Majoring in Psychology

Home Undergraduate Program Majoring in Psychology

Psychology has two tiers: Pre-Psychology and a Psychology Major. To declare Pre-Psychology as a major means a student plans to take the lower-division requirements for the major and will have priority into restricted courses. Declare a major via the Proposed Study Plan/Declaration of Major/Minor petition available at your college office. Students who indicate psychology on their UC admissions applications will be considered proposed psychology and must fill out the petition; junior transfer students who do not come in with all the required lower-division courses should fill it out during their first quarter of enrollment. Students considering psychology as a major should consult with the undergraduate advisor as early as possible, normally no later than early sophomore year.

To declare Pre-Psychology follow the instructions on the Pre-Psychology page.

To declare Psychology once all the lower-division requirements have been completed, students need to complete and submit the Proposed Study Plan/Declaration of Major/Minorpetition. Obtain the petition from your college. Once Section I has been signed, make an appointment with the Undergraduate Advisor.

Note: Students who have declared a Pre-Psychology major on the Proposed Study Plan/Declaration of Major/Minor petition within the previous year may simply update their major form to Psychology. Send an email to psyadv@ucsc.edu, with full name and student ID number included with your request.

An Intensive Psychology Major and a Psychology Minor are also available.

Students considering psychology as a major should consult with the undergraduate advisor as early as possible, no later than early sophomore year. Junior transfer students are strongly encouraged to do this in their first quarter of enrollment.

Major requirement changes went into effect Fall 2005, and remain current for 2006-07: Check out the requirements for the Psychology Major. For questions, psychology advising is available by coming into the Psychology Department Office during drop-in hours or by phone.