1.  Complete the required courses 

Students who indicate Psychology on their UC admissions applications will be considered proposed Psychology until they declare. To declare the General or Intensive Psychology major you must complete:

• Precalculus: (a passing grade in any 1 of the following courses)
  • AM 3, AM 6, MATH 3, MATH 4, AM 11A, MATH 11A, MATH 11B, MATH 19A MATH 19B
  • OR 300+ on ALEKS Math Placement
  • OR AP Calculus score of 3+
• PSYC 1: (With a grade of B- or better)
  • OR AP Psychology score of 4+

• Statistics: (a grade of B- or better in any 1 of the following courses)
  • PSYC 2, STAT 5, STAT 7/7L
  • OR AP Statistics score of 4+

PSYC 1 and Statistics must be taken for a letter grade. A minimum grade of B- is required in courses taken to fulfill the PSYC 1 and the Statistics requirements. Review the Major Admission Requirements for more information and options if the grade requirement has not been met.

Once these requirements are completed with the required course grades or scores, you can declare the Psychology major! 

2.  Petition to Declare & Request a Signed Academic Plan

Please submit your Petition to Declare in MyUCSC or by following the instructions below.

3. Fill out our Signed Academic Plan Request Form 

These Academic Plans detail all of your remaining major requirements.

If you already have a Signed Academic Plan from us for the major you intend to declare, you don't need to request an academic plan again. If you need an Expected Graduation Term (EGT) review when you declare, this may delay the processing time for your declaration.

Can't access the Signed Academic Plan Request form? 

In order to access the form, you must be signed into your UCSC Google account. Use a browser not signed into any other Google accounts or open a private/incognito browser that requires you to sign into your UCSC account if you have trouble accessing the Google form. 

4.  Wait for a follow-up email

Once you have submitted your Petition in MyUCSC, we will send you a follow-up email from psyadv@ucsc.edu. We will review your Petition, give you confirmation that your major is formally declared, and provide you with your Signed Academic Plan.

Declaring Psychology as your Second Major

If you are already declared in another major and are wishing to declare Psychology as a 2nd major, there are a few steps to take:

1. Verify you’re eligible to declare Psychology

Take a look at the major qualficiation courses to see that you meet the requirements to declare.

2. Confirm that you have a Signed Academic Plan from your first major

Your plan must be updated recently & include your first major advisor's e-signature. Please reach out to your first major advisor at least 2 weeks before the declaration deadline to request this.

3.  Petition to Declare

After receiving an updated academic plan, please submit your Petition to Declare in MyUCSC or by following the instructions below.

4.  Wait for a follow-up email

Once you have submitted your Petition in MyUCSC, we will send you a follow-up email from psyadv@ucsc.edu. We will review your Petition, give you confirmation that your major is formally declared, and provide you with an updated Signed Academic Plan.

 Frequently Asked Questions

When should I declare?

• You may declare as early as you like, as long as you have completed the required courses!
• Students who enter UCSC as frosh 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.

What if I'm not eligible to declare?

• If your College told you that you are required to declare a major this quarter but you are NOT eligible yet, submit your Petition for Major/Minor Form through MyUCSC. You will receive follow-up notifications from the Psychology Department and your College about possible conditions to declare past the deadline before an enrollment hold is placed.

• If you are not yet eligible to declare and your declaration deadline is in a later quarter, wait to submit any petition until you are eligible or you have reached your declaration deadline. Students who entered UCSC as a frosh must declare by the deadline in their 6th quarter at UCSC. Students who entered UCSC as a transfer must declare by the deadline in their 2nd quarter. Please confirm with your College if you are not sure which term you are required to declare your major!

Which General/Intensive Psychology catalog should I choose?

• Students who entered UCSC as frosh in Fall 2020 or later must choose the 2020-22 Catalog when declaring the Psychology major. Students who entered UCSC as frosh in Fall 2019 may choose the 2019 Catalog or the 2020-22 Catalog when declaring the Psychology major.

• Transfer students & students who entered UCSC as frosh before Fall 2019 may choose any Catalog when petitioning to declare the Psychology major.

• The only difference between the 2019 & 2020-22 Catalogs is that PSYC 20 is required for students declared on the 2020-22 Catalog. PSYC 20 is recommended but not required for students declared on earlier Catalogs.

I’m already declared in Psychology but want to change catalogs/concentrations. How do I request that?

• If you are declared in Psychology and want to switch between the General or Intensive concentrations, please fill out the Major/Minor Petition in MyUCSC. You will have the option to update your concentration there.

I want to appeal in order to declare Psychology. What do I need to do?

• Please review the Major Admission Requirements for more information and options if the grade requirement for the major declaration courses has not been met. Reach out to psyadv@ucsc.edu to see if you would be eligible to appeal for major admission.