe-Ler
Appointments available on Mondays
Advisor for students with last names starting with Les-Riu
Appointments available on Thursdays
Advisor for students with last names starting with Riv-Z + Global Learning resources
Appointments available on Tuesdays
Psychology and Cognitive Science major requirements
Psychology
Advising forms
Make a copy of a Sample Academic Plans & Major Worksheet template to your UCSC Google Drive. Sample plans are for students’ personal use in academic planning, and the major worksheets are helpful for tracking your progress. If you like to receive an Official Academic Plan signed by an advisor please complete a Signed Academic Plan Request Form
Sample single major academic plans & worksheets
Cognitive Science academic plan & major worksheet
General Psychology (2020-24 Catalog) academic plan & major worksheet
Intensive Psychology (2020-24 Catalog) academic plan & major worksheet
Declaring the psychology or cognitive science major
Students who enter UCSC as first-years are required to be declared in a major by their sixth quarter. Transfer students are required to be declared by their second quarter at UCSC. If you are ineligible to declare, contact your college advisor for next steps. Requirements are determined by the year entered or years enrolled at UCSC. Learn more about catalog rights on the Registrar’s website.
Follow the processes below for declaring your major, depending on your situation. If your request is denied and you need to submit a declaration appeal, please contact an advisor.
Declaring a first major
Step 1
Complete the required courses
Students who select psychology on their UC admissions applications will be considered proposed in psychology until declaration.
To declare a major, you must complete the major qualifications, which are the lower division requirements listed in the General Catalog for our psychology majors and our cognitive science major.
Step 2
Request your Academic Plan
Fill out the Signed Academic Plan Request form to receive a plan with all remaining major requirements.
If you already have a Signed Academic Plan from our department, you do not need to request one again.
If you need an expected graduation term (EGT) review when you declare, this may delay the processing time for your declaration.
Step 3
Petition to declare
After submitting your Signed Academic Plan Request form, submit your Petition to Declare in MyUCSC.
Once you have submitted via MyUCSC, advising will send a follow-up email from psyadv@ucsc.edu.
Advisors review your petition, give confirmation that the major is formally declared, and provide a Signed Academic Plan.
Declaring a second major
Step 1
To declare a second major, you must complete the major qualifications, which are the lower division requirements listed in the General Catalog for our psychology majors and our cognitive science major.
Step 2
Confirm that you have a Signed Academic Plan for your first major.
Reach out to your first major advisor at least two weeks before the declaration deadline to request this.
Step 3
After receiving an updated academic plan, you can submit your Petition to Declare in MyUCSC. Advising will send you a follow-up email from psyadv@ucsc.edu. Advisors review the petition, give confirmation the major is formally declared, and provide an updated Signed Academic Plan.
Changing concentrations
If you are declared in psychology and want to switch between the general and intensive concentrations, fill out the Major/Minor Petition in MyUCSC, and select “update concentration.”
Senior seminar requirement
Students in all of our majors must complete a senior seminar course to satisfy the Senior Comprehensive Requirement and as part of the Disciplinary Communication requirement. Senior seminar courses are designated in the campus catalog with the text “satisfies seminar requirement” or “satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement.” Senior seminar is not an additional requirement, but rather you must select a senior seminar as one of your upper division courses. Students double-majoring in both cognitive science and psychology need only one senior seminar and should select one that is approved for cognitive science.
How to enroll
To enroll in a senior seminar, students must complete our department’s senior seminar survey by the deadline. Surveys and deadline dates are emailed before enrollment to declared students at senior standing (135 units or more) in the cognitive science or psychology majors. Qualifying students who complete the survey by the given deadline will be assigned a permission code for the upcoming quarter.
Enrollment assistance
See guidance for resolving common enrollment issues under each of the topics.
Holds on enrollment
The Psychology Department does not place holds. If you have questions regarding the hold on your account, contact the department that placed the hold. Learn more about holds on the registrar’s website.
Prerequisites – Enrollment Error Message
Many Psychology courses have prerequisites. If a course is only available to declared majors, it will be noted as a prerequisite. Students still “Proposed” in Cognitive Science or Psychology cannot enroll in courses restricted to majors. If you get an enrollment error, review the prerequisites, co-requisites, and other restrictions for the class in the Class Search and confirm that your student record reflects your satisfaction with all requisites. Contact the Office of the Registrar to address the error message.
Permission Codes
Do not contact faculty or lecturers requesting permission codes. Declared juniors and seniors who could not enroll in any upper-division courses are eligible to request permission codes from the advising office. After second pass enrollment, psyadv@ucsc.edu will email instructions on how to request a permission code(s). Permission codes are not guaranteed.
Taking PSYC 100
Although PSYC 100 is the next course students take after declaring their cognitive science and/or psychology majors, students don’t typically take this course until sometime during their junior year. PSYC 100 requires statistics, pre-calculus, and the Entry Level Writing & Composition requirements (Writing 1 & 2) to be either completed or in progress in the previous quarter at UCSC to enroll.
PSYC 1 Gating
PSYC 1 is a gated course, which means seats are released during each day of enrollment. Check back each day to try to enroll in the class. If you cannot get into the class, remember that you can join the waitlist during your second enrollment appointment. Find information about our campus waitlist process on the registrar’s website.
Choosing non-major courses
All students regardless of their major are required to complete 180 Credits before they can graduate with a degree. For most majors (including ours) this will mean filling your schedule with non-major courses or electives. If you find it difficult to find and or choose courses to fill this credit requirement we suggest taking advantage of the following resouces:
- Course menus – Course relevant to commonly pursued career paths.
- UD Outside Courses with No Prerequisites – Even if you have completed this requirement for the major, these course are good options for filling the rest of your schedule.
- Pursue a minor – this link will take to the full list of minors available on campus, should you be interested in any, plan to meet with an advisor in the relevant department.
- Pre-health pathways – for those interested in the idea of med school, the career coaches at Career Success can assist you in finding relevant preparitory coursework.
Other resources and opportunities
- Graduate school and career readiness: Our department’s guide to career and graduate school opportunities will walk you through the types of graduate school programs and preparations like the GRE exam and getting faculty letters of recommendation, as well as resources for planning your career path and getting jobs and internships. You’ll also find helpful recordings of prior workshops.
- PSYCFWD Google Group: Join this Google Group to receive forwarded opportunities shared with our department’s advising team from other departments at UCSC and graduate schools across the state, as well as job, scholarship, research, training, volunteer & internship opportunities. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- Psi Chi Honor Society: Psi Chi is an international honor society whose purpose shall be to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. Interested students can apply to join the UCSC campus chapter.